Highlights of Catalyst 2009

The 10th year of Catalyst:Atlanta is in the books.  Over 13,300 leaders packed into a sold out Gwinnett Arena.  Leaders from all 50 states and 20 countries — an amazing community of next generation leaders.  Plus, the Catalyst Backstage online experience, for those who couldn't be with us in person in Atlanta, included over 20,000 leaders from 88 countries around the world.  What a great overall experience and celebration!  Celebrating 10 years of the Catalyst movement — we’ve accomplished much over the past ten years, but still, there is so much more to do together.

This year's collection of speakers was off the chart.  A summary of each speaker’s talk is included in this month's edition of Catalyst Monthly.  The musicians, artists, talent and experience performers were the best ever.  Thanks to FEE Band, Aaron Keyes, Eddie Kirkland, Zach Williams, Christy Nockels, Kari Jobe, RoseAngela Merritt, Reid Greven, Chrystina Fincher, and all the musicians involved this year.  And who will ever forget Professor Splash breaking the Guinness World Record for the highest shallow dive ever!

I am proud of the Catalyst community.  Proud to be a part of this movement, but also proud of the leaders who call themselves Catalysts.  Not only was this a great year of inspiring content, powerful moments of worship, and unprecedented experiences, but it was also a chance for Catalyst to leverage the power of 13,000 + leaders gathered together for truly living out what it means to be a Catalyst.  Wanted to highlight a few things that stood out:

1. Orphans: www.143million.org - a brand new website designed to help you understand how you and your church or organization can be part of meeting the needs of the orphan around the world.

2. Children: over 1000 children were sponsored at Catalyst this year through Compassion International.  You can watch the incredibly powerful moment with Jimmy, a sponsored child from Kenya, as he meets his sponsor Mark from the US for the very first time.  I am proud of the Catalyst community of leaders for stepping up and making a difference in the lives of over 1000 kids in need of OUR help around the world.

3. Adoption: A powerful moment highlighting the need for the Church to engage around the issue of adoption. You can watch the interview with Mac Powell, lead singer of Third Day, as he talks about he and his wife Amy’s recent adoption of Immanuel, their newborn.  In partnership with Bethany Christian Services, you can receive a free DVD that will help you understand how you and your Church can get involved in leading the conversation on Adoption.

4. Microfinance: In partnership with Hope International, we have created www.neverendinghope.org, a new campaign designed to encourage Catalyst leaders to get involved in providing loans to others in poverty around the world.  We CAN make a difference. And thanks to Jessica Jackley and KIVA for their incredible leadership over the past several years in the area of microfinance.

5. Domestic Relief: helping Atlanta Flood Victims through HOPE ATL, Homeless ministry through Safehouse Outreach, and Hunger ministry through Convoy of Hope.

6. Africa: Rwanda Clean Water (partnership with Rwanda that is providing clean water to now over 300,000 Rwandans), 410 Bridge (partnership with Kenya and our partner in creating the 143 key chains)

Thank you for continuing to be part of this movement of leaders we call Catalyst! The revolution continues....

We’ll see many of you in Southern California in April for our 2nd annual Catalyst West Coast gathering, and we’ll be visiting several cities in 2010 with Catalyst One Day featuring Andy Stanley and Craig Groeschel, and then back in Atlanta in October 2010 for Catalyst East! We are grateful for you and your leadership.

On the Journey,

Brad Lomenick

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