17 students from Bradford, Northumberland and Tioga Associations
gathered together for the 2011 Leader-in-Training
Program conducted by North Country Baptist Youth
Ministries. Students arrived Thursday night around 5:30
pm, March 24th to begin the training.
The weather was extremely cold; making the coal stove a
favorite gathering place. The high school youth enjoyed
a dinner of pizza before launching into a fast paced,
action packed three day event.
Perhaps the most demanding and sometimes scary aspect of
the training is doing a 3 to 5 minute devotional based
on a specific scripture passage. The devotional is
presented to the entire group who then evaluates the
presenter both on content and style. Most students find
this part of the event to be both the most challenging
but also most rewarding part of the course.
Other topics covered included, leadership styles,
sharing your faith, prayer, conflict management and, for
those coming to help at junior camp, common camper
problems were discussed. Eric Kraihanzel gave a
presentation on Camper Protection with some eye opening
case studies of problems that can develop if leaders do
not stay focused on the campers.
Year after year, the LIT program proves to be one of the
best ways of training young disciples of Jesus. The
teens learn and grow by being given a chance to put the
training to good use both at camp or in their home
churches. The adults are blessed by the faith and
courage of these young people. Without a doubt, the
LIT's become great teen role models for younger children
who participate in the ministries the Leaders In
Training serve.