LAKE FOREST, California - The Purpose Driven Summit is back but with a different purpose.
Although the conference is normally held every year to train pastors in the Purpose Driven Network, this year it is being presented a little differently after an 18-month hiatus.
For the first time in 20 years, instead of teaching his Purpose Driven techniques, Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren said he felt God calling him to "be quiet and listen".
He therefore spent the last two years travelling the world, listening to the dreams, hurts, needs and concerns of pastors.
This week, Christian leaders from around the world have gathered to learn the best practices for 21st century church issues from 35 influential and effective US pastors, including Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, New York, and Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington.
On Monday, participants of the invitation-only conference heard from three strings of panelists on evangelism, fellowship and preaching.
During the evangelism discussion, panellists agreed that evangelism must be programmed into the "cultural DNA" of the church in order to be effective.
Bob Roberts, senior pastor of Dallas-based Northwood Church, pointed out that Jesus' disciples didn't have Gospel tracts or crusades but had incorporated evangelism into their everyday lifestyle.
In order for evangelism to work, we have to live it, Roberts told the crowd. "If you're defined primarily by Sunday, you're just a religious show."
Pastor Mark Batterson of National Community Church in Washington DC, said one challenge churches face in evangelism is overcoming the selfish motives for church attendance.
