What is an IMPACT Weekend?  When Jesus called His disciples, He issued a simple command:  "Follow Me."  The disciples had no idea what would...

...happen to them and then what God planned to do through them.  They may have been attracted to Christ's initial popularity or the power and success of His ministry.  They may have gotten swept up by messianic expectation.  What they couldn't have imagined was that Jesus was determined to make them just like Himself.  The spread of Christ's Kingdom would depend on them.  How does Jesus transform a life such that one feels honored to lay it down for something far greater?

In every generation, the Living God steps into lives and places an undeniable Call on a person.  Do you suspect that Christ is calling you?  Do you want to find out?  No doubt, all believers are called by God as disciples.  However, among those who are called, there are those who have also been set apart to "Keep watch over...all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers."  (Acts 20:28)

Perhaps you already bear oversight responsibility in your church.  How do you maintain freshness in your ministry?  How do you continue to fan the flames of love for God in your personal walk?  Are the demands placed on your schedule turning ministry into a "job"?  Are you called to eventually plant or to become the lead pastor of a Grace Network church?  Do you know how to put together a team to launch a new work?  Do you understand and embrace the mission of Grace Network?  Are you establishing healthy connections with your peers in other Grace Network churches that can encourage you over the rough spots we all encounter in God's work?

IMPACT Weekends have been created to impart the passion that birthed our church-planting movement.  This training intends to fan the flame of God's call in your life, linking generations of church leaders.  Consider this:  How often do you get extended time to "pick the brains" of those who have planted multiple churches and fed the flock of God for decades?

This series of eight weekends, spaced over a two-year period, is designed to impact the lives of young and emerging leaders (men and women) by exposing them to relevant subjects in a seminar format that includes interactive instruction, extended question and answer sessions, and small group discussions.  Students will review printed material prior to each IMPACT Weekend so that he or she will be familiar with the subject and prepared to participate in the discussions.

The presenter will not just impart information, but will aim to impact the attendee with the DNA of Grace Network.  Also, since each group (cadre) will be limited to 25 students, we anticipate that close and significant relationships will be established among groups of emerging leaders.  These relationships are crucial to the unity and strength of Grace Network in the future.

Details

The first cadre of students began the IMPACT Weekends process in September of 2011.   A second cadre will be starting January 28-29, 2012*.  Each participant will be accomodated in a host home connected to the Grace Network church hosting the event.  Meals, textbooks, printed materials and accomodations will cost $75 per weekend.  If you need assistance with this, please speak first with your local church leadership.

The weekend schedule allows for travel and accomodations on Friday night.  Sessions begin promptly at 8:30 AM Saturday and will end on Sunday at 3:00 PM.  Other than light breakfasts in your host home, all meals will be shared together at the host church.  The commitment you make not only involves attendance and participation on the planned IMPACT Weekends, but also study and a meeting with your referring pastor between one IMPACT Weekend and the next. You should factor in approximately 2 hours of study per week.

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CADRE RESOURCES
Click on your specific cadre for schedules, locations, and study resources