Tomorrow's Leaders

Who are tomorrow’s leaders? Where are they today?

And if leaders are difference-makers, where are they learning to lead – to bring about change?

Psalm 145:4 ESV  

One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.

History gives us many examples; today I’d like to highlight only a few:

Wittenberg, Germany in the 1500s

          We see the iconic image and our thoughts turn immediately to Martin Luther, a great man of God, and his “95 Theses” - and rightly so. Luther is credited with setting into motion the Protestant Reformation; yet remember that in Luther’s day, there was no radio, no television, and certainly no internet. With the advent of the printing press, distributing the message was possible, but Luther couldn’t tackle the task alone. It was the many people who came TO Wittenberg and who were mentored by Luther who created the ripple effects of change which went out from that place.

Nassau Hall, centerpiece of the today’s Princeton University in NJ

          In 1768 a 45-year-old Scottish preacher took charge of a tiny, poor, rural school for teenage boys. He found the boys to be unprepared and unruly and the conditions of the school’s only building to be deplorable. The preacher had to do all of the teaching himself until he was able to convince some tutors to help him. Yet, in faithfully mentoring his few students, this preacher started down the path that changed the world. The preacher’s name is John Witherspoon. The small, dilapidated school he took charge of is now Princeton University. And what happened to the 450 students Witherspoon trained during his 26 years as college president? Astoundingly, . . .almost all became church leaders or public servants. (and the ripples continue)

L’Abri, Switzerland

          In 1955, Francis and Edith Schaeffer, the founders of the work, opened their chalet/home to those who were asking life’s tough questions and L’Abri began: cultivate and pursue the truth of Christianity. Schaeffer didn’t tell people what to think, he challenged them to think and walked alongside them as they “navigate through the high degree of confusion to clearer thinking and living for the sake of Christ.”

Dallas Theological Seminary

Prof began teaching at DTS in 1951 and has influenced countless pastors and Christian servants over the past 60+ years. In 1986, the Howard G. Hendricks Center for Christian Leadership opened on the Dallas Theological Seminary campus. This ministry attempts to develop Christian leaders and future church curricula through a process of – you guessed it! - mentoring. You might call Howard Hendricks the disciple who lived to disciple. (novel idea, right?)

Summit

Dr. David Noebel – 1962

First 25 years, 300-400 students per year; Since 1989, over 1,500 per year.

This is a process; you might even say it’s a lifelong process, but you’ve got to start somewhere. – “Doc” Noebel (mentor to mentors!)

From the Summit website: “Ideas come at you from every direction, and few know how to make sense of the world. Few know how to think Christianly. Few know what they believe; and fewer still, why they believe it. Equip yourself. Learn to equip others.

Today's Toastmasters Speech - 

Summit's Student Worldview Conferences are intensive two-week retreats designed to teach students how to analyze the various ideas that are currently competing for their hearts and minds.”

Summit ministries has trained thousands of tomorrow’s leaders to understand the patterns of ideas.  The left side is a listing of the 10 major areas of knowledge (such as Philosophy, History, Science, Biology).   Along the top are the 6 major WORLDVIEWS which include Christianity, Islam, Secular/Humanism, Marxism, Cosmic Humanism (the Carl Sagan types), and Post-Modernism.

If you obtain an understanding of how each Worldview explains these subjects you can have a basis to dialogue with anyone in a meaningful way and perhaps open a door to bringing the truth of the gospel.  At the very least, you can defend and stand strong on the foundation that comes from a clear articulation of the Christian/Biblical Worldview.

How firm is your foundation?   How well can you describe to another your foundation and can you pass this on to others?

Attend a Summit Conferences (students and adults), Summit Semester (Colorado Springs), Summit Oxford – ideal for students age 15-22

2 Timothy 2:2 ESV

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Help the ripples continue for the next generation!