On June 12, 2010 I attended the Reload 1.2.3. conference. Housed in three different locations, I visited the Bronx site at Crossroads Tabernacle (which happens to be where my family attends church).

This conference focused on urban youth leadership training. The opening session facilitated by Jeremy Del Rio focused on Homegrown Leaders. The two examples were Pastor Mitchell Torres and Pastor Efrain Figueroa. My lil sis, Ezzy Castellon, was also featured as a “plus 1” (mentee) of Pastor Mitchell.

The Reload staff was intentional about using technology in a very Milennial Generation way. While the “Homegrown” discourse took place, tweets, stats, and questions constantly were displayed on the two screens behind them. At first I was a little distracted until I remembered this was a Millenial thing. Good thing I did my homework so I quickly adjusted to the multi-sensory dynamic.

(Sidenote: I don’t do well with three-ring circuses. Too many things going on at the same time. It makes me feel if I look at one ring, I am missing out on the joy of the other two rings.)

After the general session I enjoyed the workshop conducted by David Serrano from World Vision. Next was lunch which was provided in the lobby. Very nice.

That was followed by an afternoon workshop on Creative Lesson Planning by Anthony Perez. As a result of one of the questions asked in this workshop, I began to consider the Reload training and the needs of urban youth workers.

After the workshop I proceeded to attend the Closing Session in the main sanctuary. I had been encouraged by Jeremy Del Rio to take photos so I pulled out my Canon T1I and my new long zoom lens and had some fun. The Closing Session featured performances by Jay Cabassa, C-Lite, and Brother E. Afterward, Brother E (aka Pastor E of The Elements Church) facilitated a conversation with David Ham, C-Lite, Joseph Henry Cortese, and Jay Cabassa regarding music, the arts, urban youth, and evangelism. I was busy taking photos during this time which I will post later (Feel free to enjoy the Blog of Joseph Dominick Photography).

Then at the end there was another time of worship/prayer which was very sweet. It was then I began to think further on Reload and the needs of those individuals who took time on a Saturday to get further training. My eyes became fixated on the word “Reload” which was located on the big screen. As I studied the letter “O” I saw a vertical and a horizontal line connect within the font to create what looked to me like a crosshair. The crosshair made me think about the word “Reload”. “Reload” made me think about a gun. Then I was left with the thought that all these individuals were being “Re-loaded”. But what if their gun was still dirty? They will have new information, new resources, new ammunition, but their aim will still be altered because their gun was dirty.

Of course this is not the case with every single person. Nevertheless this is the reality I have seen and do see in the midst of ministry. Unresolved issues, past hurts, present bitterness, all hidden underneath scabs and scars. I think about these things because this speaks to my passion of seeing wholeness for people, especially leaders.

I would love to conduct a workshop/class/training to work on the “Unload” before the “Reload“. My prayer is that we all have opportunities to have our guns cleaned so our aim will not be minimized by residue.