海角原创 Hosts LEAD Wisconsin
鈥淟eaders are born in awkward moments of silence. It鈥檚 not about saying, 鈥榳hat are we going to do next?鈥 It鈥檚 about saying, 鈥榳hat are we going to do?鈥欌澨听
As I listened to the LEAD Wisconsin听director听share her vision听for the young people who chose to spend one of their last weeks of summer at a leadership camp, I was reminded that every听single person has a desire to make a difference.听Whether it鈥檚 the introvert mustering the courage to voice his opinion or the extrovert听actively听looking for opportunities to听insert her plans for change, everyone wants to influence their corner of the world.听听
LEAD Wisconsin offers teenagers the opportunity to be mentored听in leadership and have hands-on experience for a week.听This camp aims to open the eyes of the campers to听leadership听opportunities all around them.听听
What is LEAD Wisconsin?听
The LEAD camp concept was developed 25 years ago in Michigan and over the last 10 years has spread to Minnesota and Iowa. LEAD is comprised of seven tracks 鈥 one track that all campers take their first year and six that returning campers can choose from. These seven tracks are House, Senate, Media, Business, Moot Court, Mock Trial, and Campaign.听
听exists to equip 鈥渢eens to become effective godly leaders who engage the culture from a Biblical perspective鈥 and was听established听by the听.听Summer 2021 was Wisconsin鈥檚 first in-person LEAD camp which was hosted by听 from August 1 through August 6.听
LEAD is an acronym for Learn, Empower, Act, and Discover. Nichols and her team developed听a tiered approach to teaching leadership to their campers.听鈥淭he heart of LEAD Wisconsin is first, [for the campers] to build a relationship with the Lord,鈥澨, Director of LEAD Wisconsin shares.听Developing a biblical worldview and learning to be a godly leader are the next two tiers.听听
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 be a godly leader if you don鈥檛 have a biblical worldview or a relationship with the Lord.鈥 Nichols continues,听鈥淲e do equip them to become effective citizens, involved in civics and the government. You can鈥檛 do that unless you are a godly leader, unless you have a biblical worldview, unless you have a relationship with the Lord.鈥听
The听LEAD Experience听
All 80 campers听at LEAD Wisconsin听participated in the House track.听On day one, each camper was sworn in as a representative, assigned to one of five committees, and assigned to one of two caucuses within that committee. At the end of the week,听each听caucus听debated听a bill with听the听other听caucus听in their committee.听听
Nichols and her team lined up听an all-star cast of speakers听that included听political听activist听, founder, and president of听;听apologist听, founder of听听and听;听motivational speaker听, founder听of Relationships听Matter;听, a former听member of the Wisconsin Supreme听Court;听, president of the Wisconsin Family Council;听and听,听president of the听听and听former听Lieutenant听Governor听of Wisconsin among others.听听
Campers had the opportunity to visit the Capitol twice during the week of LEAD Wisconsin.听The goal听in听taking the campers to the Capitol听was to make the government real; make it approachable.听Nichols shared that the meet and greet with Wisconsin legislators and staffers was a profitable time for the campers.听听
鈥淭hey represented LEAD Wisconsin well, but more importantly, represented Christ well,鈥 she stated.听听
But LEAD Wisconsin is about more than civics and studying the government.听听
Throughout the week, campers had sessions on worldview, marriage and听sexuality, race, creation,听and听social media鈥檚 impact听on our culture. 鈥淟EAD Wisconsin is not afraid to be controversial and counter-cultural,鈥 Nichols asserted. 鈥淲e aren鈥檛 afraid to talk about God鈥檚 design for race or sexuality. These are real issues that are facing our teens.鈥听
The听LEAD听Impact听
So why should a young person take advantage of attending LEAD Wisconsin?听听
鈥淭here aren鈥檛 a lot of opportunities for young people to develop their leadership skills,鈥 Nichols said. LEAD Wisconsin gives听young people the space to think critically, work with their hands,听and analyze culture from a biblical worldview.听听
鈥淲e want [campers] to be leaders in the church, their homes, and their workforce,鈥 Nichols shared.听鈥淲e want campers to leave knowing the Lord; knowing that He loves them and desires an intimate relationship with them; knowing that He has a destiny for their lives. He has called them to something much greater and much higher than the world will ever tell them they’re capable of. We want them to know their full potential and be equipped to step into that.鈥听
On Tuesday evening, Dr. Matthew Davis, CEO of 海角原创, took some time to challenge the听teens:听鈥Now more than ever, we need champions for Christ. We need young people who know what they鈥檙e about, who can defend their faith and are willing to take a stand.听The night is dark; the time is short; the mission is urgent.鈥听
鈥淵oung people, I think that you have a destiny,鈥 Rebecca Kleefisch stated in her address to the young people. 鈥淵ou have been called for a time such as this. I am positive that if you persevere, if you pursue Christ and your destiny and work to do God鈥檚 will every day, that you will deepen and build your character. You will offer hope not only to your friends and family but to this fallen world.鈥 听
鈥淪omebody needs to capture the hearts of the next generation and if it鈥檚 not us, society and the media will,鈥 Nichols stressed.听鈥淲e want the voice of the Lord to speak louder than the voice of this world.鈥听
听
For more information on LEAD Wisconsin, and to register for next year,听听