My wife and I were able to fly down to OKC for the Network Summit at LifeChurch.tv. Below you can catch a video recap of everything that went down.

Over the next few week we will share a few of the notes that were taken from some of the sessions at the Summit. We really hope that it inspires you! To the Swerve Church team, I hope that in the near future you will be able to take the flight with us to the next Summit so  that we can learn and be inspired together.

I (Danny) was so privileged to have been able to attend the Send North America Conference in Nashville Tennessee. 13,000 people gathered downtown to get inspired to live a life on mission. Many times we think that this "mission" is just for the "special ones". You know...your pastor, the deacons at your church, the life group leaders. You know...the big shots. But actually the call to live a life on mission is given to the entirety of the church. Can you imagine the Church of Jesus Christ collectively living a life on mission sharing the hope that is found in Jesus! The impact would be incredible!

So I just wanted to share some of my notes from the trip. I hope that these notes will be especially helpful to you and shoot a fire in you to live a life on mission right where you are. At your job. In your home. In your circle of relationships. In your neighborhood.

Here's jus a few of my notes:

DHATI LEWIS

• 51% of the world lives in the urban context.
• The best missionaries (church planters) are going to come from the context they're living in.
• Many times we work from an "anti-vision" instead of a vision.
• The local church is a family, not an orphanage.
• The church is the gospel made visible.
• The gospel changes people and people change the world.
• You teach what you know but you reproduce who you are.
• If the church is a family then the best thing I can do for my community is put my family on display.
• Invite people into relationships, not just time and space.
• 90% of ministry is showing up.
• Create a system to care for, equip and mobilize members.

JD GREEAR

• The question is not IF I'm called but to WHEN and WHERE.
• There is nothing more exciting than sending and church planting.
• More and more people will have to be reached outside of the church walls.
• Empower people to carry the gospel outside of the church.
• God only multiplies what you sow.
• You cannot out give God.
• Not seating capacity but sending capacity is a measurement of success,
• When we get good at disciple making, sending will take care of itself.
• You can be wicked by failing to give and steward the resource God has trusted you with.

LOUIE GIGLIO

• The gospel is power because sin does not make us bad. It  makes us dead. The gospel give us life.
• We are seated with Christ so that we can walk with him in power.
• If you're at the end of you rope, just let go. Trust Jesus.
• Plan + power fueled proclamation = salvation + church
• The enemy WILL bring opposition.

VANCE PITMAN

• "The great use of a life is to spend it for something that outlasts it" - William Jones
• Never has a larger assignment been given to an unqualified group of people.
• 4 Characteristics That Enabled The Church to Impact The World

1. Faith that produced perseverance
2. Passion that produced unity
3. Desperation that produced prayer
4. The spirit that produced power

• Movements begin wen people surrender their will to God.
• If we want to see God move we must learn to sit at the feet of Jesus and wait to listen to the voice of God.
• If we want God to use ordinary people to change the world, we must get on our face and beg.
• If we want to learn what's going on in our communities we must listen.

DAVID PLATT

• See a world in great need.
• When is the last time you wept over a people in need?
• We need the power of the Spirit to accomplish what God has called us to do.
• We can't plant churches in our own power.
• I want to be a part of something that could not have been accomplished a part from the power of God.
• Our God is sovereign over all.
• God has put you in your city purposefully.
• Ae we going to take advantage of the sovereign opportunities God has laid before us?

We have an exciting relationship with NetworkChurches.tv which will really help us to grow further and faster together. We've mentioned them here before on the blog.

Recently, Brandon Donaldson and Brandon Livingood paid Bushwick a visit to really get a feel of the big city and to dream of the possibilities of having a Network Church in NYC. We're excited to be a part of Network Churches and cannot wait to see all that God has in store!

Swerve took a trip to Hamden, Connecticut to visit our good friends and fellow Network Church, Frontline! We had a great time just spending some time together, having fun in the pool and eating out. We used this trip as an opportunity to get to know each other more, but also as a spiritual investment as we spent time in God's Word and in prayer. Sunday we were able to help set up church since Frontline meets at Hamden Middle School.

I was so happy to catch up with some great friends. After, Elly invited us over to enjoy the most delicious home-cooked meal that you could ever have! I'm so thankful to have people like this that truly care, love and believe in what we're doing here in Bushwick. God has really placed around some amazing people providing incredible encouragement and support.

Be sure to keep Pastor Rick and the team at Frontline in prayer as they are doing a great work in Hamden leading people to become fully devoted followers of Jesus. I'm so proud to call them friends!

Whoever finds God, finds life!