Why I Attended My First Outcomes Conference By Donna Bostick

I want to meet you at this year’s Outcomes Conference!

In 2019, I attended my very first Outcomes Conference hosted by Christian Leadership Alliance—not as an insider, not as a long-time member, but as someone looking in from the outside.

At the time, I was living in Kansas City, and I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. I knew of the Alliance. I respected its mission. But I hadn’t yet experienced the community, the depth, or the impact firsthand. Still, something drew me in.

Part of it was practical. The conference timing—held the week before Easter—created a unique opportunity. My family lived in East Texas, and attending the conference meant I could seamlessly transition into spending Easter with them. It felt like a gift—or maybe just unavoidable. My Relator and Maximizer strengths basically overruled me and said, “You are going. You will build meaningful relationships and level up your leadership while you’re at it, and spend time with the family unit – a three-for!

What Drew Me to the Outcomes Conference

The real reason I came had nothing to do with logistics, although it might have had a little something to do with Tami Heim’s wonderfully persistent (and hard-to-ignore) invitations. At some point, saying “yes” just felt like the obvious next step!

Beyond that gentle persistence, I came because I believed in the mission.

The idea of making Jesus known resonated deeply with me. I had experienced the impact of that kind of investment in my own life. Someone had poured into me, believed in me, and helped shape my leadership journey. I carried a growing conviction that I was being there for something more.

What I Discovered at The Outcomes Conference

The event was more than a conference. It brought together people who shared the same conviction—leaders committed to Christ-centered excellence, stewardship, collaboration, and growth. I didn’t feel like an outsider for long. A sense of belonging came not from tenure, but from shared purpose.

It was also the beginning of a journey I never could have mapped out on my own. I went from attendee to volunteer, contract employee, and eventually full-time servant of the Alliance! What started as a single “yes” became a pathway of deeper calling, connection, and commitment.

It reminded me of this passage from The Message:

“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world… Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine!”

Matthew 5:14–16 (MSG)

That’s what I saw at Outcomes—leaders shining. It was not for their own recognition, but to reflect the goodness and glory of God in every sphere of influence.

Why the Outcomes Conference Matters for Christian Leaders

Attending that first conference affirmed something in me: when we step into spaces aligned with God’s calling, even as outsiders, He makes it feel like home.

The Outcomes Conference is more than an annual event—it’s a place where Christian leaders learn, grow, encourage, and connect! Faith and leadership intersect in meaningful, practical ways.

Come and Meet Me There This Year!

And now, I want to invite you personally to come! April 6-8, 2027 – The Hyatt Regency Riverfront in Jacksonville, Florida!

Whether you feel like an insider or an outsider, whether you’re confident in your calling or still discerning. This conference is for you. This event will strengthen and renew you. And God will meet you in unexpected and powerful ways.

Be part of something bigger than yourself. Invest in leadership that multiplies. Experience a community that encourages, challenges, and walks alongside you. You don’t have to wait until you feel ready.

You only need to be willing to say yes. I did in 2019—and it changed me. Let it change you!

Donna Bostick serves as Manager of Conference Engagement at CLA. With 28 years of marketplace leadership and a passion for Christian leadership development, she helps leaders grow, serve, and multiply God’s light.

Make this the day you lock in coming to the Outomes Conference 2027. It’s time to renew your heart, mind, and soul.

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