About Us
Elements of a Catalyst Leader
AUTHENTIC in their Influence
Influence is gained naturally, not through coercion or manipulation. This is a natural outcome when the leader is “being” (integrity, passion) and “doing” (calling, community, culture). Leading is an easy next step once the other core elements are being consistently practiced and modeled.
UNCOMPROMISING in their Integrity
Character, integrity, conviction, discipline and private, personal decisions – these all comprise the inner character and integrity of a Catalyst leader. I understand that my character and integrity is the guard to my soul and ultimately their life. This can’t be let go, can’t be delegated, it’s the foundation of who I am as a person and as a leader. It’s the basis from which my moral authority is grounded. It must be nurtured, guarded and found true under testing.
INTENTIONAL about Community
People are in my life at all levels. Close personal friends that keep me accountable, question my deepest motives and help me stay true to the vision God has imprinted on my heart. I value the people that work for and alongside me, recognizing that I am fulfilling a leadership role with people God has entrusted to my care. Catalyst leaders value the wisdom of those more experienced than them and seek out council in all things of importance.
PASSIONATE about God
I must have awareness of my small role in God’s big, developing story. This is critical to my humility, faith and trust in Him as the definer of how He will use me and my calling. To have this constant awareness, I must connect with God without ceasing through my life, study, music, art, film, vocation and relationships. My passion for God to receive Glory must be bigger than my desire for Glory.
COURAGEOUS about their Calling
God has a unique purpose that he desires to carry out in me. To know this purpose I must first know Him. To fulfill this purpose, I must trust Him and have the courage to act on it, which may feel like a risk. My talents and heart converge to create my calling and purpose. I am competent in my calling because I am committed to further developing and honing my talents and skills. My foundational understanding of how God is working during our times, determines the specific way I apply this calling vocationally.
ENGAGED in Culture
As a leader, I must understand the context God has placed me in. I must know the audience I am connecting with to have any opportunity of connection and relevance. Because God desires that Christ-followers engage and influence their surroundings, I will be a source of hope, redemption, justice and peace in my community, demonstrating a piece of the Kingdom of God in a fallen world.
Core Values
Passion
We are committed to the spiritual development of the next generation leader, believing that one’s growing passion for Jesus Christ fuels one’s way of thinking, living and leading.
Leadership
We believe that leadership is influence and are committed to maximizing the leadership potential of the next generation.
Truth
We are committed to confront the moral relativism that permeates the next generation’s mindset by infusing our events, resources and experiences with the unchanging truth of God’s Word.
Relevancy
We are committed to respond to the evolving mindset and trends of next generation leaders, creatively and strategically bringing an ageless message to a changing culture.
Church
We are committed to reach the next generation of leaders in, by and through the local church, equipping churches to understand, reach and invest in their spiritual and professional development.
Transference
We are committed to encourage and equip young leaders to effectively pursue the life-on-life connection with other generations for the purpose of transferring spiritual and life wisdom from one generation to the next.
Purpose
Catalyst exists to ignite passion for Christ and develop the leadership potential of the next generation, equipping them to engage and impact their world.
Catalyst exists to ignite passion for Christ:
Whether a young leader is leading in the church, in business, at home, or any other life domain, we believe that the quality of one’s relationship with Jesus Christ determines the effectiveness of one’s ability to hear God’s voice, adjust one’s life to Him, authentically relate and lead people, grow in godly character and integrity, and make leadership decisions that effect the eternal futures of others. We exist to stir the fires of faith in the next generation of leadership. Other secular entities exist that target young leaders too, but we believe that Catalyst must be Christ-focused and Christ-honoring. Therefore, we intend to tap into the God-created void in young leaders that hungers for real truth and real meaning in life by calling them to an all-out, sold-out passion for Christ.
Develop the leadership potential of the next generation:
We believe that everyone has leadership potential because we believe that leadership is ultimately one’s ability to influence others. We want to connect the next generation of leaders and not only catalyze their leadership desires but help them grow and maximize their leadership potential. This process starts with a God-induced vision for life producing an alignment one’s life with God’s vision, and effectively and intentionally matures into the original vision. Catalyst is committed to use its resources and the niche that God has given it to help young leaders reach their full leadership potential.
The Catalyst brand was initiated for the 20 something and 30 something audience. Over time, it has always allowed for others with a similar mindset to participate. This will continue, however, the core target audience for all new products developed and environments created must stay true to this target audience. The mediums for learning and content distribution will be defined by the relevance to this group.
Equipping them to engage and impact their world:
We want to equip next generation leaders to do much more than increase their leadership skills (though we do want to do that too). More than this, we want to equip them to engage with those around them and be seen as relevant to their peers yet separate in Who guides them. We desire that they lead spiritually, whether they lead at home, church, work, or in their community. Spiritual leadership means that they tap into God’s thinking and wisdom and move themselves and those who follow them into God’s agenda. We believe that when this happens, they will most effectively engage and impact their world in a way that aligns with God’s purposes.
Partners
31 Bits
www.31bits.com
31 Bits Designs is a socially minded business designed to give internally displaced women in Northern Uganda an opportunity to counter poverty.
143million.org
www.143million.org
Catalyst is recognizing our call to care for orphans and widows (James 1:27). As believers, we feel led and committed to respond to this call in the year ahead. If you do not know, there are 143 million orphans around the world.
410 Bridge
www.410bridge.com
The 410 Bridge is a non-profit organization partnering churches in America with churches in Kenya.
aHomeInHaiti
www.ahomeinhaiti.org
aHomeInHaiti is a MOVEMENT of people around the world that have pulled together to provide SHELTER to homeless Haitians.
Advent Conspiracy
www.adventconspiracy.org
Advent Conspiracy is an international movement restoring the scandal of Christmas by substituting compassion for consumption.
Art House Dallas
www.arthouseamerica.com/dallas
Art House America provides mentoring for artists of various art forms, resources that communicate the worth and necessity of all vocations, and access to speakers, teachers, and guest artists.
Bethany Christian Services
www.bethany.org
Bethany Christian Services is the nation's largest adoption agency and we demonstrate the love and compassion of Jesus Christ as we care for orphans and vulnerable children on five continents.
charity: water
www.charitywater.org/
charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations.
Christian Alliance for Orphans
www.christianalliancefororphans.org
The Christian Alliance for Orphans works to ignite and equip individuals and churches for effective, Christ-honoring service to orphans.
Compassion
www.compassion.com
Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social, and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.
CitySquare
www.citysq.org
CitySquare exists to fight the root causes of poverty by partnering with those in need. As a community, they feed the hungry, house the homeless and renew hope in the heart of the city.
Convoy of Hope
www.convoyofhope.com
Convoy of Hope is a faith-based organization with a driving passion to feed the world through children’s feeding initiatives, community outreaches, disaster response and partner resourcing.
First Response Team of America
www.firstresponseteam.org
The goal of First Response Team of America is to arrive in the crucial moments following a catastrophe, and to reduce the time it takes for help to reach those in need- so they can join local first responders in saving lives and restoring hope.
Gift Card Giver
www.giftcardgiver.com
Gift Card Giver is a revolutionary new form of giving that combines unused gift cards and gives them to people or organizations in need.
Hello Somebody
www.hello-somebody.com
Hello Somebody is a non-profit brand that exists to impact and change the world through love, passion and creativity. Simply: feed the hungry around the globe.
HOPE International
www.hopeinternational.org
HOPE International is a Christ-centered microfinance network impacting poverty in 14 of the most challenging countries in the world.
I-HEART
www.i-heart.org
Initially presented by Hillsong United, I-HEART is a group of people from across the earth that endeavors to connect the ideas and actions of people seeking to be the hands of feet of Jesus.
International Justice Mission
www.ijm.org
International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression.
Invisible Children
www.invisiblechildren.com
Invisible Children is a movement seeking to end the conflict in Uganda and stop the abduction of children for use as child soldiers.
Krochet Kids
www.krochetkids.org
Krochet Kids' vision is to create sustainable economic development programs that support holistic growth of individuals and communities within developing nations.
Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee
www.drinkcoffeedogood.com
Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee is engaging redemption through coffee by supporting community projects and supporting Rwandan Farmers by providing a fair, Living Wage. Drink Coffee. Do Good.
LiNK
www.linkglobal.org
LiNK is a non-profit organization that is redefining the North Korea crisis through creative storytelling, while providing emergency relief to North Korean refugees and pursuing an end to the human rights crisis.
Mission Year
www.missionyear.org
Mission Year is a year-long urban ministry program focused on Christian services and discipleship.
Not For Sale
www.notforsalecampaign.org
Not For Sale equips and mobilizes Smart Activists to re-abolish slavery--in their own backyards and across the globe.
Nuru International
www.nuruinternational.org
One Day's Wages
www.onedayswages.org
One Day's Wages (ODW) is an international grassroots movement dedicated to ending extreme global poverty. ODW promotes awareness, invites giving, and supports sustainable relief through partnerships, especially with smaller organizations in developing regions.
Orange County Rescue Mission
www.rescuemission.org
The Orange County Rescue Mission exists to minister the love of Jesus Christ to the Least, the Last, and the Lost or our Community through the provision of assistance in the areas of guidance, counseling, education, job training, shelter, food, clothing, health care and independent living communities.
People of the Second Chance
www.potsc.com
People of the Second Chance is an initiative dedicated to beginning a strategic conversation on the issues of radical integrity and radical grace.
Project 7
www.project7.com
Project 7 was created as a way to give back, inspire others and educate people on real needs throughout the world. Simply put, Project 7 exists to give. They are a cause-related company that makes every day consumer goods, like bio-bottled water, gum, mints and coffee. They aren’t asking you to buy more stuff, just change the products that you already buy. For every purchase of a Project 7 product, some good is done in seven areas of need – Feed the Hungry, Heal the Sick, Hope for Peace, House the Homeless, Quench the Thirsty, Teach them Well and Save the Earth.
Red Eye Inc.
www.redeyeinc.org
Red Eye, Inc. offers you expression and growth through social gatherings, humanitarian relief, and the exploration of culture and the arts. It's an organization allowing you to champion your personal platforms and give back to humanitarian causes that are close to your heart. Don't have any yet? We'll help you find some!
Rwanda Clean Water
www.rwandacleanwater.com
Launched through the Catalyst community, this project has impacted nearly 340,000 people with clean water by working directly with churches and pastors in their communities to find the best locations for the clean water solution.
SafeWorldNexus
www.safeworldnexus.com
SafeWorldNexus promotes safer living through clean water, hygiene training, better medical access and safe environments for orphans and other vulnerable groups.
Samaritan's Purse
www.samaritanspurse.org
Samaritan's Purse is an international Christian relief and evangelism organization providing spiritual and physical aid to victims of war, poverty, natural disaster, and disease.
Servolution
www.servolution.org
A Servolution is not an event; it is a culture. This movement is rumbling throughout the body of Christ - a revolutionary army of people ready to take up this mandate. We are actively pursuing the lost, the forgotten, and the poor to show them a God who is passionately in love with them.
TOMS
www.toms.com
For every pair of TOMS shoes purchased, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need.
The A21 Campaign
www.thea21campaign.org
The A21 Campaign is comprised of individuals, organizations, government officials, and people like you who are committed to abolishing injustice in the 21st century.
To Write Love on Her Arms
www.twloha.com
To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for those struggling with addiction, depression self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and invest directly into treatment and recovery.
Trade as One
www.tradeasone.com
Through the use of tailored programs and events, Trade as One exists to enable thought leading churches to use fair trade as a vehicle to subvert consumerism, to teach that spending is a discipleship issue and to create sustainable jobs for some of the most vulnerable people in the world.
Tronie Foundation
www.troniefoundation.org
The Tronie Foundation mentors survivors of slavery, both to become leaders and to work together with global leaders in the movement to end human trafficking.
Veritas Fashion
www.liveveritas.com
The Veritas brand is designed to bring community together through a combination of the Arts.
Word Made Flesh
www.wordmadeflesh.com
Word Made Flesh is called and committed to serve Jesus among the most vulnerable of the world's poor.
Contact Us
Address:
Catalyst
702 Old Peachtree Road
Suwanee, GA 30024
Phone: 888.334.6569
Fax: 678.225.3424
Additional Information:
For general information, email us at info@catalystspace.com
If you have feedback about the Catalyst conference, this website, or Catalyst resources, email us at feedback@catalystspace.com
For information about Catalyst Filter, email filter@catalystspace.com
Click here for information about Catalyst team members.
E-mail podcast host
E-mail Catalyst Monthly
Sponsor Information:
For information on Sponsorships, Advertising, and Exhibit Booths contact Ken Coleman with Conexus Group
Ken Coleman
Phone: 678.595.9761
ken@conexusgroup.net
Fax: 770.783.8200
Internship Experience:
Learn more about the Catalyst Internship Experience here. To apply for the Catalyst Internship Experience, fill out the application here. If you have additional questions, please contact stan.johnson@catalystspace.com.
Vision
Shaping Leaders in the Church
The core vision of Catalyst has always been to impact the next generation. By creating “change agents” throughout the church that possess wisdom and understanding, the opportunity is created to usher in the necessary adjustments to an ever-evolving church.
By helping these leaders grow in their leadership ability – Catalyst can have impact on an entire generation. We have a high belief in the impact that one changed life can have on another and therefore focus our efforts towards personal change with a community application.
Catalyst sees a need to ignite and unite the next generation of leaders allowing their passions and gifts to flourish and have maximum impact in our churches and culture.
History
The Genesis of Catalyst
Catalyst was conceived as a Next Generation Leaders Conference in 1999 by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner, John Maxwell, Lanny Donoho and several young leaders. Catalyst was created to meet the felt need that existed within the church leader space for a leadership event that was focused on a new generation of church leaders. Everything within this space seemed built around a forty to sixty year old mindset and medium. This team was convinced that this needed to change.
Catalyst was able to meet that demand by creating a conference specifically focused on leaders under the age of 40. In October of 2000 in Atlanta, GA, partnering with North Point Community Church, Catalyst convened 1500 church leaders for this inaugural experience. With a unique approach to programming and learning, defined by a fun, dynamic attendee experience, leaders were personally challenged to become "change agents" within their organizations, churches and communities.
Since inception, over 100,000 leaders have made the annual trek to Atlanta to participate in the Catalyst Conference experience, and this October, once again over 12,000 young leaders will gather to experience Catalyst up close. In addition, over 3,000 leaders will gather for the Catalyst West Coast experience in Orange County, CA and 3,000 more will gather for the first ever Catalyst in Dallas.
Leadership has been the topic of focus for the Catalyst brand since inception and will continue to be so. Catalyst and the annual Conferences provide a wide cover for addressing a variety of topics specific to Next Generation Leaders, including organizational leadership, personal leadership, integrity, character, relationships, and teamwork, among others. Over the last eleven years, Catalyst has grown in influence and reach, now offering three annual events on the East and West coast and in Dallas, regional One Day events, multiple resources, a dedicated online magazine, online community, the Filter content program, a bi-weekly podcast, and many other tools for young leaders. Catalyst has only just begun to go deeper with the Catalyst Community in taking them beyond a conference experience and into a relationship that provides ongoing support for growth and continued learning.
