This piece is adapted from Dave's full review of the Willow Creek Association's Global Leadership Summit at our sister site, BuildingChurchLeaders.com. Be sure to read the full version if you like what's here.

Or if you like Taylor Swift, who makes a couple surprise appearances.

-Paul

1. Leadership requires courage in large amounts. And because Bill Hybels devoted his entire opening talk on this topic, it must be an issue for many other leaders and not just me. Whew, what a relief! Too often, leadership talks leave me feeling wildly inadequate to continue under the weight of an organization rather than motivated to make a difference. Speakers certainly don't set out with that goal, but many messages share the ideal rather than what's real. They can come just short of saying, "C'mon, it's just that easy," while leaving out the barriers and challenges.

Leadership is many things, but easy is not one.

The very welcome turn down reality road came immediately after Hybels said, "God didn't make ...