PRESS RELEASE

July 26, 2006

CHURCH & BUSINESS LEADERS GATHER LOCALLY FOR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Annual Leadership Summit Broadcasts LIVE from Hope Community Church August 10-12

Raleigh , NC -- More than 70,000 leaders and emerging leaders throughout the world are expected to experience the 2006 Willow Creek Association (WCA) Leadership Summit August 10-12. Broadcasting from Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., the Summit will be beamed LIVE via satellite to over 100 churches nationwide, including Hope Community Church in Raleigh . As a host satellite location, Hope will welcome attendees from the Triangle area and beyond for this 2 ½ day live broadcast conference event. The church is located at 821 Buck Jones Road in southwest Raleigh.

Speakers at the 2006 Leadership Summit will present motivational and innovative principles on topics that are applicable in both the boardroom, church and ministry settings. Topics include casting vision, team building, conflict management, avoiding burnout, and more. This year's roster of leadership experts includes:

•  Bill Hybels - International leadership expert, presidential counselor, founder and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., one of the largest churches in the U.S.; and author of Courageous Leadership

•  Bono - (via video cast) Lead singer of the rock band U2, co-founder of DATA   (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa) a group leading efforts in the fight against global poverty and the AIDS pandemic. TIME Magazine's 2005 Person of the Year

•  Jim Collins - Authority of enduring great companies - how they grow, how they attain superior performance, and how they become great. He is co-author of the classic volume, Built to Last and Good to Great

•  Patrick Lencioni - Founder and president of The Table Group, Inc., a specialized management-consulting firm focused on executive team-building and organizational health, and author of the best- selling The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

•  James Meeks - An established leader in civil rights and diplomacy, and founder and pastor of Salem Baptist Church in Chicago's Roseland Community, one of the nation's fastest-growing churches

•  Andy Stanley - Founding and senior pastor of North Point Community Church , a congregation of 12,000 just north of Atlanta , and author of Visioneering

•  Peg Neuhauser - A management and organizational consultant who specializes in areas of conflict management, organizational culture, stress, and avoiding burn out

To register to attend the Raleigh satellite broadcast of the 2006 WCA Leadership Summit , or for more info, visit Hope's website at www.gethope.net or call 919.532.0620.

The WCA, host of the annual Leadership Summit , is a growing multi-denominational worldwide network of more than 12,000 churches. The WCA equips churches and church leaders with strategic vision, training and resources.

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Direct Press Inquiries to :

Debbie Dodson

Promotions Coordinator

919.532.0620 x109

debbied@gethope.net