One Life

So, the grand report: The Young Leaders Conference 2010 has visited Manchester! Over seventy delegates and volunteers spent 3 days together, fully enjoying the teaching, company and inspiration of a whole collection of remarkable leaders. Highlights included the input of the likes of Rear Admiral Alan Richards and Bishop Graham Dow, a moving performance of ‘The Stand’ by our very own X-Factor potential, and hot chocolate expertly made and skilfully consumed. The team from Onelife joined forces with the heroes of St Chad’s and others in the Greater Manchester area to serve and equip the young leaders of the north.

And while the team was amazing and the leadership tips were insightful (I was scribbling away!), the most valuable and honestly life changing thing was that we met with God – plain and simple. Both those of us on team and the delegates came away knowing that we’d been shaped by the presence of God.

If you haven’t yet clued in, the theme for the conferences this year is Unto Us, (if you have one of the incredibly cool badges, wave it proudly!) making Jesus – as the best leader this world has ever seen – our model. He revealed to us the character of God, the character we want as leaders. And honestly, I feel like I know Jesus better. At the end of the day, that’s worth more than all the wisest one-liners or the best books. Or as one delegate put it, we could come away knowing lots of stuff about leadership, but it’s better to have met with God. And you know what? We did.