Students Apply Leadership Principles Learned at Institute
Earlier this semester, a group of Upper School students, along with peers from 14 other schools in the area, attended the first annual Dallas Baptist University’s Christian Leadership Institute.
Students participated in interactive learning experiences, learned basic leadership principles, and explored the spiritual application of servant leadership as modeled by Christ. Through speakers and activities, students were challenged to demonstrate biblical leadership in their school, church, and community.
Senior Justin Woodall said of the institute, “I learned that it is our responsibility to be servant leaders in our school because of our gifts and this opportunity that God has given us. It inspired me to want to do more to help lead and inspire my fellow students. I also learned the importance of action – though ideas are important, they stay ideas unless we act upon them. To be leaders, I learned that we must live in a way that is above reproach.”
Junior Daniel Elsom said, “I learned that leaders can make good calls even with fear. Leaders always have to follow the call whatever it is, no matter what it costs.”
Junior Madeline Manning added, “I learned that servant leadership is not caring about who is watching or not watching. It is giving selflessly to our school. It is serving others in everything we do.”
It was on the bus ride home that the institute truly made its impact.
Upper School Principal Ed Cook said, “I was impressed with the follow-up meeting on the bus. The students spent an entire hour on the way back to Liberty sharing their heart and the need to be spiritual and real with each other.”
Senior Tiffany Sheffield said, “Everyone’s input was so genuine and helpful that we immediately recognized the Lord at work within us to make a difference. The best area we found we could make an impact at our school would be to encourage everyone to ‘take off their masks’ and ‘get real’ with one another.
“We started a Facebook message to continually encourage each other and make sure our passion for this issue would not die down. Two days later we were informed that the next week’s chapel would be student-led, and those of us who went on this leadership trip would get to lead it.”
During chapel, students shared the impact that the institute had on them, said Manning.
Chapel began with praise and worship, then students created a skit based on 2 Corinthians 3:12–18, portraying Jesus removing each student’s mask, which created a ripple effect of all of the students’ masks being removed that resulted in students experiencing a better life with Jesus, said Sheffield.
Several students then shared in chapel their personal stories about taking off their masks and how they benefitted from it.
Junior Ben Lytle was one of those who spoke and said, “I shared about being less judgmental and becoming more genuine in our walk with Christ.”
Academic Advisor Toni King said that overall, the DBU event was top-notch and exciting for all who participated.
“The hands-on leadership games allowed leaders to emerge, and students learned more about themselves than they imagined,” she said.
Cook said, “Students were introduced and challenged by the leadership concepts that were taught. Our desire at Liberty is to help students learn to be role models, fill leadership roles, and be shapers in the world in which they live.”
Students who attended said Liberty gives them many opportunities to develop their leadership potential.
Senior Lizzy Cook said, “Opportunities like this leadership institute is definitely a visible way that Liberty is teaching leadership.”
Woodall said, “Liberty does a great job in giving us opportunities in which we can develop and display leadership. Because Liberty is a school that encourages us all to diversify ourselves in many different clubs, teams, and activities, we have a lot of opportunities to be leaders.”
Lytle added, “Liberty prepares great leaders by having exemplary staff and morals. Liberty is a great environment to grow up as a leader in Jesus Christ.”
Manning said, “Liberty takes students and pours the love of Jesus into us, which is the most important thing in being a leader. Liberty constantly encourages us to be leaders and to lead our friends, which helps all of us to lead.”
Sheffield concluded, “Liberty is an amazing place. God’s presence is evident, and I am very thankful to be in a school where not only are we allowed to discuss God, but we are encouraged to do so! The combination of the atmosphere at Liberty, the Bible classes, and the opportunities we are given through mission trips, chapels, and conferences like the one at DBU have better prepared us to be leaders in any circumstance.”