Why Unleash is King of Conferences?

4am: drag out of bed. "is it really 4am or did that time change thing... oh never mind."
4:45: pull into the parking lot. "cool - i'm not the 1st one here. DANG! it's cold out here - maybe i should've worn shoes..."
5am: thinkin' to myself,"does it really take that long to get our cup of coffee, McDonalds chick - there is NO ONE in there? Don't you know i gotta be in Anderson, SC in 3hrs, 45mins and the google map says it will take 4hrs and 1min?!?"

And so my morning began. 10 people. 2 vehicles. 1 goal: to make it to Anderson in time to catch the beginning of the conference (we did - not the very beginning, missed 2 songs). Here's why Unleash is my favorite conference:

1. The price. Hate to say that. They have made this conference so affordable that there is no excuse not to take advantage if you're in the SouthEast. I believe that NewSpring knows this. I believe the heart behind this conference is that when they were young they would have loved to have attended this conference with their crew!
2. One day. I don't know about you but i get conference hangover... this conference is "just right". Not just that, but, equation #1 (cheap price + one day divided by no hotel = more people mike p can bring to this experience).
3. The volunteers. For me, one of the biggest thing that NewSpring does is makes every service an experience from parking lot to parking lot (and everything in between). The greeting we got when they drove us up to registration was totally over-the-top (and it should be!). You could hear them cheering as new groups rode up inside the building. Love it!
4. The facility. What a tremendous facility! Everytime I bring new people onto the campus they ask me something to the effect of, "so, what's the story on the building?" Most have never seen a church that doesn't look like what they think a church looks like. When they get inside they LOVE IT!
5. The environments. Not just the facilities but what they do in them. The environments are top notch and totally exhibit excellence. Shocked to find out yesterday that they maintain them with volunteers. (!!!?!)
6. The music. It may not be your style, but it is totally my element. If you know my story you may realize that what they do there is a fulfilment of what I thought God was calling me to in 1989 (yes. That would be BEFORE i was a JESUS follower.)
7. The Breakouts. Last year i heard people comment that they were doing what NewSpring was, maybe even better after going to a breakout. The one thing that those people seemed to miss is the fact that God is the one changing lives, not NewSpring - they don't know it all! But they are doing all they can to be great stewards of what they've been given. For me, the breakouts have always been "on the money - 2 years running".
8. The food. Seriously - way 2 go, guys!!! Last years BBQ was, without a doubt, the best conference meal of all-time! And yesterday's Chick-fil-a... you can never go wrong with Chick-fil-A. 'Nuff said.
9. Perry Noble. It seems that there are a lot of haters out there - get a life, guys. I love Perry. Perry lives out and demonstrates that you can (and should) be you. You are you much better than you can be the people you admire. God made you to be you. Maybe God NEEDS YOU to be you to reach the full potential of who you are. Maybe God's not gonna do through you what He has purposed until you decide to put down the mask, take off the costume, quit doing your best impression of your "heroes" and be you.
10. The most flamboyant demonstration of this equation: Power of God + Excellence = Changed lives

Taking people whom you are trying to help "see" what our future could possibly look like: HUGE. Looking at Anderson, SC, and recognizing that there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THAT THESE GUYS COULD PULL THIS OFF IN A TOWN THE SIZE OF YOURS - THIS IS A GOD-THING AND IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU: PRICELESS. (sorry for the overused MasterCard thing, just worked there, ya know?)