"True greatness, true leadership, is achieved not by reducing men to one's service but in giving onself in selfless service to them."
J Oswald Sanders in Spiritual Leadership
When HCA was established four years ago, one of our first priorities was to develop opportunities for students at HCA to be actively involved in service outside the school itself. Toward that end, I met regularly with several moms who were passionate about this topic, and it quickly became evident we wanted to find a way for the students to develop long-term discipleship relationships through this service, not just a series of one-shot projects.
In God's providence, a new ministry was starting in Johnson County seeking to reach out to the unreached ... a ministry with a "neighbor's heart - taking Jesus to people in need by extending help and hope." As we talked with the leadership of this new ministry, Mission Southside, it became clear that a partnership would be mutually beneficial. In the spring of 2011, we began a student-led discipleship ministry to a group of elementary students in a local community. Every Wednesday afternoon for the past four years, HCA students travel through this community on one of the HCA buses and pick up kids as they arrive home from school. After arriving at a local church which has generously provided their facility, these students lead a Bible study and activity time for these elementary students.
This is truly a student-led ministry. They prepare the weekly Bible studies, plan the activities, promote special events, and basically "love on" these kids each week. They recruit students from HCA to participate and even disciple their own leaders to take their place when they graduate. The current leaders have all "come up through the ranks" ... Listen to them as they share a little of their passion for this ministry.
"More than anything else, I love seeing the smiling faces on the students as they see our bus arrive; they are so excited to see us. It is so gratifying when we can see them grasping the Bible story, asking questions, being involved ... It makes it worth going every week." Senior Emily Hocker
"I go because of the kids; I feel like I'm making a difference in their lives. It's exciting to see growth in the kids that have been coming for four years. I recently heard of one of "our kids" who was sharing from the Bible at lunch in her own school! That's why we are doing this." Senior Jared Finley
"My passion is to see the kids respond to the message of Jesus for the first time. It's powerful to think that we can be a part of that. It has also really helped me look outside of my self. There is so much brokenness in the families in this community; the one-on-one time with the kids helps me put myself in their shoes." Junior Adam Asselta
This is "true leadership" in action!
