YWAM Canada News

May 2011

A "Q&A" update with Tanya Lyons (DTS Coordinator and CLT member) and Randy Parizeau (YWAM Nexia leader and CLT member) from the 2011 North American Leader’s Conference (NALC) - April 11-15th, Flat Rock, North Carolina

1. What is the purpose/point of this conference anyways?

Tanya: The "NALC" exists to draw together YWAMers from North America. It happens every 2 years for 3.5 days. The purpose is to worship, intercede, hear speakers, network, fellowship, hang out, attend workshops, attend focus groups, and get 3 days of input and connection with other leaders in the mission. This is Year One for YWAM. We have done 50 years and are moving forward, thinking about the next 50 years to come. It's a time to significantly reflect on where we want to go as a mission so we can move forward in strength.

Randy: The name "Leaders Conference" is not really a good name for it - it's for any leader in North America at any level in the mission.

Jon: Wow...no wonder I was confused...I thought it was "for leaders" only. I supsect that's why lots of other YWAM Canada staff don't pay much attention to it as well.

Randy: If you are a DTS leader or DTS staff person you can attend. It's not just for base leaders, it's for leaders at all levels - a school leader or a staff member who is leading others. It's for young and old and hopefully younger leaders will come to this, otherwise it's just a bunch of old guys. Haha. I can understand why most people think it's for "leaders only" but it's not! Hopefully this will help to "get the word out"!

Tanya: We had the John Dawsons, the Pete Ilyns - the people who have been in the mission for decades, as well as brand new staff, people who have led a school for the first time who want to come and learn from experienced leaders. I saw the multigenerational strength of our mission. It's a really great place to blend and mix and learn from one another. Lots of coffee meetings, picking people's brains, asking for advice and input.

Randy: Having it in a retreat setting where you are rooming together and eating together allows that kind of things to happen. A lot of the stuff happens, at least for me, outside of the official meeting times.

2. How many leaders attend?
Tanya: This year there were 248 people.

Randy: Yes, usually between 250 - 300 people attend.

3. What did you actually "DO" at the NALC?
Tanya: Like most conferences it's a combination of significant worship and prayer together, prayer for each other, and refreshment time for leaders. There were two speakers - Fred Markert - who founded YWAM NSI (Network for Strategic Initiatives) - he talked about the importance of knowing the time and season that we are in globally - not in the church alone, but culturally - the effects of economics and politics. I see that as very significant in our mission - knowing how we as the body of Christ should respond to the needs in the world globally so that we are not isolating ourselves, but are in the midst of things and bring the the gospel into dark places. Then we had Dr. Dan Allender who is a counsellor and author. He shared from a different perspective, more from a personal angle - how do you stay fresh as a leader?, what is the importance of knowing your story and sharing your story and not being afraid to talk about your own brokenness. He shared very openly about his own background of abuse and addiction and how God led him out of that. His message was that you don't have to be perfect to be a leader. We were all very inspired by his message as well.

In addition to that there were focus group times - everything from First Nations Ministry to Jewish Ministry, Kings Kids, families in ministry, a number of DTS focus things, and a time together as districts. The Canadians had a time together which was very relational and fun.

Randy: Yeah, what she said.

4. What was your favourite part of the NALC?
Randy: The favourite part of the NALC for me is actually seeing people I've known over the years, reconnecting with them and hearing what's going on where they are. To me it's about the grassroots, it's good to be inspired and challenged and to think - usually that's what a speaker brings, we need that for sure, but for me the favourite part is around the dinner table and hanging out with people and then in the evenings, going out for coffee and being able to chat and talk.

Tanya: It makes me think about the DTS - how the guest speaker is important, but really the most significant part is the conversations around the table with your small group, your roommate.

Randy: It's good to get away from my regular, day to day ministry stuff that I do all the time and it gets me somewhere else with a bunch of people who are facing similar issues that I face. In this setting I'm able to bounce ideas off others and talk about things and to be able to hear some of their ideas - usually I come away thinking "my problem isn't as bad as I thought" and others have problems bigger than mine. So to me it's healthy and for us as leaders in YWAM Canada. It's good to get out of our bubble and to be challenged with big picture, to get involved with other people who have the similar call we have. And I think also as YWAM Canada we have something to contribute, and so it's important for us to be there so our voice can be heard. If we aren't there our voice isn't heard. Out of the 248 there were just 10 from YWAM Canada.

Jon: Well, now that we know it's not just for leaders, perhaps we will have more people attend. It sounds like a great event!

Tanya: You are so right Jon, I think it's a great place to go for ideas about what's going on in the region - how to deal with challenges that we all share. There is inspiration - people are doing things I didn't even know could be done, and even networking. Something I was looking for was potential speakers for DTS and I met a number of people who would have a lot to contribute to a DTS or training event. It's also really valuable to know what's going on in the mission and what the trends are. It helps me feel connected to the larger body.

5. Why would a YWAM Canada staff person want to go to future NACLs?
Randy: The reason to go to any of these events is that it gets us out of our small box and enlarges our view. It is always a sacrifice and a cost to go to these gatherings - it costs money, it costs time, it takes energy, but I have found in my experience that it's well worth the time and energy to invest. As I invest, as I give, I receive. We will have the opportunity in Panama in 2013 for an Americas Staff Conference. This is also open to any YWAM Canada staff. I think it will be a great time for us to get together with the latinos, who bring another dynamic to who we are, hearing all the things that are going on in the Americas. I think it will be an amazing time and worth every penny to go and connect. You make new friends and you connect with old friends. For me at anything - whether it's the Rendezvous or NALC - you meet people and you never know when your paths will cross again. By going to these things it opens us up to what God is doing. It gives us the opportunity to input into the larger Mission - we have something to contribute.

Tanya: The way our Mission is structured - not top down - the beautiful thing is that everyone has access to the leaders and to information, but you do have to kind of chase it. You will not get as much from reading this interview with Randy and me as you would from attending the NALC and hearing Fred and Dan for yourself.

Come to the next NALC, come to the Rendezvous, come to the DNA, to the Go conference. Come and be a part of what God is doing in our mission. Go to conferences in other countries, make those connections and networks. Nothing is holding us back. God has great things he wants to do through us.