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A Glimpse Outside Whitesburg Christian Academy

One of the best things Whitesburg Christian Academy offers students is the amazing opportunity to participate in leadership and service opportunities over the summer. These enriching experiences inspire and equip students to leave a legacy for Christ that is larger than themselves. This summer, 34 upper school students traveled to Orlando for Student Leadership University (SLU) 101, 14 traveled to New Orleans for a mission trip with Mission Lab, and 12 traveled to Washington D.C. for SLU 201. We hope you enjoy this Warrior Window into their experiences.
Learning Leadership Lessons
by Anna Pierce

Student Leadership University 101 was an unforgettable learning experience. From the bus catching fire to nearly being late for breakfast, the trip was full of unexpected scenarios and surprises. However, the most valuable lessons I learned were using the gifts and goals God gave me for His glory, managing time efficiently, and defending my faith compared to other beliefs. 

During the “Dream” session, Dr. Jay Strack asked us a challenging question: “What would you do for the glory of God if you knew you could not fail?” The question reminded me that God gave every person gifts and goals for a reason only He could know. Furthermore, He does not want us to be afraid of failure or mistakes when pursuing goals and dreams. Additionally, Dr. Strack elaborated on the importance of being surrounded by the right people in order to accomplish your goals, and encouraging others to pursue their dreams.

Time management and creating the proper workspace was spoken about in a session by Jeff Wallace. The main thing I took away from it was the value of time. A profound statement he made was, “When you kill time, remember it has no resurrection.” He also discussed that it is our responsibility to make effective use of our time and not squander the time we have been graciously given. Additionally, setting up a quiet, workable place to accomplish your tasks helps in time management and productivity.

All the sessions at SLU 101 had tremendous value and content. However, my absolute favorite was “Developing a Biblical Worldview” by Brett Kunkle. He described each of the major world views found in our culture and their main beliefs. The most impactful thing he taught, in my opinion, was different questions unbelievers might ask and how to answer them as a Christian. Furthermore, he addressed the importance of being confident in our beliefs. One of my favorite quotes from him was, “Ideas have consequences, false ideas have victims''. Although some concepts he addressed were a little over my head, I know I will never forget the session and the things he taught me. 

The experience of SLU 101 could not be matched and I am so excited for SLU 201!
Every Journey Starts with the First Step
by Andrew Bolton

Well, I don’t know how most 101 trips go, but ours started out with a bang, literally. Our bus broke down when we were about 15 minutes out from the SLU 101 hotel building, and we were on the side of the highway for about 30 minutes before another bus came to get us. After we arrived, we got right into our sessions. Our first few sessions that evening were very direct and to the point, and it was a lot to take in. One of my favorite sessions however was the next morning at Sea World. We got to go into the park before it opened, and there we had a session in an underwater shark tank grill and bar. There, Brent Crowe talked to us about the “Shark in the Mirror”, or in other words, the person that you see on the inside when you look in a mirror. He then proceeded to tell us about the different kinds of sharks in the tank and their personalities. For me, that was a real reflection and wake up call. On Wednesday, we all got to hear Dr. Jay Strack teach us how to “Swallow the Big Frog First”, a classic session that he has taught for many years about doing the hard things first, rather than taking the easy route. All in all, SLU 101 was a life-changing experience that I will never forget.
How New Orleans Changed Me
by Ben Cox

The Mission Lab trip to New Orleans was an amazing experience.  When our group left Huntsville, we had no idea of what was ahead of us; we just knew we were going to serve. We spent a week serving in conjunction with a group called Bethel that provides jobs, daycare, housing, food, and the opportunity to know Christ to men and women who are overcoming addiction. Everyone we met there had amazing stories that truly showed the power and mercy of God. We also got to hang out with the kids whose parents were a part of the ministry of Bethel. This was an eye opening experience because all of these kids really had nothing but were just so happy and excited to play with us. While I can say I had no idea what I was headed into on the way to New Orleans, I am so thankful for the opportunity to go serve Christ with my classmates and for the experiences I made along the way. Christ used me to serve the people of New Orleans, but he also used the people of New Orleans to change me.  The Academy has truly prepared me to go into the world and spread the Gospel for Him. I am excited to take what I learned in New Orleans and build on it in college.
Takeaways From The New Orleans Mission Trip
by Kaidan McClendon

This was my very first mission trip, and wow, it was a great start! I really enjoyed having the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone to do things for the Lord. I also enjoyed the mission mindset that I had during the whole trip. Everyone I saw was an opportunity to speak to and try to incorporate the name of Jesus somewhere in the conversation. I can now better understand what it means to have a mission mindset and I pray that I will continue to carry it with me and not let it stay in New Orleans. My favorite part of the trip was meeting all the new people and learning their stories. Everyone seemed very open there. It felt like a big community where people wanted to tell you about what made them who they are today. On this trip, I learned a lot more about myself. I was put into situations I would not normally subject myself to and I am very grateful for it. For example, I am not a big “kid person”, but I was willing to try to see how God would use me. He definitely sent some amazing kids my way, and I am very grateful to have met and talked to them. Yet, I am a person who naturally gravitates towards the parents of the children, and though I spent equal time with both parent and child, I really felt God calling me toward the parent. At this time, God opened up a ministry idea in my mind. I now feel called to seek out those who simply want someone to talk to, specifically elderly or older people, whom I can help by listening and responding to them. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to all the people’s stories I heard, while also throwing in those biblical truths every once in a while. This trip has inspired me to not be an in-the-background Christian but one that challenges others and takes risks herself to further the Kingdom of God. I bought a ring in New Orleans to serve as a reminder of all the things I learned on this trip and all the people that I met. Every time I look at it, it stands as a constant challenge to do difficult things for Christ and to not let the mission mindset that I had on the trip die. I cannot express in words how thankful I am for this trip, and I can’t wait for the next one. In the meantime, I’ll be finding ways I can help here and now.
From Hardship to Leadership
by Annalyse McGee

As impactful and educational as SLU 101 was for all students who attended, SLU 201 brought even more to the table in terms of speakers, topics, and environment. In ideal circumstances, the conferences of 201 would have taken place amongst the many historical buildings and monuments that DC is known for, such as the Lincoln Memorial or Capitol building. Even though this particular trip was not able to tour these places and others, the conferences were just as impactful and inspiring. SLU was able to keep students captivated and interested with speakers like Jay Strack, Brent Crowe, Jeff Wallace, Nona Jones, Jeff Struecker, and even our senate’s chaplain Barry C. Black. All are very influential and wise leaders, and they spared no detail when describing how they overcame unhealthy or dangerous pasts to rise up and become the strong Christian leader they are today. Personally, what I thought was the most significant lecture was one by Barry Black that talked about making a lasting impact for God. He described to us how God will equip us to publicize and spread his word throughout communities, or to individuals, if we put forth the effort and are sincerely dedicated. He also expressed to us the importance of honoring the Lord in every situation, and said we should prefer death itself over dishonoring the Lord, which was very impactful for me. This entire session with Barry Black was packed full of amazing information, as well as the sessions with the other speakers. The students who attended will forever remember this amazing week, and the vast amount of incredible things that they learned.
Freedom Is Not Free
by Joshua Dean

The biggest take away I took from the SLU 201 was a recurring theme of many sessions, freedom is not free. Dr. Brent Crowe said in one of his sessions, “When you understand your freedom, you head to the feet of Jesus.” SLU 201 helped open my eyes to the sacrifices made for our freedom. We learned of many historical leaders such as Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln and leaders of today such as Jeff Struecker and Barry Black. The common factor of all these leaders was the influence of their decisions. These leaders all made crucial decisions for themselves and their country based on God’s word. The same principles these leaders used for their decisions are the same principles of leadership we can follow today. These principles helped form what we know as the United States and the freedoms we hold today. The Declaration of Independence says, “… they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights…”. From the beginning, we see God was at the center of our country. The sacrifices given to obtain and keep those freedoms will never receive the recognition and gratitude it deserves. During the wreath ceremony at Arlington Cemetery, I laid the wreath before the tomb of the unknown soldier. That moment encompassed all that I had learned about earlier in the week about the price of freedom. My SLU 201 experience has influenced me in many ways, and I hope to use what I have learned to become a Godly leader in my future.
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