The schedule is finalized and the brochure is on the way to the printer, but we knew you would want a sneak preview of the topics, speakers and sessions planned for this year's Group Life Conference. John Burke kicks off the conference with a brand-new talk:

Session 1 - Why Community Is Essential
John Burke, Lead Pastor, Gateway Church (Austin, Texas)

Water and oxygen we understand, but why is community so essential to the human heart? John Burke digs into the theological underpinnings of group life to help you rediscover your passion for planting, cultivating, and nurturing community.

John Burke serves as lead pastor at Gateway Community Church in Austin, Texas, a congregation dedicated to helping unchurched people become a unified community of growing Christ-followers, no matter what their background or past. He is also the president of Emerging Leadership Initiative (ELI), a non-profit organization founded to help establish a multiplying network of missional churches that envision, equip, and empower young emerging leaders to plant innovative churches. He is the author of No Perfect People Allowed and Soul Revolution.  Before starting Gateway, John was the executive director of ministries at Willow Creek Community Church. He and Kathy are the parents of two children, Ashley and Justin.

The Group Life Conference 2008 "Essential for the Human Heart" opens on Thursday, October 16, 2008 at the Willow Creek campus in South Barrington, IL.  For details and early registration visit the Conference Information page. The full conference web site goes live late in May.