This is an experience in personal growth, leadership development and practical application.  It is adapted for high school use from Strategic Leadership Institute’s pastoral and non-profit certificate programs and from Shepherds Bible College’s course “Becoming a Leader,” taught by Gary Cowden.  It emphasizes the same basic SLI components:  development of community, personal discovery and growth, leadership skill development, and strategic planning.

Students shall be nominated for the program based on criteria given to the school administration.  The criteria include character and integrity, respect and influence among peers, godliness, and leadership potential.  Gender, ethnic and denominational diversity is strongly encouraged.

The program begins in the winter of the participant’s junior year.  Students meet monthly with SLI Program Facilitators for community development, personal enrichment and leadership training.  Each student will be encouraged to find a local ministry mentor to work with him or her throughout the year in cooperation with SLI.  The group meets formally with SLI staff each month and informally with each other and with individual mentors as often as needed.

Each student is placed on a team with other students where the leadership skills learned are put to the test in a practical experience which is of benefit to the community.

PROGRAM GOALS

There are seven goals for the Certificate in Strategic Student Leadership.  We seek to:

1.  Identify, equip and connect a new generation of godly Christian leaders.

 

2.  Enrich the learning environment with quality training in leadership principles.

 

3.  Raise the standard among the local youth culture in integrity and servant hood.

 

4.  Provide a practical ministry experience which applies group learning to real life situations.

 

5.  Expose a new generation of Christian leaders to the needs of the community.

 

6.  Produce leaders committed to life-long engagement with their true Calling.

 

7.  Establish a pattern of collaborative ministry in keeping with the “city church” ideal.

CORE VALUES

The program goals reflect the fundamental values upon which Strategic Leadership Institute has developed this group experience:

We value the WORD OF GOD and are committed to constructing a group experience in harmony with its principles.

We value YOUNG PEOPLE and believe they have significant contributions to make to the health and vitality of their communities.

We value PERSONAL MINISTRY MENTORS and encourage each participant to establish a mentoring relationship with a wise and mature adult advisor.

We value COMMUNITY and seek to provide a quality community experience in a decidedly Christian context.

We value PERSONAL INTEGRITY and commit to model it ourselves and encourage its development in our students’ lives.

We value LEADERSHIP and construct our program to transfer acquirable principles in an integrative context.

We value THE BODY OF CHRIST and design the experience to expose students to the great variety expressed in Christ’s Church.

We value SERVANTHOOD, believing it best reflects the attitude of Christ, and seek to raise servant leaders who achieve greatness through humble and faithful service.

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PROGRAM RESOURCES

1.  Reading:  Two books are used in this program, as well as two workbooks which are included in the student’s notebook.  Other complementary resources are listed in Suggested Reading list.

A.  These books form the foundation of the program.

Leading from the Inside Out - The Art of Self- Leadership,   Samuel D. Rima, (Grand Rapids, MI:  Baker Book House, 2000), 250 pages.

 

Living Your Strengths – Discover Your God-given Talents and Inspire Your  Community,  Albert L. Winseman, Donald O. Clifton, Curt Liesveld,  (New York:  Gallup Press, 2003), 246 pages.

B.  Two workbooks are also used to facilitate the understanding of leadership from both  perspectives of character and capacity development.  These are included in the student’s notebook.

Inside Out Workbook, Samuel D. Rima, (Leadership Formation Services)

 

Learning the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Study Guide, John C. Maxwell,  (Nelson Multi-Media Group, 1999).

             C.  Additional resources are brought to the group depending on need and experience.

2.  Self-Analysis:  Several personal assessments are taken to provide as accurate a picture as may be gained of one’s Calling and giftedness.

1.  Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis (supplied by SLI)

2.  Modified Heights Spiritual Gifts Survey (supplied by SLI)

3.  StrengthsFinder Signature Themes (key code found inside jacket of Living Your Stengths by Winseman, Clifton and Liesveld).

4.  Christian Leader Profile (optional)  -go online to www.barna.org; go to “Christian Leader Profile.”  Cost is $20.00 and results are immediate.

5.  Personal Time Line

6.  Mentor evaluation

PROGRAM PROJECTS

Two projects will be done over the course of the Certificate in Strategic Student Leadership experience, a personal project and a community service project.

Personal Project

The personal project is a program of self-discovery, evaluation and goal-setting.  It involves taking a series of personal assessments, understanding and articulating God’s unique Calling, and producing a written document of personal intention for self-leadership.

Community Service Project  

The group will be divided into teams of four or five.  Each team will assess the needs of the city, design a service project which contributes to community improvement materially, socially or spiritually, and write and implement a strategic ministry plan which will allow completion of the project.  Teams will be encouraged to create a budget, raise funds, work collaboratively together, recruit resources and people, and manage the outcome, all while learning and applying basic principles of leadership and collaborative ministry.

At all stages in the program each student will be supervised by the staff of Strategic Leadership Institute and by local ministry mentors whom each student will select.  Mentors may be senior pastors, youth pastors, associate church staff, or a recognized lay Christian leader or teacher.  Mentors will coordinate with SLI staff to optimize the learning experience of each student.

Why not contact SLI today, and prepare to launch the program in your high school soon?