Church of God Youth and Christian Education is committed to successfully raising up the next generation of effective, Christian leaders. The recent EAGLES LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE / DC-’10 Experience was a first step forward in their commitment to do so. Last week a group of almost 40 young adults, (target age 17-24) gathered in beautiful Washington, DC for a leadership training experience that combined lecture, history, discipleship, motivation, learning, site-seeing, experience, prayer, patriotism, the Word of God and fun into five unforgettable days!
Tom Madden, International Director and Gary Lewis, Assistant Director of Youth and Christian Education both believe in “equipping young men and women who are committed to Scriptural disciplines, to become confident, skilled and motivated to represent Christ in deed and truth, in order to transform their worlds.”
Partners in this inaugural EAGLES Leadership Initiative experience included The American Bible Society in conjunction with the Leadership Institute (LI) in Arlington VA. For nearly 200 years, ABS has been at the forefront of many of the great social and spiritual advances in our country, starting with the abolition of slavery. The training sessions took place at The Leadership Institute’s facility in suburban Washington DC. The young adults (Eagles) were safely housed in the LI Dorm facility, and were under the care of selected Christian leaders and mentors. Unforgettable site-seeing and events in the Nation’s Capitol during the Independence Day Celebration solidified this amazing leadership experience!
Participants have developed skills and motivation to engage in leadership in their local communities and on their campuses. They left DC with a deep sense of how Scripture inspired the men and women who founded this country and led its great advances. These young leaders are now better prepared to communicate truths of the Bible. They are now Bible Advocates! They were taught specific leadership skills and techniques equipping them to reach and teach others. This DC-’10 Eagles Leadership experience finished on the 4th of July, with the group sitting just in front of the huge Iwo Jima Memorial as they watched the national fireworks display just above the Washington monument and the U.S. Capitol building!
One “Eagle” participant said, “Every young leader should experience the Eagles Leadership Initiative. It will give them the tools, confidence, and perspective on what real leadership is all about!” For information about the Eagles Leadership Initiative, contact Randall Parris, who serves the Church of God International Department of Youth and Christian Education as the Urban Ministries/Leadership Development Coordinator at rparris@churchofgod.org or 423-478-7883.