Alumni from the 2008 National HC Conference

Comment by Keith Broadbent on September 6, 2008 at 10:13am

I came to conference on a wing and a pyearsrayer. I have not come since the 2005 conf in Denver. I have struggled with the cost to come now that I am retired and struggling to survive on a 50% less income, but I am free from corporate chains. I even tried a stint at Lowes for 1 1/2 years but began to become overwhelmed and disappointed with that as well as other jobs.
So, I am still looking to serve the Lord in any capacity.
At the conf, I was looking for networking and most importantly, ministry for me. I took the relational track and loved every minute of it. The cumulative point for me was when Paul sang those last 2 songs. I totally broke down and cried like a baby as I felt God reach deep into my gut and pulled something out as well as replacing the junk with something of confidence, direction and of faith. It was life changing to me! I can't completely explain it. I just know more how much Jesus loves me! I showed up at exactly the first night after spending 2 days driving from Denver and I had a pocket full of dimes to my name. I really suck at this faith thing! I was angry at God for not providing for me just days before. I know I needed to go but no funds. I am still in that boat as we have 2 other trips before the end of the month and before my next check.

Comment by Peggy Batcheller on September 6, 2008 at 11:50am

What an amazing conference! I agree with Tony. It seems after this one I really have a sense of family and continuity. There were many who came for the first time just finding out about H2H, but I believe there will really be a sense of partnering and working together without creating a 'denomination'. I'm glad to be here!

Comment by Don and Sharon Hyrkas on September 6, 2008 at 1:33pm

My favorite part of the conference was being able to talk to folks who are involved in Simple Church. We've read a lot of material on the subject, so it was good to hear from and speak to people who were doing Simple Church.

Comment by Sheila on September 7, 2008 at 4:15pm

Hi All!! Wow what a conference. I enjoyed every single minute of it. I loved the Network Leader's meeting. Connected with some folks from different areas and different walks. For me, though I took away many many great lessons. Lots of information. I loved the family feel. I loved the family feel to it. It was like seeing all your favorite relatives at a family reunion that was good! (I've been to some bad family reunions!) Some of my favorite moments included elevator rides with family that I had not met before that minute. The milling around between sessions. Thanks so much to everyone who worked so hard. I definitely came away changed! I will attend again.

Comment by Brenda Harkins on September 8, 2008 at 7:55am

My husband, Mike, and I attended the conference for the first time this year. It was our confirmation that what we had been hearing from the Lord was truly the Lord. He is moving us out of our traditional church where we have staff roles and transitioning us into simple church. We love our church, our pastor, and our friends there, so this is a mixed bag that is bittersweet. But our excitement and direction for simplifying our faith and just "being" the church overrides the emotions that go along with this change. We have heard the call of the Lord, and after a missions trip we have in October we expect to begin our new, simple walk of faith.

Mike's heart beats for evangelism. Mine is for discipleship. This suddenly all makes sense as to how our passions will work together...and include our children.

We are very excited and thankful to everyone who shared at the conference. We saw real family life happening together and were encouraged to see we were not the only crazy people out there. :)

Blessings, grace, peace and wisdom to us all!

Comment by Dean Cross on September 10, 2008 at 6:16pm

Hi everyone. I attended the conference for the first time and was taken back by a genuine love and acceptance by all. I am still in a traditional church setting and have not been called to leave due to teenagers that are really plugged in. I enjoy a group at coffee every week with brothers and experience some good discipleship there.

Still praying that the institutional church and the simple will come together as one and work together for the common good of the Kingdom of God. If it is happening on a global scale then I was convicted by Youngs message to make it happen on a local scale as well starting with me.

Great to be part of the team.

Dean

Comment by Mark A. Trippett on September 23, 2008 at 6:24pm

Greetings All!! My girlfriend Lois & I attended the conference for the first time. In a word it was TRANSFORMING! We arrived Thurs afternoon for the network leaders meeting and left Sunday afternoon different people. We've been believers for a long time...Lois, most of her life, but only since the conference are we beginning to experience what the Father has desired: intimacy with Him! It is a wonder that the Father has invited us into fellowship with Him through His Son, Jesus and through the Holy Spirit (1 John 1:1-7). It was also quite an experience seeing His community lived out through His Body at the conference. It was great making new friends and being a part of building one another up in the Lord. We are excited about how He is going to live and work His will out in us.... In Christ, Mark

Comment by Michael Tummillo on October 7, 2008 at 3:52pm

Loved it...loving it STILL! Most blessed by all the follow-ups messages from people I met there. Did I meet YOU there????????? Say "hello" some time.
Blessings to all,
Michael Tummillo

Comment by Dena Brehm on October 7, 2008 at 4:00pm

Hiya Michael -- I re-met you there! Howdy! Where are you hanging out here? What threads?

Comment