Welcome to the new dedicated Careforce Lifekeys Conference website!  Our aim is to provide you with as much information about our Conference from the speakers to accommodation and transport options, so that your decision to join us at Conference 2010 is an easy one!

2010 marks a new era for the Careforce Lifekeys Conference, this year is our 10th Conference and so we wanted to make it special!  

The aim of our Conference is to bring together the people who enable the Lifekeys ministry in their own church, the senior pastors and leaders, the mens and womens ministry leaders, the kids pastors and leaders, the family pastors and leaders ...... bring together the community of people responsible for helping lead and heal in our communities, and for us to impart practical, usable messages that will add substance to you enabling the continuous improvement of the Lifekeys ministry and message in your community, wherever that may be.

We are hosting the Conference in a new venue, Life Ministry Centre in Chirnside Park, Victoria.  

We have also introduced a fresh, new program format ensuring you get the maximum exposure to our wonderful speakers, and this year we are also hosting a pre-conference event "Meet the Speakers & Networking Afternoon Tea" at the Sebel Heritage in Chirnside Park!  

It's going to be great, don't miss it!

I almost recoil from writing what I am about to write because it is easy and sometimes unkind to shine the spotlight on the failures of a high-profile individual when we have plenty of failures of our own.  However, sometimes situations occur that so clearly demonstrate the human struggle that without being sanctimonious or self-righteous there really is something to be learned.

Everyone knows I am a golfer.  I love the game.  My swing is coming back at the moment and I’m delighting in watching the arc of a well-hit golf ball.  November in Melbourne was marked by the visit of the greatest living golfer – Tiger Woods.  In so many ways he is a remarkable human being. He exemplifies the power of self discipline, the potential of a father’s coaching and life input, and of the human capacity for the pursuit of excellence – he is an outstanding sportsman.  In November a sell out crowd followed his every footstep.  He wowed the crowd, played amazing golf, and won the 2009 Australian Masters. November was a good month for Tiger Woods.  Then came December! Tiger was again the focus of everybody's attention, but for a very different reason. Our Lifekeys program, Search for Life, is dedicated to helping men and women understand a vital lesson for life:  every one of us, no matter how gifted or blessed, is broken to the core and in need of spiritual reconstruction. Tiger Woods is a magnificent sportsman and a broken human being; like everybody else, Tiger Woods needs help.

Since 1992 Careforce Lifekeys has existed to help churches respond to the call to join with our Master, Jesus Christ in bringing good news to the poor, the healing of broken hearts, and the opening of prison doors to those who find themselves trapped by their own fallen-ness. Jesus Christ defined his ministry by reference to Isaiah 61 and has called us  to join him in his ministry of restoring broken individuals. 

Tiger’s tragedy is a very public reminder that “the broken” are not just those struggling with substance abuse, manifested by alcoholism or drug addiction. The broken are not just the ones standing in a courtroom facing a lengthy sentence for criminal behaviour. The broken are not just the ones in need of a handout or a hand up. Humanity is broken to the core. Careforce Lifekeys is evangelism, church health and discipleship for the twenty first century. Down every street around the church where you serve there are people whose lives are in many ways under control. Many of your neighbours will be managing areas of their lives with apparent competence.

They may well be able to build a successful business, drive a nice car, pay their bills, and manage to afford nice holidays; but when it comes to knowing how to guide their teenagers in a sex crazy and drug besotted age they have no idea what to do.  

When an argument breaks out they don’t understand the dynamic that is destroying their marriage and they may not know what to do about it – yet a Lifekeys experience could change everything.  They may dress nicely and look to be doing well, but the story of their life includes soul-damaging abuse and dysfunction, however a Lifekeys experience could change everything.

I may never get the chance to take Tiger Woods through the Valiant Man course – but if someone did he could come to know Christ and address the issue that is destroying his otherwise extraordinary life. What a stark and confronting reminder – everyone needs Jesus, everyone needs restoration, everyone was created to be loved by God and love Him in return. But how will they ever know unless people who care create those opportunities where an encounter with Christ is possible.  Lifekeys is an effective way to bring good news to the poor – and rich, successful people can be amongst the poorest people on the planet.

During an address to the Clinton Global Initiative in September 2009 US President Barack Obama said

 "If you want to bring about change in the world, you can't just be an advocate of somebody else doing it.  You can't just preach lofty goals and wait for somebody else to act.  You have to step up.  You have to serve."

 

So I invite you once more to step up and serve.  Come to the Lifekeys Conference 2010 and take another opportunity to be equipped to help lead and bring healing to your community.   To those who have ears to hear - you've heard His call - now act!

2010 is the beginning of a new era for Careforce Lifekeys and our Conference is our time to gather those in the army of God who have a heart to serve in the Lifekeys ministry.  Let us gather from near and far, receive nourishment, nurture, and inspiration so the Lifekeys community can be released to continue this global crusade in your part of the world.   Come join with us – we’re all in this together, we can’t do it alone.