Junior High Impact – Students Mentoring Students
At Liberty, Middle School students are mentored by Upper School students in an intentional, yet informal way. Over the years, it has been profound for Middle School students to receive attention, acceptance, and guidance from an Upper School student leader. The time and focus Middle School students receive have made a tremendous impact on them, which is probably how this unique program got its name, Impact.
Every two weeks for 45 minutes, Middle School boys and their Upper School Impact leaders meet in the activities gym, and the girls in the competition gym, to talk about life and the discussion questions that their Upper School leaders have written. Questions range from students’ relationship with their parents to peer pressure.
Matt Bowles, Middle School youth pastor, remembers when he was on the receiving end of Impact as a Middle School student himself.
“I practically worshiped the older kids, and it meant so much for them to take time out of their day to care about me,” he said.
Bowles said that as a student, it took awhile for his guard to come down and really share with his Upper School Impact leader, but in time, he remembers thinking that he wanted to be like his Impact leader when he got to Upper School. 
Upper School students apply to be an Impact leader, and they may have from one to five students in their Middle School Impact group.
Impact begins each year with a black and white masquerade ball. It is a fun, creative night when students meet their Impact leader and participate in praise and worship.
Upper School Impact leaders also spend time with their Middle School Impact group after school. Activities vary from paintball to slumber parties.
Bowles has seen Impact unify the school and break down stereotypes.
“Impact turns peer pressure into something positive,” he said. “Middle School students see from Upper School students that it is cool to love Jesus.”