Local leaders inspired by speakers at Global Leadership Summit

The Global Leadership Summit, hosted by La Croix United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau on Thursday and Friday, inspired the area's leaders who, by their definition, is anyone.

The Global Leadership Summit originated at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago by founder and senior pastor Bill Hybels.

The theme of this year's leadership summit, which 470 people attended, was "lead where you are." It invited those who take a leadership role, whether it be at the workplace, church, community or home, to participate in listening to a variety of speakers share their experiences of leadership through the church.

"Our definition of a leader is anyone who has influence, so that applies to everybody," said Susan Leming, on-site event manager for the event and connections director for La Croix.

Leming has worked behind the scenes of the leadership summit since La Croix four years ago was asked to be a satellite site. The Global Leadership Summit has expanded to sites in more than 300 cities in North America, and reaches thousands in the fall with international events in 92 countries.

Leming associates the summit with Christmas in August, and loves working with the event's volunteers and seeing new faces from other churches and organizations attend.

"This is a time for them to be inspired and just be able to re-energize; [to] sharpen their leadership skills," Leming said.

Judy Wilferth and her husband went to Chicago to hear Bill Hybels speak years ago, and were invited to travel to the St. Louis event when the city was asked to be a host satellite site for the leadership summit. They have attended the event for the last four years in Cape Girardeau.

Wilferth said she and her husband are fortunate to be able to attend, and she said the event provides attendees many practical ways to lead people.

"I say they are fun and funny and uplifting and encouraging and full of information," Wilferth said. "And we get to hear such outstanding speakers and believers, and how they have witnessed and how they have served. And it's just inspiring; it really is. It's a great way to spend eight hours."

Speakers Thursday included the Rev. Bill Hybels, Gen. Colin Powell, author and speaker Patrick Lencioni and television producer Mark Burnett.

Wilferth said Lencioni shared how he serves as a Christian, and Powell was "just a good guy" and someone individuals can model themselves after.

"To be the international figure that he is, he speaks in a way that is just completely understanding and inspiring, too," she said.

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