Hillsong Conference 09 Summary (Pt1)

This is What you have all been waiting for!
Here is my 3 part series on Hillsong Conference!!!
It was held in Acer Arena
Here is the view from the top

Hillsong Speakers:

(Click on picture to enlarge)

Joel & Victoria Olsteen- Pastors of the largest and fastest growing US church with 40,000+ attendees
Israel Houghton & Lakeword Worship Team (Joel Olsteen’s church)
Craig Groeschel- Founder and Sr. Pastor of Lifechurch.tv
Jentezen Franklin- Sr. Pastor of Free Chapel Worship Center
Louie Giglio- Teacher through Passion and now pastor
Chris Tomlin- Musician
Brian & Bobbie Houston- Sr. Pastors of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia
Darlene Zschech- Worship leader and pastor at Hillsong Church
Hillsong United & Brooke Fraser- Praise and Worship Band
Christine Caine- Speaker
Donna Crouch- Executive Pastor over Hillsong CityCare
Joel A’Bell- Works alongside the Houston’s with Hillsong campuses
Delirious (Web Streaming)- to say goodbye and thankyou as their time as a band is ending

The Conference Breakdown:
(I took notes on all of these so let me know if you want more on a certain sermon or all of my 15 pages of notes!!!)

TUESDAY: Unshakeable
NIGHT Session: “It” Craig Groeschel

WEDNESDAY: Unshakeable Faith
MORNING Session
1. ROBIN- Wife burned badly
2. DARLENE DZECH- Miscarriage
3. Guys son ANDREW died of cancer
4. IAN WOODS healed of cancer
AFTERNOON Session
Brian Houston and leaders on “Selecting and Releasing the Right People to break Growth Barriers”
NIGHT Session- Jentezen Franklin
1.Jesus is with me 2.God is at the bottom 3.I Have Faith For This

THURSDAY: Unshakeable Hope
MORNING Session- Craig Groschel- A Leader’s Constant Companion: Pain
AFTERNOON Session- Brian Houston
Creating a Culture that Facilitates vision
AFTERNOON Session- Interview Giglio
NIGHT Session- Joel Olsteen "Being a Healer with Words" & Lakewood Service

FRIDAY: Unshakeable Love
MORNING Session- Jentezen Franklin: Drunk in the Spirit
MORNING Session 2 Dianna Crouch: Going Good Samaritan
MORNING Session 2 Joel Olsteen Interview
AFTERNOON Session: Louie Giglio: I AM not but I know I AM
NIGHT Session: Louie Giglio- It’s Time to go out

RANDOM THOUGHTS

ENGAGING- I was impressed with how Hillsong did corporate worship. It didn't feel like a performance but more like worshiping and engaging together. (CAUTION: I took a lot of pictures that make it look like a production, but when you are there it doesn't feel like it or isn't encouraged to be from the stage)
HUMBLE- Impressive Humility: The "screen time" was shared as different music leaders led different songs so that it was not about one person ie. Brook Fraser- a great and popular musician led one song and the rest of the time was more in the background just helping lead instead of it being about her. They talked money and products but always in terms of people, heart, and strategy so it never felt like they were trying to sell me something for profit

NERVOUS LEADERS Most leaders said that they were worried/nervous/insecure about preaching and leading at the beginning of ministry. It was good to hear these people are real human beings.
TV View- At Acer Arena most people were probably looking at the screens. (estimate) 75% watch screen and 25% watch person on actual stage. Interesting take when you choose what to show… (different level of service ministry)
PARTICIPATION- You really decide whether to receive, participate, engage, and be open to the music and messages or whether you would rather watch and disassociate
SPIRIT OF PRAYER- There was a real spirit of prayer around the time we were led in music
I appreciating Hillsong's exhortation and humble spirit. If other people were touched or connecting with God through prayer in the same way I was, then that was definitely a house of prayer.
GLORY OF GOD FOCUS- There was constant mentioning of the "glory of God"
PREACHING- Lively/joking/emotional/highs and lows. I am usually skeptical about preachers that encourage you to say stuff, but i found that when some of these speakers did encourage me they were encouraging a response that was already inside of me but i was too lazy or unsure of how to respond out loud.
VISION- I loved the vision of these guys (Giglio, Houston, Groschel, etc.) You can just feel the passion in their words and stories and proclamations. I Need to get a little more excited… dare I say passionate about what I am preaching.
Church Culture Shock- It was crazy going from the lively Hillsong Conference to a very somber reverent Chrysalis service to a small but anointed Lismore church worship service. Just crazy to go through completely different styles and sizes of worship services in a matter of 2 days.
SEEING FRIENDS It was awesome! I saw all my friends amongst 20,000 people the first night without contacting them: Leon, Lena Jean, Kim, and Jake.
STRATEGIC ENERGY
They had a section reserved on the floor for Power House- The Young adults ministry to "bring the energy" and to just "go all out"
The Last night they Brought in the teens for a combined service

I had to take the train in everyday
This is the walk from place to place
www.brentdongell.com

Other US Musings

I Went for a Run today and this is what i observed

• Looking Right-Left-Right instead of Left-Right-Left

I got so used to running in New Zealand that i find myself looking right first when i should be looking Left. I have to work on that while i am here.

• Cars Stop for me when I run across the Road

It is nice to have the right of way again as a pedestrian. I was scared sometimes running and dodging cars as i would jog across roads in NZ where there weren't crosswalks.

• Women look me in the Eye

Girls/Women/and men (all strangers) usually look up and say "hey" and some even wave from their cars instead of walking past girls/women who constantly do the ground stare and walk by without even recognizing my existence.

• Places smell and feel Different

Neither is good or bad. But even as i got into LA things just felt and smell different. As i went for a run i realized how nature outside and the dirt here smell different than in NZ/Australia. Also the humidity is light now but still much more thick than in NZ. The Temperature is around 75F or 24C right now.

• Taco Bell still tastes good

It wasn't some magical experience, but it made me miss the late night runs there. It seriously is one of if not my favorite fast food restaurant and i might be desperate enough to consider starting a branch in New Zealand if i were to live there long term! :)

Longest Trip to the US ever!!! and what i have noticed so far.

It took me 36 hours of travel time to get home!

It is 5am here in the US and i'm not tired because its 9pm in NZ and 7pm in Australia!

My travel path:
Lismore to Ballina to Sydney to Auckland to LA to Phoenix to Indy to Plymouth, IN
In New Zealand time that is I:
Departed Wed 7:00am and Thurs @ 7:30pm arrived

I have been nonstop with people and activities in Australia so that is why i haven't been able to recap Australia and Hillsong yet, but i will hopefully do that in the next few days.

I slept, journaled, was taught how to make origami swans, talked, and watched 3 movies on the flights home.

Things that are weird:

• I didn't realize that I continually tried to water down my accent to imitate wherever I was... I found myself doing that in the American airport and then realized i didn't have to because my accent didn't stand out anymore!
• Forgot i bought my laptop in NZ and needed the US adapter!
• I already had taco bell at 3am on the way home
• People dress different and have shorter hair but the shirts and t-shirts might simply be that...
  
• It's HOT compared to NZ and Australia! good hot.
• Time is going too quick, i can't believe i am here.
  

Going to bed now.

made it to australia

i have had very limited internet so i am just now getting caught up!
First off i made it here to sydney safe with no problems.

I made it for the whole Hillsong conference which has been amazing so far.
I will update you more on the conference content tomorrow but it is 2am after a long day so i want to do it justice and will blog tomorrow as well. Below are a few pictures to give you a quick look.


opening screen
acer arena where we meet.
breakout session
brian houston and louie giglio
sunset outside arena
late night park fun

vegetable section
fruit section with rockmelon (cantalope) and paw paws
the girls: Monica, Amy, Kirstine
opera house
bridge
being exported
taxis everywhere!!!
downtown drive
where i am staying.

A Thought and A Smile

I was reading a book that was talking about the confusion and problems of how will people know how to read the Bible? This line below was really encouraging to read.

"The Bible is a most efficient of book. We must remember its purpose: It is God's message to a fallen man." Francis Schaeffer

I have been studying like crazy this week.
I have watched this over and over again because it makes me smile

plus it makes a GREAT quick study break.

So... Ran a Half Marathon Yesterday!

No, It wasn't an official race. it wasn't planned. I just moved into my temporary spot and decided to go for a run. As i was running i spotted Mt Wellington (below) about an hour or so before sunset and wondered if i could make it there before the sun disappeared...
I was more focused on the challenge than the fact that i had to back track to get home and only realized that getting to the top of the hill by sunset (which i just barely did) meant that i had at least an hour run home too!
It wasn't a full half marathon, it was more like 12 miles (19.3 kms), but i am justifying it in my head as a half! :)
The view from the top was amazing and i was really stoked because my personal goal is to run a half marathon every year. I haven't run a half marathon in over a year and i am signed up to run the Auckland half marathon in Oct/Nov, but i still had a year gap where i was missing out and this pretty much made up for it!

me legs are a little sore today...

2 Stories from the last 2 weeks.

THE POWER OF A QUARTER

Matt Guerin(right) from the Indiana Wesleyan University mission’s team brought over some quarters to share in NZ. He was skeptical with the suggestion since it seemed so petty but he ended up giving out a few quarters to different guys in New Zealand that he connected with. I didn’t know this and we were all eating dinner together on the IWU team’s last night and I saw one of the teens named Alex(left) spinning a US quarter. Perplexed I asked, “Hey, where in the world did you get an American quarter.” Alex responded, “It’s mine.” His friend Nick skeptically chimed in, “No, its not…” and Alex explained, “Yes it is. Matt gave it to me. I’m gonna hold on to this forever. You’ll see, Matt, if you come back next year, I will still have it.”

I would’ve never thought of this gift, but It was really cool to see how such a small token could signify so much meaning and friendship.

DISCUSSIONS LEADING TO POSSIBLY MORE MENTORING

At the family camp called the Gathering in the beginning of June, I ran two youth seminars. The first was a discussion on, “What does the Bible have to say about Drinking, Drugs, Tattoos, Smoking, and Dancing.” The second was titled, “How do I know when I have done enough for God?” Anyway, weeks later I was approached two nights ago by one of our new Youth Leaders in the Wesleyan Churches who will be serving at Streams Community named Ernest(top left) who attended my seminar. He has asked me to start meeting with him on a regular basis to answer questions, at least towards the beginning, as he is figuring out ministry and how to answer the teens’ questions. Really cool!

Sometimes i feel like a stalker...

I feel like a stalker… unless proven otherwise.

Just in case you are not a single male over 20 years old, let me let you in on one of the newer feelings I have experienced. It is completely awkward to find yourself walking behind a teenage or elementary aged girl by myself.

It doesn’t matter how nice i am dressed or if it is on the side of the road or in a mall or wherever. If i am heading in the same direction as a girl and find myself walking behind them, I will almost always get the awkward side glance from the girl to see what I look like or how close I am and then the girl quickly looks away and keeps walking staring on a straight line forward or down to avoid eye contact as though I am an immediate threat.

Sad days!

Somewhere along the lines of being over 20 years old I went from being an innocent fellow child or teenager to an immediate threat and older man unless proven otherwise.

Last few Weeks and This Week

Last Few Weeks:

Thank you for those who prayed for my health while the IWU(Indiana Wesleyan University) missions team was here. After 2 days rest I was back in action although I lost my voice and haven’t completely gotten it back until a couple of days ago!

Evy's Last Dinner

The IWU team Leaving

At the Gathering family camp where the (IWU team helped out) we had 12 kids make decisions for the Lord.

On June 10 I sent the IWU team and Evy Mazellan who had become a close friend and surfing buddy back home to the US. (it is ridiculous, but you can watch part of my goodbye present to him here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ4VXKCREnI)

I took a few days to rest that weekend afterwards!

This Week:
I found housing for me after my roommate Graeme Els gets married to Annie Wright on July 4 and they live in our current place.

I have a great opportunity to go to the nights of Hillsong Conference July 7-10 in Sydney Australia, and then spend a few extra days in Australia.

Following that, My parents have also made it possible for me to go on the family vacation July 18-30 in Lexington and Holden beach North Carolina. This will be great so I can spend time with the family and meet my new nephew Kylan Jackson.

We will also be visiting my grandparents on the farm who are in their later years of life. They practically are the coolest and godliest grandparents ever!

What this means:
I move to a temporary spot for two weeks before I head to Australia and the US in July.

When I return I will move into Jeff and Beth Fussner’s place.

Since the Fussners are moving to the US I will be without the huge support I have received from them, although cession|community and the Jones family will be a big help.

It will also mark close to the midpoint of my 2 year commitment here in New Zealand and so I will have to more seriously start prayerfully considering my next placement after my 2 year commitment here is done.

Tongan group praying

God answers prayers:

Although my voice was gone longer, my actual sickness only kept me down for a few days.

God has provided a great housing opportunity for me in this high stress time.

My ministry is expanding: I was able to sit down with a Nazerene missions team and brief them on New Zealand.

I will spend a day prepping Phil V, an exchange student from Germany, who became a Christian here in New Zealand and is returning to a less spiritually encouraging situation back at home.
I came expecting God to affirm a call to evangelism, but instead he is really reaffirming my heart to disciple and mentor: I am closely involved and working with a lot of young adults who are either up and coming youth leaders or people who are trying to reengage and take their life and Christian walk more seriously.

Videos, Videos, Videos of the past month

here are ten or so different videos of happenings over the past month or so.

The Indiana Wesleyan Mission's team was hear for two weeks in May and June. Here were a few videos from showing them around at the beginning and end

I took them downtown to see the city and walk by the Harbor


I took the team to the Auckland Museum to give them a taste of Maori culture


We went kayaking to Cathedral Cove where the filmed part of Prince Caspian


Evy, Grace, and I went surfing on a really cold day at Muriwai. Here were their responses



at The Gathering Wesleyan Family Camp the teens were entertaining themselves before the meeting


My good friend Evy Mazellan headed back to the states. Two nights before though we went to an open mic in grand central, auckland new zealand


Evy and i also went surfing the night before he left


Before Evy left i made him a rap to reflect back on our time together. It turned out pretty good and i am actually pretty impressed with my artistic ability and lack of shame in making and showing this video! haha


This is just Sam Mackay being truly Sam Mackay!

Diamond Ring Treasure Hunt in Wellington!?

Apparently some guy is giving away an engagement ring he can't return by doing a treasure hunt today down in Wellington.

I am glad i just read this article today that my friend Emily Batman in the states sent me...

 http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE55240020090603?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews&rpc=69&sp=true

or else i seriously may have considered driving down to Wellington just for the novelty of the idea, a good story, and the chance of saving a few thousand bucks later on! :)

Happy Birthday from Evy

This Is AWESOME!

This is a video Evy Mazellan, my young padowan, made for my birthday.  It's Really fun for me to watch.  There are a lot of memories and surf trips packed into this short clip.