The Christian Leadership Institute, a leadership development ministry for young people sponsored by the Christian Action Commission of the Mississippi Baptist Convention, kicked off a week of intensive leadership training July 8 on the campus of Baptist-affiliated Blue Mountain Christian University in Blue Mountain, Mississippi.
The camp is designed to equip and encourage young men and women to consider and pursue a life of public service. Students ages 13–19 are eligible to attend.
This year, there were 48 students, eight coaches, and eight speakers participating in the CLI.
Filling the leadership void
Keynote speaker for the July 8 dinner banquet was Shawn Parker, executive director-treasurer of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board.
“It is called the Christian Leadership Institute, the sixth installment,” Parker said. “The middle word for the entire week is ‘leadership,’ and I suggest that we’re living in a day and age where there seems to be a terrible void of godly leadership. There is a void of leadership, period.
“I mean, look at the culture around us and there seems to be too many gaps in the leadership parade that ought to be leading us,” he added. “And if we’re going to make a difference in that, we need to start with a young generation and train them up to follow the Lord and to follow His leadership and therefore become leaders of others. That’s what this week is all about.”
During the week of camp, each student is assigned a coach/mentor. There are opportunities for camper groups to compete in games and earn awards. The week includes breakout sessions focusing on the development of leadership skills.
On Tuesday through Thursday, camp days consist of breakfast, breakout sessions, a speaker, lunch, activities, free time, dinner and another speaker. Friday’s schedule features breakfast, a breakout session, a panel discussion and lunch.
The CLI is supported each year by gifts to the Mississippi Cooperative Program and sponsorship fees. The 2025 CLI will be July 7–11 at BMCU. For more information, contact Kenny Digby at kdigby@christianaction.com or Rebekah Peavy at rpeavy@christianaction.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Tony Martin and originally published by the Baptist Record.
