In June nine Luther Leaguers along with Tim Lenz spent five days on the campus of Texas Lutheran University learning more about the Bible, rediscovering personal gifts and talents, and increasing relationships with peers in their church family. Terrell Steed, Hynson Bhola, Nathaniel Winston, Matthew Winston, Andrew Winston, Andrea Salas, Martin Salas, Laura Sandoz, and Louis Monroe each spent several hours daily in a learning track where they gained skills to deepen biblical and theological understandings in their area of passion as well as managing to have a little fun at the same time.
When registering for the trip all youth had the opportunity to choose from 13 different learning tracks. Our youth collaboratively participated in many tracks including, Sports and Fitness, Peer Ministry, Creative Expressions-Music, Emerging Leadership, and Passing on the Faith. Each track was led by teams of trained professionals and emerging leaders from around the nation who offered their gifts and knowledge to the youth throughout the week.
During the week the characteristics of leadership emerged among many youth who seemed to have been developing for months. The week presented these youth with opportunities for these skills to become manifest in a welcoming and encouraging environment. Some youth who may have kept these skills dormant were able to rise to the occasion when participating in activities and discussions for which they were passionate.
The Disciple Project is a cross-generational, cross-cultural, cross-synodical leadership school organized by the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod. The goal is to provide the skills and training necessary to explore and discover the spiritual gifts in ministry and leadership in high school youth and adults. It is designed to help us become disciples of Christ not only at home, school, or church, but everywhere.