Leading in the Glory-strength of God

By Tami Heim

Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works.

We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul — not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives.

It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us. ~ Colossians 1:9-12, The Message 

Paul’s prayer for the believers in Colosse is our prayer for each of you.

Here at CLA we’re called to be a catalyst in your lifelong transformation as a leader. That transformation impacts your ministry and those whom your ministry serves. This ripple effect amplifies the authentic presence of the Holy Spirit, alive and active in the world. And we get excited about that because our mission is to equip and unite leaders who will transform the world for Christ.

We are just two weeks away from the 2013 CLA National Conference in Anaheim. The theme this year is “The Authentic Leader.” When I consider authentic leaderhship, I imagine:

• Hearts wholly open and surrendered to God’s will and way — all the time
• Men and women who manifest the work of the Holy Spirit in how they steward life and love others
• An alliance of leaders who allow God to radiate his holiness and grace, irresistibly drawing people to God
• A different world because Christian leaders lead for God’s glory and his glory alone

At CLA, we believe whole-heartedly that lifelong learning and the power of the Holy Spirit drive a leader’s transformation.

This year at our annual conference, you’ll find 85 workshops and 22 full-day ITI sessions scheduled to challenge and stretch you. Each learning experience promises to equip you and provide insight on what it means to be an authentic leader.

In addition to these experiences, there are a variety of special one-day forums for Next Generation Leaders, Women in Christian Leadership, as well as our popular CEO Forum and CEO Dialogues. The changes you will find at the national conference this year reflect your feedback and respond to your expressed felt-needs.

The great news is that our conference is but one of the many lifelong learning experiences CLA offers for you year-round. Check out our new website and see what all if available for you under the RESOURCES tab found on the top navigation bar. You’ll discover many opportunities for you to learn and grow on an annual, quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily basis. I encourage you to take a closer look at the Credentialed Christian Nonprofit Leader (CCNL) program. Enroll in this experience and radically accelerate in your knowledge and wisdom as a leader.

I’m grateful to be serving shoulder to shoulder with you. If you haven’t signed up for the CLA National Conference in Anaheim, there’s still time. Join thousands of Christian leaders, just like you, committed to thinking higher for greater kingdom outcomes.

Our desire is for you to continue to explore, engage, learn, and lead with excellence in the glory-strength of God.

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Tami Heim is the president and CEO of Christian Leadership Alliance.

The 2013 CLA National Conference will be held in Anaheim, California, April 30–May 2. Only two weeks remain – register today!