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A Soccer Mom Changes the World

May 9, 2012 in Africa, Changing Lives, Events, Leadership, Stories, The Global Leadership Summit, Video, Willow Creek Association with 0 Comments

Kristen Chandler thought changing the world meant doing something big. “I didn’t see how one person could possibly do anything to help the millions of hurting people in the world,” she says.

When she attended The Global Leadership Summit in 2008, she was challenged by the words Lead Where You Are. “Where I was most of the time was with my kids at the soccer field,” she says. And youth soccer didn’t exactly line up with her idea of ministry, but Kristen was open to God’s direction.

If You’re Not Failing, You’ve Stopped Dreaming
At the Summit, Craig Groeschel (LifeChurch.tv) said: “If you’re not failing, you’ve stopped dreaming. And if you’re not dreaming, you’ve stopped living.”

“When I heard that,” says Kristen, “it gave me permission to try something…even if it failed.”

Kick for Hope Is Born

She got the idea to hold a soccer tournament to raise money for something life changing. Researching various charities, she found some that didn’t just throw money into a pot, but gave people something tangible so they knew what they were giving their money to. And Kick for Hope was born.

The first year 89 teams with kids between the ages of 8 and 18 participated. The next year, there were 124, and last year there were 134 and more than two thousand children. “We’ve raised $84,000,”says Kristen. That might not sound like a lot, but it has meant a well in Africa that provides clean water, mosquito netting that protects against malaria, aid for Sudanese refugees, and more.

“We got a picture of our well in the mail and it had our name on it,” says Kristen. And she’s been to Africa to see how the money is used and how it has impacted people’s lives. “I’ve met people whose lives have been changed because of Kick for Hope.”

Along the way, Kristen has gained leadership skills and life tools. “Youth soccer is the fastest growing sport, so the potential is huge,” she says. “There are kids all over the world playing soccer—sometimes without shoes or even a ball. Even though their lives are different, kids around the globe are connected through this beautiful game.”

Who knew a soccer mom could change the world?


What ideas are you brewing that might change the world? What’s stopping you?

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Are you bringing hope into the world today?

April 4, 2012 in Follow the GLS, International Leadership, Uncategorized with 1 Comment

As you reflect this Easter on hope in the unconditional love of Christ for you, for the Church, and for the world, we encourage you to celebrate the new life that Christ can bring into a community through His bride, the Church. We love the Church and are committed to its growth, restoration, and celebration as the bride of Christ. Your investment in leaders helps bring hope into the world. Watch this video of Jim Mellado after he spoke at The Global Leadership Summit in Mexicali, Mexico early this year.

The Church is the hope of the world

Bringing hope into the world is a tough calling that requires inspiration, encouragement and strength – exactly what the GLS aims to deliver. But many leaders find themselves in hopeless situations as they bring the Message into communities stifled by poverty, apathy, corruption, persecution, and war.

This year, the WCA has received a number of requests from Christian leaders in these very situations – they want to know how to bring The GLS into their communities. These requests are coming from such countries as: Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, The Gambia, Senegal and the newly independent Southern Sudan. The WCA would like nothing more than to partner with these courageous leaders, but we cannot do it alone.

Plans to bring the GLS to these countries will begin this month, and final decisions will be made by May 4th on funding the initiative. Will you join us in making an investment in the Christian leaders of these countries as they work hard to bring the hope and the love of Christ into their communities? Your support matters.

How can you bring hope into the world today?

  • Celebrate Christ’s love, and His love for the church that spreads hope into a broken world
  • Invest in making the GLS a reality in countries like Southern Sudan and others, where leaders are asking to share it with their community and its leaders
  • Pray for courageous leaders leading in difficult situations around the globe

    • GLS 2011 moments to celebrate

    March 14, 2012 in Africa, Asia, Changing Lives, Events, Follow the GLS, Leadership, The Global Leadership Summit, Willow Creek Association with 0 Comments

    The Global Leadership Summit is a lifeline to thousands of leaders around the world. Faced with natural disasters, religious persecution, and poverty, these leaders crave the inspiration, encouragement, and practical training the Summit offers. It’s often the one time each year they are reminded that they are not alone and that God still has a plan to use them to transform their communities. These 3 short stories are just a glimpse of how God is using the Summit to renew hope around the world.

    900 Junior and Senior High School Students Gather in Japan
    2011 Global Leadership Summit in JapanIn the aftermath of the tsunami that devastated Japan, 900 young people gathered for a special evening experience created just for students. Featuring hip hop music, dance, and worship led by local students, the evening featured Blake Mycoskie’s story of leading TOMS. Inspired by this story of generosity these students collected over $3,000 for the tsunami victims. A sense of hope and opportunity to impact the next generation in Japan permeated the room.

    Hope in the Midst of Violence
    2011 Global Leadership Summit in Kaduna NigeriaDays before the start of the GLS in Kaduna, Nigeria, terrorists entered a church in a nearby city killing 2 women. With tensions high and travel restrictions in place, local leaders decided to proceed as the GLS offered exactly what was needed to bring hope, encouragement, and restoration to this city. In fact, one senior leader purchased 40 Team Edition DVD sets to be given to those that couldn’t attend.

    A Capacity Crowd in Myanmar
    2011 Global Leadership Summit in MyanmarMore than 1,000 leaders gathered and an additional 200 leaders had to be turned away. One pastor commented that in 26 years of ministry, he had never seen such a large crowd gather for a Christian event. With government restrictions easing in recent months, there is great hope for increased religious freedom. People are hungry and desperate for the kind of inspiration and training the GLS offers.

    You can be a part of the GLS movement – watch the webcast and register today!


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    Revitalizing the Local Church through Leadership

    December 29, 2011 in Follow the GLS with 0 Comments

    Our strategy grows from the fundamental belief that the leaders who create transformation-minded churches are leaders whose own lives have been transformed by grace and growth in their own faith, skills, knowledge and passion. The Willow Creek Association’s focus is to elevate the quality of leadership within the local church, whether that leadership is formal or informal, staff or volunteer, full-time or bi-vocational, clergy or laity. When Christian leaders live transformed lives, and are sacrificially committed to both God’s call on their lives and the churches they lead, a ripple effect ensues. Churches wake up and stop going through the motions, they seize their God-given calling, and mobilize as agents of change in a waiting, watching, and broken world.

    We believe so strongly in this leadership transformation vision that we have organized all of our efforts towards helping leaders become transformed change agents in their local churches. To achieve this vision worldwide, we have strategically identified three core initiatives that will expand and sustain our global ministry impact from 2011-2013:

    1. Global Leadership Development
    2. Support for Under-Resourced Leaders
    3. Innovation in Spiritual Formation Tools

    How do you revitalize your leadership? Do you have an ongoing strategy for keeping your leadership and your ministry in top shape for mobilizing change in the world?

    More Statistics That Must Change

    December 27, 2011 in Changing Lives, Follow the GLS with 5 Comments

    The local church is a paradox. In some places the church is flourishing and in others it is declining rapidly or dying out altogether. In regions of the world with limited religious freedom, the church is thriving. In China, for example, there are an estimated 100 million believers today, and the pace at which conversions are occurring will soon make China the largest Christian nation on the planet. In other regions where the church was once strong, the future is not as bright. In parts of Europe, less than 5 percent of the populace attends church regularly.

    In the United States, with more than 162 million self-professed Christians, the news is sobering. Each year, between three to five thousand churches in the United States hold their last service, close their doors, and put up the “for sale” sign. Statistics indicate that from 1999 to 2009 the combined membership of the major Protestant denominations declined 6 percent, while the national population has increased 12 percent. The proportion of Americans who claim to have “no religion” has increased to 15 percent, up from 8.2 percent in 1990.

    A solution of global scale is needed to create a movement of transformed leaders who will turn around local churches that are struggling to survive, who will lead effectively in churches that are presently thriving, and who will plant new churches that are set up for success from day one. Are you with us?

    What is your story? What encourages you to continue to lead when the going gets tough?

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