Yesterday I spoke at our monthly Church Developer’s Network at Hope Presbyterian Church. Several years ago Craig Strickland (Senior Pastor at Hope Pres) called a few of us together with the idea of developing a network of like-minded pastors in the Memphis area for connection and learning. It’s since grown to several hundred pastors and it’s been a great tool of unity in our city. Craig Strickland has become a friend and has been a source of strength and help for me on many occasions. Also, Stacy Spencer (New Direction Christian Church), Greg Diaz (Nuevo Dirección), Chris Conlee (Highpoint Church), Trevor Davis and Wade Hinton (Great Commission Church) and many others have become good friends. I think its awesome when church leaders can come together and encourage each other instead of competing with each other. Yesterday we spoke on “Developing Emerging Leaders” which is a topic I love to teach on. I was a little fuzzy from jet lag and from pushing hard the last few weeks, so I’m not sure I made much sense, but I was strengthened by two of my captains, Mundo Meneses and Dan Lord. I love those guys and am proud to serve with them in the House of God.