Conference Rethinks Methods, Not Gospel Message
by Staff
November 21, 2007
GARDEN GROVE, California, (christiansunite.com) -- Rethink, a groundbreaking conference scheduled for January 17-19 at The Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, is being attacked from some corners of the country. Some media outlets are using inflammatory words like "heretic" and "apostasy" to describe Rethink host Dr. Robert H. Schuller and his ministry, while other bloggers and talk-show hosts are decrying Rethink's convergence of some of the most influential Christian and global thinkers, innovators, and leaders.For three days, leaders of communities, businesses, churches and culture will be immersed in the latest thoughts of well-known and respected icons in media, politics, faith, science, business and technology... making some religious pundits very, very nervous. But H.B. London, a Vice President at Focus on the Family and one of Rethink's scheduled speakers responds: "The goal is not to "rethink" the message of the gospel, but to "rethink" the methods we use to communicate the gospel in a constantly changing world." The organizers also hope to challenge the way that leaders relate to culture, social change and world events.
Rethink Co-Founder and Church Communication Network (CCN) CEO Bill Dallas states, "The Crystal Cathedral and Church Communication Network remain united in our association, our commitment to the truth of God's Word, our passion for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and our groundbreaking approach to conferencing excellence. Despite the criticism and detractors, we are not dissuaded from our goal: to harvest the very best perspectives, discoveries, strategies and action plans to empower people to reach their greatest level of service... even if those elements come from some unexpected sources."
More than 2,000 attendees are expected to be onsite at the Crystal Cathedral and many thousands more will participate through CCN's network of satellite simulcast technology. The first 500 onsite registrants for the Rethink Conference, sponsored by iQuestions.com, will be able to choose one of the speakers with whom to have a small-group luncheon and will also receive VIP seating and a free, signed copy of the speaker's latest book.
Bill Hybels, Founding Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago, says, "I listened to Dr. Schuller's lectures about the kind of faith it takes to do something that you believe God is calling you to do. And no one will ever know, truly, the impact of Dr. Schuller on my life in those early days. He bolstered my fledgling faith and he led me to believe that a 21- year-old Dutch kid could start a church in a movie theatre and I'm grateful ever since."
