Catalyst Welcomes Over 8,500 Next Generation Leaders to Atlanta

Today, more than 8,500 pastors, young professionals, worship leaders and other Christian leaders in their 20s and 30s are gathering for a ''powerful convergence'' of next generation leaders.

Today, more than 8,500 pastors, young professionals, worship leaders and other Christian leaders in their 20s and 30s are gathering for a “powerful convergence” of next generation leaders.

The two-day Catalyst Conference, which began today in Atlanta, Ga., will feature talks by the nation's foremost Christian experts on leadership who look to “ignite passion for Christ and develop the leadership potential of the next generation, equipping them to engage and impact their world,” according to the event’s organizers.

“Catalyst's original formula has always been about leadership,” the organizers state on the event’s website, in reference to this year’s theme: “Vintage Catalyst.”

“Specifically, it has been about addressing and supporting the unique needs of Next Generation Leaders, their vision, and their revolutionary spirit,” they added.

In just five years, over 25,000 Catalyst alumni have proven that the need for community, leadership, innovation, and collaborative learning are “greater than we ever imagined,” according to the event’s organizers.

For this reason, the Catalyst crew is again “anchoring our speaker lineup” with some “favorite leadership authorities,” in addition to some new speakers.

This year, speakers include Andy Stanley, Lead Pastor of North Point Community Church – one of the fastest growing churches in America today; Erwin McManus, the Founding and Teaching Pastor for MOSAIC – a “remarkably diverse” ethnic and cultural congregation in Los Angeles; Malcolm Gladwell, Bestselling Author of Blink! and The Tipping Point; John C. Maxwell, author of more than thirty books, including the New York Times best-sellers, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and Failing Forward; Donald Miller, Author of Blue Like Jazz; Louie Giglio, Founder of the Passion Movement; and Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church.

During the conference at The Arena at Gwinnett Center in Northeast Atlanta, the seven speakers will “creatively and strategically” bring an ageless message to a changing culture. The goal of the conference is six-fold:

• To help in the spiritual development of next generation leaders;
• To maximize the leadership potential of the next generation;
• To confront the moral relativism that permeates the next generation’s mindset by infusing its events, resources and experiences with the unchanging truth of God’s Word;
• To respond to the evolving mindset and trends of next generation leaders;
• To reach the next generation of leaders in, by and through the local church, equipping churches to understand, reach and invest in their spiritual and professional development; and
• To encourage and equip young leaders to effectively pursue the life-on-life connection with other generations for the purpose of transferring spiritual and life wisdom from one generation to the next.

Through training and resources, the conference looks to provide relevant solutions that connect and develop next generation leaders.

The conference, which began today with the first session at 8:30 a.m., will conclude tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. Online registration for the conference is no longer available; however, in-person registration can be done at the event.