What is GLS Partnership?
GLS Partnerships is an opportunity for churches to support the GLS in a specific country, city or international host church through relationship with their church leaders. Through this partnership, under-resourced churches across the globe are able to host the GLS, thus giving under-resourced leaders the opportunity to receive world-class training and resources, and change their church and their world. Think about it. Think about the incredible power and grace of God to take the Global Leadership Summit (GLS) and unleash it on the world. In the last six years, the reach of GLS has grown from nine countries to more than 70 countries, serving more than 135,000 leaders. The last six years have been a defining time in the life of the Willow Creek Association, and our eyes are open to possibilities that we never dared to dream. The GLS has truly grown from a single event to a global leadership movement. It has united leaders across racial, cultural, and denominational divides and empowered them with their own vision for their churches and communities. A New Vision. A New Dynamic.While the growth of the GLS is remarkable on shear numbers alone, a new dynamic has emerged that has us charged with excitement about the future of this event and its ability to impact leaders, churches and communities around the world. That new dynamic is you…our partners and Willow Creek Association Member Churches. Not content to just send your staff to the event, you look across the globe and see the need and potential for the GLS in parts of the world where poverty, oppression, injustice, and hostility are rallied against the Church and the local leaders struggle valiantly to fulfill their commissions. You "adopt" churches, cities and even entire countries. You send volunteers and/or resources, you forge partnerships, and in doing so you represent the true power of the GLS…the power of committed leaders to help other committed leaders share the love and hope of Christ, regardless of social and economic circumstances. 
A Call for PartnershipWe want to ask you to continue to join us in this global movement. Now is the time to break through whatever barriers remain. We have experience in running the GLS events in almost every social, political, and economic scenario imaginable. But the Willow Creek Association can't pull it off alone. We need partners who will embrace the global vision, who will ignite their congregation's passion to raise up leaders, and who will take responsibility for sharing the life-changing, church-changing, and community-changing impact of GLS around the world. We urge you to prayerfully consider these opportunities and share in the awe-inspiring work God is able to accomplish when we align our talents, passion, and resources. Steps Toward Partnership:STEP 1: Cast your vision Most churches already have some form of international ministry or ministry to under-resourced areas. Maybe your church has missionaries in a certain county. Or perhaps a sister, partner or exchange church. Maybe you already support a domestic under-resourced ministry or an international leader or mission effort. Maybe you send teams to serve. Now imagine those same efforts, leaders and churches having access to the world-class training and resources of The Global Leadership Summit. Imagine infusing the people and places you already serve with passion, knowledge, skills and encouragement that build a foundation for long-term service to their communities in Christ's name. STEP 2: Commit to partnership Implementing the GLS events in under-resourced environments internationally presents an array of challenges and opportunities. That's why we are inviting your congregation and leadership to identify what you want your role to be in supporting the expansion of The Global Leadership Summit:
STEP 3: Contact the Willow Creek Association Our goal is to align your passion and resources with the long-term plan and short-term needs of The Global Leadership Summit. To join us as part of this global leadership movement, contact: Steven Young |
