We receive lots of encouraging stories from men across the UK who have attended a CVM event. Check out this letter we received from ‘Bob’ (not his real name) who attended the National CVM Conference – Codelife 2010, earlier this year.

Dear CVM,

First of all I want to say a big thank you for the conference last month. This I the first time I have been involved in this type of event and despite several reservations before hand it was an incredible experience!

I just wanted to briefly let you know of the significance of the weekend for me. Once I finally convinced myself to attend (yes, like a typical guy, I don’t make anything simple!) I realized that this could be a great opportunity to spend some valuable time with God without some of the usual distractions of everyday life. So I decided that I would aim to deal with a particular area of like which clearly needed addressing. Prior to the conference I prayed and prayed… I told God that I really wanted to deal with this area and asked (actually begged at times) for his support.

The thing is you see, I am a relatively new Christian and have a lot to learn. However the one thing that has become evident is that God doesn’t do things in the way, or time I would like. Therefore, intellectually I realized that despite my prayers and my intentions God wouldn’t necessarily do what I had planned!

A quick silly example which illustrates my point – when I first became a Christian I prayed that God would help me sort out some particular issues from the past. Instead something amazing happened and I found overnight that I wasn’t swearing nearly as much as I used to. That’s great I thought: God has given me something which was amazing and free… but where was my bloody answer to my prayer (as you can see there are still some lapses in the swearing!)

Anyway – back to the conference. I was having a wonderful time and enjoying all aspects of the weekend. We got to Sunday morning and was just starting to think about the long drive home when God turned up – poked me in the ribs and answered my prayer… instantly! Since that day the area of my life which so needed addressing has changed, It’s not always easy and I clearly have to put effort into avoid temptation – but God has done the hard work for me… he has changed my heart again!

So there you go. Just a quick example of how cool God is. You guys are doing an amazing job and I thank you all once again for providing an environment which helped me hear God.

Cheers all.

‘Bob’ attended Codelife 2010. Are you coming to The Gathering 2011? CVM are changing the National Conference to accommodate more men, having more fun! Find out more …

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Some thoughts from Joe on the upcoming conference …

I am unique. No really, I am. Not because I’m a Joe, with an ‘e’, when in fact I’m a Joanne, not a Joseph (sorry to those of you for whom this is a surprise, it’s a source of great amusement in the CVM office when I am called Mr, mate, esq etc!), but because I am the only woman in a country of 32(ish) million women to have the CVM conference in September permanently etched in my diary, and to have the great privilege of actually being there.

I probably spend more time thinking about, planning for and answering questions about it than anyone else…. just one weekend of the year that takes over a year to organise, but the truth is, I love the conference. I do, despite the fact that I’m so tired by Saturday night that I would kill for a few minutes in a comfy chair with a gin and tonic, but in reality, there is nowhere else I would rather be.

It’s not about the worship (which is brilliant), or talks (inspired), or food (mountainous and delicious), but about being in a place with hundreds of guys who believe the same thing. It’s about something bigger than a bunch of men meeting up, it’s about a coherence of vision and purpose. We’re there not just because we follow an all powerful, gracious, faithful, magnificent God, but because we recognise the utter hopelessness of those who don’t know him, and the ongoing crisis that faces a church where men are not a priority.

Well, from the 10-12 September this year, men are the priority. Why not come… hang out with other guys, hear what God wants to say, even bring your mates who don’t believe yet – there’s room for them too. It could change your life!

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Teamwork

The CVM team is small (but perfectly formed!) for most of the year, and then for just one weekend we get to be in a team of 350.  Usually we have just a handful of office and ministry staff, some regional directors and a group of amazing trustees, then when we go to conference we get to add a whole host of other passionate guys to the mix.

This weekend our small team was joined by the most inspiring worship group led by Graham Kendrick (great job guys); a whole gang of AV nerds, sorry, experts (!), who did the most fantastic job of making the meetings run slickly; a mix of visionary speakers in our main sessions and seminars  (what legends!); the amazing Matthew Dietz who informed and entertained us in the Arts Theatre; Gram Seed who spoke with power on Saturday night; the guys running the bookshop and ministry stands; and last (but not least), all the guys who came to the conference and went away fired up – what a TEAM!

What now?

So now we’re back in our homes, offices or schools, and everything is back to normal.  Or is it…..? God spoke this weekend, some guys found Him for the first time, and others heard a specific call for their lives.  Others went away with renewed passion and vision to live the life that God wants – and it would be all too easy to let that fire go out in the next few weeks.  DON’T!!!

Do whatever you have to …. Write down what God said, tell someone else who will remind you when it all seems too hard, listen again to the CD that you were given as you left, start doing it!

Wouldn’t it be brilliant if we could all bring someone to the CVM conference in 2010, who has been saved between now and then through our determination to  Stand Up!

And if you didn’t come this year – book the date for next year now (10-12 September) – it could change your life!

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