Our Conference within a Conference (Previewing the 2013 NACC)

By Matt Proctor

Effective leaders are not born; they”re made. At the 2013 NACC, you”ll have a chance to sharpen your own leadership. On Thursday afternoon, we”ll have our normal schedule with dozens of helpful workshops, but on Wednesday afternoon, we”ll have just four large workshops. At Wednesday”s “leadership conference within a conference,” we”ll welcome nationally known speakers for each of four large leadership workshops.

Les and Leslie Parrott will speak about “The Leader”s Marriage.” These New York Times best-selling authors have shared their Christian perspective on marriage on CNN, The View, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, Fox News, and The Today Show. Their blend of biblical background, clinical experience, practical insights, and real-life humor will help you keep your marriage strong in the crucible of leadership.

Wayne Cordeiro will explore “The Leader”s Soul.” Cordeiro is the founding pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Honolulu, Hawaii, with more than 15,000 in weekend attendance. He is also a best-selling author of several books, including Leading on Empty, about his own journey through burnout and back. A speaker at events like Catalyst, Exponential, and Willow Creek”s Leadership Summit, Cordeiro will encourage you to keep your own soul healthy as a leader.

Eric Metaxas will delve into “The Leader”s Mind.” How can we do our best thinking to engage culture with the gospel? Metaxas has written best-selling books on two men who did this well: Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy and Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery. Metaxas himself has influenced culture at a popular level as a writer for VeggieTales, and in the intellectual arena as founder of Socrates in the City“”a Manhattan speakers series that seeks to engage New York City”s professional class with Christian thinkers such as Dinesh D”Souza, Os Guinness, Sir John Polkinghorne, and Francis Collins. As Chuck Colson”s successor on the daily Breakpoint radio commentary, Metaxas will challenge you to think clearly and deeply about our leadership task in a fallen culture.

Ken Davis will tackle “The Leader”s Communication.” A Christian comedian and one of the country”s most sought after inspirational speakers, Davis”s side-splitting humor and insight has delighted audiences of all ages. A Gold Medallion Award-winning author, Davis has been the keynote speaker for major corporate events, Promise Keepers, and Focus on the Family. His daily radio show, Lighten Up!, is heard on more than 1,500 stations. As president of Dynamic Communications International, he has also taught speaking skills to thousands of ministry and business professionals, and he will help you hone your communication skills as a leader.

Leadership ability is the lid on any organization”s effectiveness. You won”t want to miss Wednesday afternoon”s “leadership conference within a conference” as it helps take your leadership to the next level in your family, your business, or your church.

Matt Proctor is president of Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri. He serves as a CHRISTIAN STANDARD contributing editor and as president of the 2013 NACC.