Catalyst Run-Down

Awesome time at Catalyst last week. Here are a few of the behind-the-scenes highlights for me...

1. Surprised by an invite to chat with Jim Collins in a private room. He asked me question after question about next generation leaders. I was dying to ask my own, but he had to go on stage.
2. Finally met Gabe Lyons. Now officially one of my favorite people.
3. William Paul Young is quite the hugger. Very passionate man.
4. Jud Wilhite is the only pastor of a 10,000 person church who doesn't act like he's the pastor of a 10,000 person church. Loved hanging with him.
5. Enjoyed dessert with my old RCC friends until midnight on Friday night.
6. Backstage was a circus. I never actually saw the elephant... or Franklin Graham for that matter.
7. Seth Godin is just as brilliant as his blog suggests. I was so proud of the Catalyst audience for receiving him well and letting him walk away with a great experience.
8. Ainsley has still never been to Catalyst. She's coming to the west coast with me though.
9. Speaking of west coast... I intentionally watched the west coast video premiere from the top of the bowl on Friday afternoon. I was holding my breath for the crowd's cheer.
10. My favorite part of Catalyst was the opener. You don't want to know how much that cost.
11. How was I fortunate enough to befriend Mike Foster?
12. Not many people know that Bethany Hoang of IJM is a classically trained pianist. She and hubby Anthony - old friends of ours - had breakfast with us on Saturday morn.
13. Daley Hake - our special photographer for Catalyst - is a prodigy.
14. Anne Jackson did so much more than run Catalyst Backstage. She became one of our team members. Awesome gal.
15. The Mariners Church team - Kyle, Kym and Tim - were doing recon on Catalyst for the west coast event at their venue. Such an enjoyable group.
16. Brad Lomenick is like a superbowl coach in my book.
17. Our only regret - not giving Matt Chandler more time.
18. It's amazing -- we have Catalyst team members who have never seen the activities INSIDE the arena because they're too busy working outside. Namely Amberly Sykes, registration guru.
19. And we have team members who have never seen the activities OUTSIDE the arena because they're too busy working inside. Namely Brian Cole, production director.
20. Aaron Keyes is without a doubt my favorite worship leader. And I have never heard him lead worship on a stage. I missed his Catalyst set. I'm talking purely about his heart.

Comments

[dewde]

Ben:

It was good to accidentally meet you on friday (you gave me directions). I didn't realize you were actually affiliated with Catalyst.

Between you and me, I'm thinking that making an enemy of Mike Foster would be more challenging than befriending him :-).

peace|dewde

[Ben Arment]

dewde, i wish i had a pseudo-name like yours.

[Clayton Bell]

Ben,

One day, my quest to come to Catalyst will be complete, but until then, still glad we met at WiBo. I'm telling you, WiBo in Tallahassee in 09!!

And Jud has 10K people in VEGAS?!?! Isn't that like 25K in the south?

[Scott Fillmer]

Great recap... that is hilarious that Collins asked you all the questions. Wish I had a chance to meet you while I was down there, but I did enjoy making some Catalyst contacts over there and can't wait to see how God uses this year's event to grow His church.

[Marcus Hackler]

For those of us who couldn't go to Catalyst - are we going to get to see the opener video?

[Ben Arment]

hmmmm... sadly, i don't think so. But honestly, I don't think video could possibly capture the building energy in the room, which is what made it so great.

[sarah]

can i come to catalyst when it's on the west coast??

funny... i was connected to Daley's blog already before you discovered him as well. this world is so smaaaaaallllllll

[Michael Mathews]

Matt Chandler rocked the house!
That dude is a rockstar!

[Steve Keyes]

Thanks for the kind words about my son, Aaron Keyes! I think he was pretty awesome too!!! We loved the conference - had our whole team there from Greenville SC!

[Nic]

Ben,
I absolutely loved Catalyst. You guys did an incredible job! And I couldn't agree more about Aaron Keyes. Wow. Incredble talent, but what blew me away more than his talent was that the passion and love for God exuded out of every pore in his body.

[Ben Arment]

so we're all in agreement here? Aaron Keyes rules?

[karen]

Yes, full agreement about Matt Chandler and Aaron Keyes rocking. I'd like to officially add Steven Furtick to that list, too - his session was solid. Can't wait for Catalyst West... Go get 'em, Ben!