(Made it back and already looking forward to next year. I absolutely love this conference. It’s been on my radar now for over 4 years. I did my best to Twitter and Facebook some of the conference’s best quotes as I heard them…but the rest…I reserved for here…)

Sound bite’s from the conference…

Pastor Gerald Brooks on leadership…

"1500 Pastors leave the ministry every month."

"Sr. Pastors have a 50% casualty rate." (Basically means if you are a Sr. Pastor…I’m praying for you!)

"The Kingdom of God is still built on pastors that show up every week to their churches."

"In 1950 a pastor only needed 6 skill sets to pastor a church…Today a pastor needs 27 skill sets." (Addressing the generational changes we are seeing)

"The average head weighs 25 pounds. Some of you are above average." (Wow, he has a sense of humor.)

"Most people want to be a part of a church of 200 members…but want mega-church programs." (Addressing a statistical poll of what people are looking for)

"People come to church to be motivated…"

"If you are not praying, you can’t be leading…"

Sr. Pastors; “If anything goes wrong you get the blame…so take responsibility.”

Sr. Pastors; “Pastoring is your job; the community is where you serve.”

Sr. Pastors; “Does someone have the ability to tell you ‘no’? If not, there should be.”

"I watched a lot of pastors go it alone…now they are alone."

"If you don’t any fire…better learn how to blow smoke."

Sr. Pastors; “Ministry requires adjustment and good leaders adjust. As a pastor you must know what never changes and you must recognize what should change.”

"Bigger churches have bigger problems."

"Your identity must be greater than your ministries."

"Experience is the best teacher, but the tuition is high."

"You can’t pastor without giving your heart. You can’t change a heart without giving yours…"

"You are never so gifted that your life is void of discipline. Your discipline will make the lasting difference."

“Most ministers fail because of lack of discipline.”

“As Jesus began his ministry, the first thing He did what to find His team. Why? Lasting success involves others.”

“Don’t reproduce what you say. Reproduce what you do.”

“No single church is the replacement for the ministry of Christ.”

“Spiritual maturity begins when you understand that you are responsible for your own soul.”