b'I really do believe that its about the gospel, about transformation, about rescuing people from their hurting and their difficulties, Theres a lot of hope in the future, a sense of God now opening the door to whats next for Citygate Network. Tom De Vriesfrom Fuller Seminary, and a bachelor of artsexperience! You have to go next year. degree from Wheaton College.So, in 1996, Tom took his friends advice and One of his first leadership experiences wasattended with several members of his church staff. whenwith his wife, Laurahe planted aIt was a powerful experience and certainly influ-church 60 miles east of Los Angeles. enced our ministry, influenced our leadership, They gave us a piece of paper with six familiesand really had a profound impact, he said.on it and said, This is your church, Tom said. In the years that followed, Tom attended While the group was small at first and spentthe majority of these influential GLS events with six and a half years meeting in a high school, itLaura. When the opportunity arose to lead, he eventually grew to about 800 peopleand threeprayerfully accepted. In September of 2017, additional churches were founded. Tom servedhe became president and CEO of the Illinois-there for 12 years.based Willow Creek Association and the GLN.Tom was later the pastor of a church whereDuring his time as leader, Tom headed up the 2,000 people attended. He also became a regionalsuccessful transition of the two organizations into director for the RCA. one. According to the GLN, he also increased In 2011, Tom took on the role of generalaccessibility of leadership resources, made the secretary of the RCA in Michigan. By 2017,summit available to 200 prisons, headed up the he was helping to serve more than 1,100 congre- launch of several new initiatives, and expanded gations with around 200,000 church members.partnerships with global church leaders. He also had significant international influence in his role as CEO of the denominationsChallenges and growth binational office. In addition to the 90 staff mem- T om believes his past leadership experi-bers serving in five national locations, the officeence and challenges have prepared him had 100 missionaries in 40 other countries.well for his Citygate Network role. In the The inspiration for the GLN leadership roleRCA, Tom worked in the context of a rich and he would take on in 2017 first swelled in his soulmeaningful history with long-time leaders. He in 1995. said that decades-old organizations come with A pastor friend described his experience at theboth value and limitations. Hes learned to tackle Global Leadership Summit (GLS), an event thatthe question, What do we need to hold on to and today provides resources for 300,000 leaders inwhat do we need to get rid of?110 countries: Tom, this was the most awesomeAnother significant skill Tom said hes gained \x02 JULY/AUGUST 2023 WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG 17'