10:15PM (Last Night) - The night is still young with Donnie and Christy Slade and their three rugrats - Trip (15), Ty (12), and Taylor (11). We had diner at Jefferson's in downtown Rome, GA (Monday night is Burger Night!). As we were talking with Donnie and Christy shortly after finishing our food, we looked out the window to see Ty laying on his back on his skateboard flying down the sidewalk with Trip and Taylor looking on... Christy's response, "well, at least the hospital is only a block away!" They are a fun family and we had a great time hearing their story. Donnie Slade grew up here in Rome, GA and never thought he would come back to live here, but now he finds himself back home with a vision to reach his community. As we have heard from many people on this road trip Catalyst has been a place where Donnie finds permission to go after his dreams, and he is...

Donnie Slade has planted three churches in Rome, GA. He is currently with Life Church located in the heart of downtown Rome. (We were going to sleep at the church until Donnie's kids challenged us to Halo 3; Jesse made it his mission to teach them a lesson!) In addition to working with Life Church Donnie is the event director for Kidz Blitz, a new kind of ministry designed to raise the quality of ministry to families and children. Kidz Blitz is labeled as "America's Premier High Octane Family Event" - kind of like dinner with the Slades! If Donnie pursues his church and his ministry to kids with a sliver of the passion with which he pursues his own family then He has honored the Lord. It's fun to see a dad and husband who loves his family. Donnie is using the leadership lessons he has learned from Catalyst to take further steps into the call he feels from the Lord - as he and Christy were talking it became apparent that Jim Collins' book, Good to Great, has been a continual source of wisdom. "You've got to get the right people in the right seat," Donnie said. It is a joy to walk alongside the Slades as they impact their community. We will make a trip back here again soon...