The Road Warrior UNLEASHED
I have just had one of the greatest days of my life. And that is no embellishment.
One of the greatest joys I have as a Road Warrior is that I get to develop friendships with great people all over the country, and in 21 years, I have developed more than a few. Today, it was almost like someone planned a big party and invited a majority of old friends, people I have known and preached for and served, to come and party with me. I just pulled in the driveway from UNLEASH. It is a pastor’s/church planting conference put on by Newspring Church, the church where I serve as teaching pastor and where my good friend and accountability partner Perry Noble serves as pastor.
The band was tighter than my dad’s checking account. The food was delicious, the coffee was strong, the weather was perfect, the atmosphere was electric (boogie woogie woogie woo), the teaching was terrific, the preaching was phenomenal, and the event was second to none. Kudos to the team and volunteers and Newspring for exceeding anyones expectations and doing everything with excellence.
For me, the most meaningful part of the day was seeing old friends and knowing the reason they came. I had a chance to talk with Jay Hardwick, a younger brother (than me) who I have admired for years. We shared meals at the Waffle House and some good times at North Greenville University. I got to see Howard Allen, one of the very first pastors to believe in me. He allowed me to preach a revival at his church in Blacksburg SC when I was 17 years old. I got to see Lee Clamp, one of the best youth ministers in America, as well as about 18 other pastors and youth pastors that have entrusted me to preach in their churches, to their students or their adults, over the past 2 decades.
I sat beside Ray Hardee for a session, a man who mentored me in college and never once said a negative word to me about anyone. I had a chance to see Steven Furtick for a few minutes. First time I ever met him, I knew he was nuts and he was annointed. I am so proud of how God is using him in Charlotte and honored that he worked with us at Crossroads for 3 years before he planted Elevation.
But what brought me to tears, for real, was seeing my accountability partner and friend stand up on the stage and adress pastors, volunteers, church planters, and lay people, encouraging them not to copy any other church or model but to simply do what God has called them to do. Nearly a decade ago, before Newspring was running 9,000 people a week, it was a small Bible study that met with 12 people in Sullivan Hall on Anderson College’s campus. Nobody had any idea what it would become.
Today, 2,000 plus people came to Anderson SC because my friend had a vision and he stuck to it. Perry Noble and I became friends in 1990 when we were nobodies and had nothing to offer. We are still nobodies with nothing to offer, but by God’s grace, we have remained faithful to His calling. And God has given Perry a platform because he has been faithful and he has preached the gospel. I was overcome by joy and happiness today, seeing old friends, reconnecting with brothers and sisters I have not seen in years, and rejoicing in how God has used a guy that I have known and loved for a decade to change a city and a region for the gospel. May God give us the satisfaction of seeing our friends succeed, bear fruit, build the kingdom, and may we rejoice in their blessing and annointing for the glory of God.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Awesome Clayton. Looking forward to hearing you again Sunday
March 14th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
It was good to see you again at Unleash… and btw:
Howard Allen has a blog: http://www.JustForJesus.net
March 14th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I agree! Unleash was an amazing experience for our team. We loved it and we are so excited about what God is doing everywhere! We met some great leaders from churches all over the place. I loved the Bon Jovi Wanted video/song! I met Bon Jovi in the 80’s and have his autograph somewhere. If I could ever find it I would ebay it! I did not know you would be there or I would have loved to introduce you to the team we brought. Great stuff. Jesus is just soooo awesome and I am so thankful to be on His team. God has given you some awesome friends and experiences Clayton and I believe the best is yet to come!
March 14th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Clayton,
It was great to see you yesterday! I am ready for a helping of some Clayton preaching this week! Perry was indeed awesome yesterday! God has given him such an awesome vision and he is totally committed to it. How blessed am I that I get to be a small part of such a HUGE move of God?
Thanks for being here yesterday, Clayton! It was awesome to see you!
See ya Sunday!
Leslie
March 15th, 2008 at 5:11 am
Praise Jesus! Just rejoicing with you all - it is awesome to hook up with God’s people, and enjoy God’s awesome grace together! Thank God for the culture of honor that is part of His Kingdom!
We too just finished a fabulotastic conference here in India, with graduates of ours and fellow ministers from around the region.
March 15th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Clayton,
I saw you from a distance a couple of times at Unleash but didn’t get a chance to hook up with you. Man, our team was super-charged by this experience. I rejoice at the way God is using people like you, Perry, Steven, and a host of other young, fired up dudes who never compromise the Truth! God is blessing because of that. I pray for God’s anointing to be on EVERY ministry that faithfully preaches God’s Word and we continually pray for you and Crossroads Worldwide. Can’t wait to hear what God says through you at Newspring this week!
March 15th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Hey Clayton,
It was good to “meet” you again at Unleash. Just wanted to let you know that Pastor Howard has a blog, too! You can check it out at…
http://www.justforjesus.net/
Here’s Jeffery’s too (he doesn’t post much, but we are working on him!)
http://therealdill.blogspot.com/
Just thought I’d share…Have a great night!!
March 16th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Clayton,
I just wanted to say thank you for following your Savior into a calling. I have seen God work through you in many ways. This past weekend my wife and I got to spend some time in the metropolis of Mitchell County. We work at a childrens home in NC and we brought 6 of our boys to experience God on a different level at Ignite 08. We give praise to God because he planted seeds that we are going to get the chance to nourish. One of our boys received Christ and that is to be praised above all! Thank you for true passion for God and the way you share it!
March 18th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
thanks to everyone who responded, I left this blog post up for a few extra days so that everyone could read about the blessing of UNLEASH.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Clayton,
You’re the REAL DEAL! Thank you for your comments about me. Thank you most of all for your faithfulness and stewardship of your gifts to the King and His Kingdom. Few know the battles you fight. Fewer still know your huge faith. It’s an honor to call you friend, co-laborer in the greatest work of all-the kingdom of God, and a Lion in Mind and Action with the Heart of the Lamb Of God.
Stay Motivated For The Master!
Ray