SLC 2024 Report

It was an incredible blessing and joy to host 2 student leadership conferences again this year. This marks the 26th year of SLC, and 3 of these have been double events in consecutive weeks. The first SLC took place in 1999 with about 80 participants.

This year we hosted 234 participants from 22 schools and 11 countries in the first week and 154 participants from 13 schools and 9 countries in week two. A total of 16 countries were represented and over 90% of these participants came for the first time this year. Looking back over these years, we can estimate that nearly 6000 students have been a part of SLC plus about 500 teachers. The focus of SLC has always been on inspiring a biblical view of leadership that can be applied to the school community, within their daily relationships, and for their future vocational calling as a part of God's purposes for each one.

The 5 main sessions include times of worship, reflection, learning and prayer followed by student-led discussion groups to apply the content to their own settings. There are 3 workshop sessions, each with several options, that provide practical training around the theme of the conference and encourage practical ways to grow both as a Christ-follower and as a Christ-centered leader. Free time and cross-school interaction is also valuable for community building and long-term relationships and support. The last evening includes a time for each school team to share their action plan and how they will incorporate their learning into a meaningful investment in their school communities.

Much time is also spent with chaperones who are usually teachers or school leaders in separate discussions and workshops. These sessions include practical help to follow up with their students and further build a culture of student leadership in their Christian schools. 

Here is some feedback from this year's students related to personal and spiritual growth:

• I had never thought myself as a leader in my life and just recently God has been revealing things, including coming at SLC, which is showing me that maybe He wants me to become one. I was a discussion group leader this year, and it was a bit out of my comfort zone, but I was able to trust in God and really lean on him when feeling nervous. I think that prayer became really important to me during this week and kept me grounded.
• I recognized at this conference that my time abiding with God is one of the most formative and important parts of being a leader. I also saw myself realizing that I need to recognize my gifts in order to grow God's kingdom.
• It is quite a challenge because I considered myself as someone who follows a leader, and not someone who actually leads. Even though things are new and challenging, I am sure God will use me as a tool for His glory and for good, and that He has a plan for me.
• Coming to SLC was a new experience for me and pushed me into making new friends and being a discussion group leader and to trust that the Lord was going to provide and care for me through it. But he was always caring for me and I really felt it.

Related to their call to invest in others:

• We've got a lot of things planned as a school leadership team thanks to the action plan, and the whole event was specifically aimed at training us about leadership, which raised an awareness about personal skills that I need to invest in more.
• I was really encouraged and drawn to pouring into others in more practical ways especially those in my life who are younger and need discipleship.
• I want to help people find their spiritual gifts so they can grow in them. We all need everyone because we all have weaknesses and knowing your gifts is super helpful.
• I've struggled with loneliness for a large portion of my life and that loneliness prompted some really dark thoughts... Others should not have to go through things alone. SLC has taught me that everyone needs a challenging and loving Christian community to thrive and grow, especially those who are struggling. I really want to help those people and I think God wants me to as well.
• My family is nonchristian and I am the hope. The hope of showing my family I am different that they are, I have something they don’t. I have Jesus. I would love to meet them in heaven, you know…
• I think being able to lead a discussion group better will be a great way for me to help lead the Bible study we’ll start at our school. I took away a lot that I will be able to apply to our community.

Related to fellowship and spiritual community at SLC:

• It was so fascinating to talk to people from other countries, who have different cultures and experiences than me. It made me want to put myself out there and engage with others. Also, seeing the way other people experience God made me stop to think of the way I experience God. It makes me want to strengthen my relationship with Him.
• I have discovered that faith is not something you do alone, but something you do with our Christian brothers and sisters in giving God all the glory.
• The community here at SLC has been one of the best I have ever experienced anywhere before. Everyone was so welcoming and loving. I learned a lot about God this year and I will take back what I learned and put it into practice. I have grown closer to God through other people.
• Honestly I felt so encouraged by other people and I learned so many new things to help me grow on my faith in God. I really needed this kind of experience.

We are so grateful for the excellent speakers which included Mike Epp, Oliver Jokisch and Paul Madsen in the first week and Jerry Nelson in the second week. The progression of topics focussed on foundational aspects of biblical leadership that include:

• Realizing our identity in Christ
• Investing in community (identifying our gifts)
• Engaging in God's mission (using our gifts)

The next SLC events will be in the last week of September and the first week of October of 2025. We also recognize the growing need for community, training, collaboration and support in developing student leaders here in Europe and globally. Additional SLC events are being considered for other regions as we prayerfully evaluate how God might use this event to impact even more students for His purposes.