Student Leadership Institute Equips Schools to Raise Christ-Centered Leaders

By: Amber Warnke

Firm Foundation Christian School (FFCS), a beautiful campus serving preschool to senior students in Battle Ground, Washington, immerses students in a family-friendly environment that helps them develop their God-given gifts. Steve Jorgensen, Bible teacher and senior class adviser, is passionate about discipleship and spiritual formation. He has served as a pastor of youth, missions, and discipleship for more than 25 years in various states, including California, Colorado, and Missouri. Now serving at FFCS, Jorgensen has launched a new student discipleship program, the FFCS Leadership Academy, which “provides an in-depth Christian leadership development experience that will equip students to lead with confidence in the vocations in which God calls them.” The goal of FFCS Leadership Academy is to help students stay connected to Christ, serve others, and engage with the local church and the culture.

To develop this program, Steve worked in conjunction with ACSI’s Student Leadership Institute Educator Training program. Student Leadership Institute (SLi) is a yearlong servant leadership program designed to help students cultivate the mindset and skills needed to influence their culture for Christ. More than a curriculum, it integrates a holistic leadership development model into the very identity of a school.

SLi operates on four biblically based principles: abiding in Christ, engaging the culture, serving others (not self), and serving in a local church. Out of these four principles spring SLi’s four components—leadership courses, leadership opportunities, leadership summits, and leadership skill development.

We are thrilled to help schools implement the SLi program through our SLi Educator Training program. Specifically designed for educators and school leaders like Steve, the SLi Educator Training objectives are designed to help you:

1. Learn how to effectively train students in the biblical model and definition of servant leadership with a core emphasis on the four SLi Operating Principles

2. Learn to create a healthy student leadership culture on your campus

3. Learn to identify and develop student leaders by providing them with a sustainable and applicable leadership training program that can be incorporated into any schedule

4. Learn to identify and train staff members who will partner together to lead a student leadership development program on your campus

This is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. We will work with you to customize the training to fit your school’s needs, developing a personalized implementation plan.

Through the SLi Educator Training program, the FFCS Leadership Academy is flourishing. They currently offer 50-minute classes, held once per week during school hours throughout the year. Students that successfully complete a year of the FFCS Leadership Academy are awarded a special SLA achievement certificate. The academy’s core components are short courses, leadership skills and development, conferences and external programs, and a service leadership practicum. The very reasonably priced enrollment fee covers curriculum, materials, and field trips, including a leadership conference. FFCS also affords students the opportunity to serve on missions trips.

You can learn more about the SLi Educator Trainings on the website.