Things I loved, that connected with me:

• Dave Fletcher’s org. practices of defining terms, probing into statements, acknowledging complexity; questioning/interviewing times were beneficial for clarity
• Liked the discussion in small group time; good interaction with others around the table
• Enjoy the open dialogue and question/answer opportunities throughout the seminar, thanks!
• Milfred’s presentation – gave me a fresh way to look at church
• Learning some of the dynamics between Toby and Jim
• I thoroughly enjoyed Dan Reiland’s seminar on strong personalities
• Frank Sommerville always does a great job – the legal issues small group was very good
• Having the principals from the case studies present
• Providing numerous resources (reading materials, sponsors present)
• Diversity of perspectives/styles of presenters
• Networking – great!!
• Taking me back to 20 years of schooling where we did case studies (out of practice)
• Contrasting video venue strategies (Mike and Toby)
• Senior pastor perspective on XP
• Leadership over next 20 years discussion! (Fav of conference)
• Small group time with Todd Wagner
• Great exposure to relationship between Senior Pastor and X-Pastor
• Watermark discussion
• Fundraising workshop
• More small group time on Thursday
• Meeting XP’s from around the country
• Available resources
• Smaller group sessions with specialists
• Case studies
• Interviews
• Small group
• Lunch mentoring session
• Warren’s morning session
• Great day of impact (Thursday)
• So great to be with like-minded (i.e. Kingdom minded  and familiar with the XPastor world) people
• Wonderful access to others (speakers, participants) due to small size.
• The honest transparency of speakers and willingness to share “trade secrets.”
• Mentoring tools & experience of Nathan Baxter – I believe that mentoring is one of the most needed and least understood roles of church leaders. I especially appreciate Nathan’s
• The workshop on “Building” was excellent
• This was a valuable day of networking – thank you!
• The morning open forum hit 3 of my 4 concerns
• Ideas and principles from Watermark’s approach/philosophy. Wagner’s presentation was very thought provoking
• Interaction with XP’s great
• Broad spetrum – Buster to Slough, interesting
• Back-to-backs – diverse presentations yet unified them. Helpful
• Break out with David Lyons – Staffing
• Lunch session on mentoring
• Small group connections with other XPastors
• Networking
• David Lyons discussion group
• Case studies and discussions
• David’s leadership
• Raising funds workshop
• Mentoring resources breakout
• Presentation of Bob Feitl in morning session – excellent info!
• Case study, presentation and discussion of Watermark
• Time around the table for discussion
• Honesty about Watermark’s ordeal
• Table discussions about case and current concerns in our churchs
• To see the relationships between SP and XP (Toby and Jim) (Ron and Bill) (Mark and Matt). The living examples and interactions were wonderful!
• I got the opportunity to hook up with likeminded brother
• The case studies and methodology definitely open up new avenues of thought/learning
• Time in morning with Brad Leeper’s group
• Legal issue and discussion with Todd Wagner
• Relevance of morning discussion group
• Hearing the passion and heart of Todd Wagner
• Resources provided by Nathan at lunch
• Dan Reiland was awesome in “partnering with a strong leader”
• Orthodoxy vs. orthopraxy
• Organizing body – Ex. 18 Principle
• Campus pastors are the pastors for teacher/preacher pastors
• Central support vs. central control
• The missional church description – outstanding!
• Milfred’s content
• Bill Northrop’s practicality. (Not theory.) Their lessons were very helpful
• Large group resentations and small group follow up
• Prayer over each presenter
• The case study format – transparency/openness
• Talking with guys at the table
• Presenters sparked thoughts/ideas apart from presentation
• Real life stories and examples
• Sr and XP interaction at lunch
• The wide range of varieties and different exposures of ministry and situations. I loved the differences.
• Small group discussion with an expert are excellent
• Interaction between Toby and XP
• Working lunch
• Good interaction between David and Speaker – kept them from going off; and asking the questions that many people would like to ask.
• The large group forum with Warren was excellent.
• Meeting other XPs and SR Pastors
• Hearing Prestonwood vs. Cross Timbers Approach
• Meeting other Sr. Pastors/ XP
• Perspectives from David Lyons on hiring
• Bob Feitl’s small group was excellent, extremely helpful.
• Lunch Session
• Session (breakout) in the AM on Thursday
• Relevant case studies
• Multi-Site Models – I liked hearing two very different models
• The frank and honest discussion
• Opportunities to meet and greet other attendees
• Common challenges with peers
• Being able to ask questions of the speakers
• The 9 cultural checkponts – great stuff!
• Continuous re-enforcement of cultural DNA
• Interactive discussions
• Discussions of senior pastor/XP relationships
• Meeting other XP’s
• Building relational contacts
• Hearing different perspectives on leadership
• Mike Buster’s philosophy guides
• Discussion on multiple sites was excellent. I appreciated the two different approaches
• Honesty about failures, things that didn’t work
• Different methods/approaches to achieve the same result
• Interactive discussion with Mark Carey and Mark Brewster
• My conversations with Nathan Baxter
• The transparency of the presenters was touching.
• The missional church session really ministered to me.
• The informal discussion method was quite different to what I’m accustomed in a seminar/conference. To my surprise, I retained a great deal.
• Realistic sessions that deals with day to day church issues
• Practical solutions
• Openness, transparency and honestly of speakers
• Discussions held between Senior Pastor and Executive Pastor
• Case studies are excellent and beneficial
• Liked the look at what churches are doing – hearing
• Liked the case studies
• XP gives e lots of options to consider
• Enjoyed the back to back case studies
• Discussion time
• Bill Northrop/Ron Moore – timely information for our church
• Mike Busters presentation on one church/multiple vocations
• Exposure to ideas different from my church background and culture
• Vulnerability of speakers, their transparency
• David’s style, demeanor, attitude, and obvious care
• The entire set of hospitality provisions, sponsors, books, (I’m a former camp director) refreshments, etc.
• Your gracious and generous connecting me with Warren Schuh and Nathan Baxter
• Warren Schuh – Tie with Large churches
• The need to know my ministry DNA
• I like the format
• Staying true to vision
• Conversations with the Marks (lunch)
• Transparency of all speakers
• Contrast of Prestonwood and Cross Timbers back to back. Excellent
• Pre-reading, case studies
• Prayer for each presenter
• Networking with others
• Ministers gave strong presentation
• I enjoyed the relational setup of the meeting room (round tables)
• The case study format is engaging
• Hearing case studies – inspired new ideas and ways to do things
• Networking – discussions at the table
• Discussion on the change created in establishing XP at a church
• Building issues with Ron and Bill
• Realization of common struggle – answers
• Central command vs. central support
• Remove barriers to worship – remove paradigms
• Mike Buster’s presentation on second site process
• Mark and Mar’s presentation on SP/XP and trust level
• Overall impressed with candor and openness of presenters!
• Acquire don’t merge
• Stick to your dna
• Central support vs. central control
• Having the two multi-sites back to back
• Providing numerous resource (reading materials, sponsors present)
• Diversity of perspectives/styles of presenters
• Toby – his openness with his struggles; his passion for the lost and recovering
• Mike Buster – vision and passion for ministry via the new remote church model
• Ron and Bill – their process and compassion while procession growth
• Minatrea – awesome!
• Case study read-aheads
• Cross Timbers candid discourse with US (Toby and Jim)
• Organization and admin of the conference
• I love getting with these guys and sharing
• Table discussion on video venue
• Mentoring resources
• Don Reiland group was very helpful
• Don Reiland – fantastic time together, priceless take-aways from this one!
• Todd Wagner – this was a challenging case study. I enjoyed Todd’s passion and integrity and biblical grounding.
• Toby’s heart
• The fact that David stands there and asks questions on everything.
• Fletcher’s discussion on leadership
• Hearing about church discipline from someone who really does it.
• Mentoring session with Baxter
• Hearing other’s stories (how similar they are to mine)
• All speakers had a good “mission” “spiritual” base and motivation
• David’s facilitating is excellent – both presentations and interview style reading
• Toby’s time – DNA – Spend more time with XP
• Staffing seminar was great! Loved discussion format
• Wagner’s session great for discussion, he really brought great spiritual emphasis.
• Mike Buster “We’re not a mega church, we’re a multi-program ministry church
• Toby Slough – “the only non-negotiable is the vision”
• Do you have centralized support or control?
• Confirming my need to firm up my XP role and our senior pastor to firm up his.
• Spending money in hiring vs. spending money in employing and then firing
• Toby/virtual – attracting is not the same as reaching. Central support vs. central control. Identify your DNA – be true with it. Remove barriers.
• Pittsburg – South Hills – wonderful reality check/honesty of the men/helpful.
• Milfred’s input; data heavy yet did cause me to want to get the book.
• David’s casual/inclusive style and demeanor and excellence in asking questions we’d like to ask in the case stud “live” presentations
• Free books
• Watermark case – real world application of biblical principles.
• Mark Brewster and Mark Carey – real life struggle in hiring
• Ron Moore and Bill Northrop – “Life beyond the walls”
• The number and variety of sponsors – gets better each year!
• In our breakout the leader (Lyons) was an excellent facilitator – he added to other people’s comments and expertise. I felt I got some very good info from multiple sources.
• Meeting and speaking individually with pastors with same issues and sharing ideas
• Personal stories of change from different men
• This is my first time. I will come again next year. I started as an XP just 11 months ago.
• Todd Wagner – Very proactive and in surprising ways
• Thanks once again for creating a network and environment for growth in God’s Kingdom.
• Though I knew of the resources (Thursday morning), it went deeper
• Seems like having presentation each year on building/construction is appropriate, these are always people doing that!
• Happy with the entire day!
• I really like seeing XPastors and Sr. Pastors interact
• David, thanks for all of your efforts. This seminar is very helpful
• Good job with facilities; comfortable… just the right degree of intimacy
• Very good conference
• The case studies were excellent in getting a little more real and deeper view of the churches/leaders. It provided valuable principles and action points.
• Important part of my journal whether to the point of an XPastor position or not. Value to my walk with God.
• Thanks again for putting together a great conference. We are looking forward to coming again.
• Our first XPastor conference – thanks for providing this great resource
• Have seen the hearts of the XP and their desire to score a lead
• I applaud your courage on the Watermark case study. Great discussion!
• Good use of scheduled time together; ratio of meetings to breaks to table time
• I enjoyed having Sr. Pastor and Exec. Pastor discussing an issue together in large sessions.
• Enjoyable and I learned-a lot!! Great and helpful info, in the notebook to study later
• My senior pastor should have been here with me. You may want to encourage seniors coming with their executives.. overall this seminar was helpful. Time well spent!
• The Watermark case study was very useful. Though I agreed with very little of how they handled it, I appreciate their conviction, and the followup discussion caused us to wonder what we would have done.
• The content was great. The greatest value for me, however, was networking with guys who are experienced or have experienced what I am.
• Love and appreciate the diversity of the group as a whole!
• I loved the conference style and set-up. The case studies are informative and thought provoking.
• The topics discussed were great and helpful. it opened a new horizon of thinking pattern and mindset.
• Milfred – very valuable! And timely!
• I’ve been to a lot of conventions/conferences for a variety of purposes and this is a well planned, prepared for and executed as any of them. Well done; thank you.
• This is wonderful
• The question and answer presentation format where David leads the presentation by asking the presenter (s) questions is excellent.
• Great stuff!! Wish I was 20 years younger with the information I have received at two of your seminars. Thank you!!!
• Love it!!!
• Love the location – hope it stays in Dallas
• I am somewhat surprised by how many churches are actively pursuing multi-site venues – very cool.

Other comments

• Thanks once again for creating a network and environment for growth in God’s Kingdom. I’d love to help if you would ever need help.
• Idea – is small church going the way of the small farm? Idea – is legal profession scaring us from ministry?
• Thanks for diving deeper into the cases today. Great interaction. This has been an amazing resource! Thank you for your foresight and tenacity for creating XPastor, including this conference. I look forward to partnering with you for years to come.
• Idea – How do you form a relationship with the SP?
• Idea – Is effectiveness as an XP inherited or earned?
• Case study – New Senior Pastor. XP and 3 other pastors already on staff. All the other pastors were from in the body. Plus following a sr. pastor who had been asked to leave. First time I was part of a multi-step
• I would like to hear other experience/words of wisdom regarding how to attach younger people while not alienating more conservative members of the congregation whom have been the backbone and supporters of the church for years.
• If you think our transition from strong Elder board/struggling SP to Struggling SP/mis-gifted XP to New Strong SP/Exec. Team (still with strong elder board) is a good case, I think we’d be willing. We’ve also been operating about 10 years in violation of the “80% rule” – and fairly positively so. David – Todd himself elicited some strong and unexpected reactions – I’d like to discuss when you come to CS. Thanks for all!

Things I would like to change:

• A little more time to table-talk
• Having even more time to connect with fellow attendees to “compare notes”
• More small groups
• Would like to see a couple of small group/breakout sessions as there were at least two topics that I wanted to attend!
• 5 functions – would be very effective as a break-out small group with new XPs
• Would like more SG discussions of maybe 1 or 2 issues raised by case studies.
• More breakout sessions
• More time on what an XP does for new XP’s
• Milfred was excellent – more time needed for his presentation
• Staff development concepts
• Staff (volunteer) recruiting
• Maybe add an additional day
• Being new to XP concept, more info on 5 functions, maybe ina discussion group
• Nice to have a place where XP’s and pastors who are searching for the other to intentionally meet and dialogue
• More on SP/ XP relationship
• The legal session was great. Frank started by asking us what we wanted to discuss so that he met our needs. Caused me to rethink many areas.
• I may be an odd duck but it seems that this would be a great venue to speak more biblical and theological truth into these men – including me, knowing many do not have such training
• A session on mentoring (Nathan) and coaching (Warren)
• More on legal issues with sexual harassment issues or confidentially issues
• One thing I would like to see next year is at least a bit of emphasis on how to stay spiritual in the midst of all the details.