Mark your calendars for an event coming up this November in Kansas City. Along with the North American Mission Board we will be hosting a Regional Missional Network Gathering on November 10-11, 2009.

The conference will begin on Tuesday, November 10 at 1:00pm and conclude on Wednesday, November 11 at 3:30pm. We will have two primary presenters, Eric Swanson and Jonathan Dodson. I think many of you are familiar with one or both of these guys, but if you are not you should be!

Not only will they both be presenting, but we will have plenty of time for Q&A and dialog. In the next few days I will post a detailed schedule and lodging information, until then if you have questions send me an email or ask via comments. In the meantime here is some info on Eric and Jonathan.

Eric Swanson works with Leadership Network as Leadership Community Director for Externally Focused Churches working with dozens of externally focused churches around North America. He is also co-founder of Good Cities, a global movement focused on kingdom transformation. Eric served with Campus Crusade for Christ for twenty-five years before joining the staff of Leadership Network. He holds D.Min. degree in Transformational Leadership in the Global City from Bakke Graduate University and is co-author of The Externally Focused Church, Living a Life on Loan, and the soon-to-be-published To Transform a City. Eric has been married to Liz for over 30 years, have three children, two grandchildren and reside outside of Boulder Colorado.

Jonathan Dodson is happy husband to Robie, and proud father of Owen and Ellie. He is the lead pastor of Austin City Life church and Directional Leader for PlantR, an Austin-based church planting network. He also serves on the board for Acts 29 Texas Region, providing church planting coaching and direction, and is active in teaching and training overseas. Jonathan holds a B.A. in Anthropology and M.Div and Th.M degrees in Theology from Gordon-Conwell, and is author of Fight Clubs: Gospel-centered Discipleship, and has published articles in various journals and webzines such as The Journal of Biblical Counseling, Boundless, and The Resurgence. Be sure to check out Jonathan’s blogs at Creation Project and Church Planting Novice.