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Pavlov's Pentecostals (or Why Don't We Attend Small Conferences?) October 6, 2008 By Kent d
Curry What is it about
small conferences that make people doubt? For four
years
running,
the Forum has tried to feature important topics about living a triumphant
Christian life today and we've been met with an enthusiastic indifference. Again and again
we've heard interesting people say, “That sounds fascinating!” “Wow!
I've never heard Apostolics tackle that before!” and “It sounds
great!” Yet when we ask, “Are you coming?” they say, “No.” Is topic-driven
discussion led by unknown-but-knowledgeable facilitators so foreign
that we just can't risk 50 bucks and a drive to St. Louis? Big Conference Habits Yes, we've been
trained by time and tradition to only be attracted to well-known
speakers and singers at oversized conferences, but the Apostolic
movement is overdue for focused, niche events that are happy to
reach the 40-100 Apostolics who specifically need it. Our movement
is too deep, too talented, and too varied for one-size-fits-all
conferences to meet everyone's spiritual needs. Yet the preaching
conferences never cease to replicate and small events, what few
there are, too often die stillborn. At some point,
enough people are going to have to step back and say no to Youth
Convention or Preaching Conference #8 or Music Conference #4 or
the annual ladies retreat that's a complete rerun of last year's
ladies retreat. They're going to have to decide, “I'm perfectly
happy being challenged with 50 like-minded believers in an area
that is essential to my calling.” (See Romans 15:5, Philippians
2:20.) Leaping Into the Wise Unknown This isn't to
bash large conferences or retreats, as they minister to many people.
Yet, this is a plea for more bravery on the part of conference planners
and more thinking on the part of potential attendees so that smaller
conferences can thrive. Frankly, we keep uncovering too many Pentecostals
who feel alienated and alone because they don't fit the typical
Pentecostal mold--and then they spend lots of energy worrying about
what's wrong with themselves instead of focusing on what's right
with their unusual calling and how they can contribute to the
Kingdom. That's what small conferences are custom-built to accomplish. That's already
happening. The
Forum 2008
had its best paying attendance yet, with some general sessions drawing
over 70 people, while electives were still as intimate as 10-12
people. The Friday night coffee house and comedy drew a completely
different demographic of about 70 people, mingling and laughing
and noshing on fruit and coffee. It's intriguing
to me that the biggest takeaway for most attendees of Forum 2008
was the candid conversation (so many admitted that they just weren't
able to have long, open conversations at home without being criticized)
and the other attendees, who proved to be far less stereotypical
than they ever imagined. The fact that fresh topics (Emerging Church,
Racism, 21st Century Parables) jumpstarted these revelations
was almost beside the point. All that the Forum requires is a curiosity--a spiritual curiosity to engage the world we live in today for Christ. It won't be for everyone. It can't be for everyone. Yet it might be a wiser investment than your usual conference habit, the one that makes you wonder, mid-conference, “How come I'm not getting anything out of this anymore?” before telling someone, “See you next year!” Don't hesitate
to take a chance--all world changers do. © 2008, Kent
d Curry --------- Kent d Curry
is an executive editor of ninetyandnine.com,
a college and career speaker, and a part-time literary blogger,
yet no one envies him.
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