3:00PM - Meeting with Matt Benson, Dr. Stephen Livesay, and Bryan College Student Leaders

We met Matt Benson in the Bryan College library and he was standing in the lobby with the President of Bryan College, Dr. Stephen Livesay. Before heading to meet with the team of student leaders that Matt had rallied together we had the opportunity to ask Dr. Livesay a question that we have been asking several leaders on this road trip, "If you could say one thing to young leaders in the church what would you say?" Dr. Livesay answered, "there is great temptation for a leader to make plans and then cut corners to manipulate them into reality when things don't go as planned." The goal is not to accomplish what you set out to do... it's to follow the Lord. Dr. Livesay's response was punctuated with his reference to Psalm 24:3-4, "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart... " Yesterday, Brian Bloye at West Ridge Church said something very similar, "stay holy." Dr. Livesay contined by adding insight that was extremely timely for us. He talked about how liberating it is for a leader to follow God one day at a time and allow His plan to unfold. It is the Lord who is at work on behalf of those who trust and follow Him. An unplanned opportunity to meet with the President of Bryan college set the stage for a great meeting with Matt and his student leaders... (video)

Tim Shetter, Residential Director for Bryan College, invited us into his apartment on campus where Matt introduced us to three student leaders who have been a part of Catalyst for the past several years - Paul, Paige, and Kim. All three students spoke about the power of shared experiences (most notably the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta) and how community is birthed out of the adventure of something greater. They have grown though the process of engaging leadership content just as much, if not more, than from the content itself.

Matt is the Dean of Spiritual Formation for Bryan College. What? Yeah - we came up with a much cooler title for him and after today's meeting Matt will now be knows as the Bryan College Student Sensei. It incorporates the image of a mentor with martial arts expertise - all three students talked about how Matt is known as the guy who will "kick" you out of your comfort zone! Here what Matt had to say when asked the question, "What are you learning right now that you can pass on to young leaders?"