It's here! The Group Life 2008 Conference web site has launched and you can visit it now. Here you will find 30 pages of online content to surf and enjoy!

Find out what's new at this year's conference. Learn about our innovative and influential speakers, dynamic worship, and uplifting music and drama in five Main Sessions on Thursday, October 16 and Saturday, October 18. Come early (before the 12:30 p.m. start on Thursday) and enjoy the Pre-Conference Experiences.

On Friday you can choose to attend our four Featured Breakouts or mix and match over 50 other General Breakout options. Ministry Point Leaders can choose extended-length, add-on Point Leader Breakouts. Learn more about breakout options and suggested tracks by visitIng the Breakout Breakdown.

You can see the entire Conference at a Glance.

Get registration details and travel tips. Download the brochure or promotional tools for your church, send the link to this site to a friend, or take a look back at ten years of Group Life. You can review videos and browse through resources.

Can't make it to Chicago? It's available via satellite! Learn how to attend a broadcast near you or host the broadcast in your church.

Visit the site, Learn all the conference details, and register your team now for best savings!

We wanted to end the conference with a bang, so how about an NFL football player - turned pastor from California to challenge us, inspire us, pump us up, and send us back in the game?

Session 5 - How Community Transforms
Miles McPherson, Senior Pastor, The Rock Church (San Diego, CA)

When community works — when it’s characterized by good health and a supportive environment — it can have a transformative effect on individuals, on churches, and within entire neighborhoods. Miles McPherson details the importance of a community-focused church, and the power of community to impact our culture.

Miles McPherson is the President of Miles Ahead, and is an internationally known speaker whose bold, down-to-earth, and humorous style has become his trademark. His relevant message challenges both the young and young-minded and often compels them to recalibrate their lives in light of the Gospel.

McPherson achieved All-American honors in college football and went on to play as a defensive back for the San Diego Chargers. He earned an MDiv and is now Senior Pastor of the Rock Church in San Diego, where more than 11,000 people attend one of five weekend services. McPherson is the author of several books and articles, and in 2007 earned an Emmy Award for a documentary on methamphetamine.

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.

After a full day of breakouts on Friday, October 17, we'll head back to the main auditorium on Saturday morning for more worship, drama... and Bill Donahue! We can't even mention the title of session four without cracking up:

Session 4 - Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
Bill Donahue, Executive Director of Group Life, Willow Creek Association (South Barrington, IL)

Why do some community initiatives fly and others fall flat? Bill Donahue investigates how certain strategies flounder, the missing essentials that led to their failure, and how you can avoid making the same mistakes — or if you’ve made them already, how you can get back on your feet.

Bill will use video clips submitted by conference guests as illustrations of the Best, Worst stories from their experiences leading Group Life. You can submit video entries for this (and win fabulous prizes!) when the details are announced right here in a few days.

Bill Donahue’s passion for helping churches develop leaders through small groups led him to Willow Creek in 1992. Bill is currently the Executive Director of Group Life for the Willow Creek Association. Prior to that, he served on the staff of Willow Creek Community Church for six years, helping launch and develop the church-wide small group ministry. He was also leader of the Couples Ministry, Director of the Willow Creek Institute, and headed the Leadership Training Department. Bill has a Ph.D. in Adult Education from the University of North Texas, a Master’s in Biblical Studies from Dallas Seminary, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Princeton University.

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.