ILT EXTREME! Video

ILT Meeting 2011

So, how 'hardcore' is the International Leadership Team of CSI? I figured I'd find out when we hosted them at our place over October 16-22 and test their limits. I think we all will remember the week at 'Team Extreme' as we worked hard and played hard!!!

First up on Saturday 15th we had a great intimate partners dinner hosted by the wonderful Steve and Dior Mahnken at Cronulla. What a great place to meet on the waterfront and be reminded about God at work in CSI and be entertained and challenged by Taylor's piano, Kotsy's speech, Marcus' greeting, the CSI promo DVD and my presentation.

It was a big surprise next day to hike the guys into our tent site from the top of the cliffs above my place to our hosts Tim and Kathryn Berry. I promised them it was a 5-star meeting room and 1000-star sleeping room as we camped out in tents for the next week! They loved the leeches, spiders and lizards and Sergio lost his legs for the rest of the week, "I'm a city boy, not a country boy!" he claims. However, there was some respite as the guys sat in the hot tub watching the Rugby World Cup on the big outdoor flatscreen with the odd beverage...after sneaking out of church early?!

We had an amazing time with our 2010 International Conference speaker Tim Meyers for three days of leadership development, debating issues of burnout and vitality, the nature of church and discipleship, international leadership and influence. It was an incredible privilege to glean from this brother. "Work hard and play hard" was our motto, so after the first morning of discussion and thinking, we threw Phil and Roy off a cliff, hang-gliding at Stanwell Park. Happy 50th Phil! That night the guys had to stay connected with the 'grass roots' and donned a crazy range of fancy dress to play dodgeball with our local CS groms. How Roy managed to keep attention sharing the gospel dressed in a bear suit is beyond me?! The late night camp fire was a great ending for our discussion and reflections and bunking down in the tents we got to hear all the classic Australian bush noises.

Next morning Tuesday we woke with the Kookaburra alarm. The chatty birds were our wake up call each day at daybreak...or before. Again we worked hard with Tim, then went and played hard with a drive into the National Park and a surf at Garie. The late night discussions around the campfire were stimulating.

Wednesday was Tim's last session with us, and you can't have an international speaker along and not show them some hospitality so we took him and the team to the 'cave of death' in Kiama. Tim says he will never let his international staff complain about how they 'rough it' ever again!! Crazy fun jumping off a cliff and swimming 100m into the dark of a sea cave. Great to have a meal at the home of Marcus Judge, our Board Chairman, and thanks Anne for an awesome meal.

Thursday was a day to review the world geographically as well as review our world strategies. Again, it was very special to reflect upon all that God has done amongst us and the many challenges as well. Boys being boys, it became a roof jumping challenge for the 7m diving tower. Since I have a wood fire and had run out of timber, I figured an afternoon activity of chainsaw work and log splitting would be fun. I drove away with a full trailer of timber...the guys with a full hand of blisters. Gordy is the master of the chainsaw and fell an 8m tree.

Friday was a special combined day with the CSI Board of Directors as we reviewed our systems and structures and dreamed about the future. A world swim race was held and South Africa's Roy Harley and Aussie board member Brad Whittaker are the fastest in the pool. We combined these two teams with our office team of great volunteers for a dinner at our place, Gill, the wonder host, was not phased with 25 of us there. So special to have Lisa and Phil Imisides out together after years of Phil's illness. Eric Arakawa presented Phil Williams with another 50th gift, a new surfboard.

Saturday was a Board meeting and thanks to input from Alan Vink who joined us all the way from NZ to consult, ever appreciate his wisdom. There was spirited debate about church partnering, our vision statement, affiliation and how they could support myself and the future. 

I must say, it was sad seeing the guys head off to the airport over Sunday and rather boring at the office next week (no offense to you Aaron) after such a week. I know it will go down as a life changing, team building experience and much vision and Godly principle laid that will echo into the future.

So for the 2011 International Leadership Team Meeting, it was 'Team Extreme' and I'm so encouraged we have an extreme, Godly team who also know how to have a heap of fun. Christian Surfers is in good hands.