Leadership Academy Snapshot
Posted on Saturday, February 11, 2017 by
Into our second year of the newly launched Leadership Academy (LA), we wanted to share a taste of this program straight from the horse’s mouth. Imagine you’re sitting around a table with Ella, a first year participant, 
Jen, veteran staff and Ella’s supervisor, 
and Seth, the program director, 
enjoying a cuppa of your choice and their experiences thus far.
Seth, for those who aren’t familiar with LA, what’s this program ultimately about?
Overall, Leadership Academy is about helping young leaders find their areas of passion and offering them support to get to a place where they can lead a ministry on their own. Our program allows our interns to get training and hands-on experience alongside experienced leaders to see if the outreach we do through Campus Life is something they feel passionate about. I have personally seen Campus Life transform my life and the lives of so many others. I want everyone to experience what a blessing it can be to help a kid find their identity in Christ.
Ella, what has the program meant for you?
The program has been great for me so far. I was a volunteer for Campus Life three years prior to interning, so being a part of the team has been so special to me. I love all of the staff at YFC very much. It's been awesome getting to know team members from Parent Life and JJM better and coming together with Campus Life co-workers on a weekly basis planning, praying, and encouraging one another. I am so blessed with our team and the friendships I've made along the way.
Jen, how has being a supervisor in this program benefited you personally?
I have benefited from this program in many ways. It has allowed me to take a step back from my own ministry and really evaluate how I do things. It has allowed me (as a veteran YFC staff) to really think about and be challenged by the new, fresh thoughts of the interns working with me. It has also freed me up from doing some of the simple tasks that can be passed to the interns.
Seth, what benefits have you seen come from the LA program?
For staff, a huge benefit has been seeing some of the pressure of reaching the dozens and dozens of kids at our schools taken off the staff because Leadership Academy has allowed for higher commitment from our interns than in the past. For the LA participants, this higher commitment has been great; it’s no longer just training, it’s lots of direct relationship-building, which has lead to more ministry happening and more kids being reached at a deeper level by someone other than the lead staff member at that site. I know our interns this year are doing an amazing job meeting kids outside of club and really loving them where they’re at in life.
Ella, how have you seen God at work through Leadership Academy?
I've seen God at work in strengthening and encouraging me to continually get out of my comfort zone. I feel very unqualified because I don't have a lot of Bible knowledge and don't know all the answers kids ask, but God keeps encouraging me and reminding me that I am here to love his people and serve them. And to be myself around the kids and not care what they think of me, but to have them know that I am for them and that I love them. I don't have to be a scholar to show these kids that I love them. Simply by being there to listen to them and help them through whatever life situations they go through is what matters most.
Describe the quintessential story of Leadership Academy.
I [Jen] believe that Andrew Owens is why we do Leadership Academy. He went from being a student at Lincoln High Campus Life (and having his life changed there) to going through the LA program, to now being part-time staff at Southeast High School. It's because of kids like Andrew and his story of life change now changing others' lives that I believe we need to keep doing Leadership Academy.