UNOH Presents our annual conference
Swanston Street Church of Christ, August 12 - 13, 2005.
Friday and Saturday, 9am - 10pm.

I attended the UNOH annual conference this weekend past (which I think is going to be bi-annually in 2007 as it conflicts with Forge/ TEAR and others). I wasn’t intending on going, but was asked by Pippa Cave. We ended up taking 7 people in total. Bumped into Alan Hirsch while I was there – he asked me if I was doing the conference marathon this year. Feels a bit like that with Forge and now UNOH. Won’t be doing as many conferences again for a while – shouldn’t need to – but feel like this is a pivotal time in our life.

Talk about a life altering experience. Life may never be the same. These guys are awe-inspiring with their commitment to the poor and marginalized. To hear the stories of Ash and Anji Barker, Mick Duncan and Jackie Pullinger just ripped into my heart.

As far as conferences go it lacked all the hype you normally get. Even at the Forge conference in July there was an element of excitement/ hype that is hard to describe – you just know its there. This lack of hype is not a bad thing, perhaps it’s a good thing. Regardless the conference was a time of moving. Hype-less atmospheres are perhaps what is needed in order for God to begin moving. When we try and conjure up the presence of God we take the workings of the Holy Spirit into our own hands and force God out. Here at this conference I sensed that all the hype was gone, but God was present.