The Leadership Conference: God conversations and God networking

The Step Leadership Conference has now become a firm fixture in the Step Calendar and whilst the past three conferences have been brilliant, there was something special about this year’s event, and it really did feel like God was with us with in an extra special way.

Not only was it an exceptional year because we reached several new schools for the first, time, two of which were from schools beyond our usual remit of St Albans and Harpenden, but also because we had an increase in the number of students attending, growing from around 70 young people to over 90 this time.

We also grew in the number of sessions students could attend – with five exceptional speakers and topics to choose from instead of just four. This year, students were able to learn about servant leadership, conflict management, how to find your tribe, The Careers Equation and how to use your influence to make an impact.

All the seminars were delivered by highly experienced, inspirational Christian leaders and we are so grateful to all them for giving up their time to pour into our young people. A particular highlight was the keynote speaker at the end of the day, a third-year student from Warwick University, Isaac, who brought so much joy, laughter and energy with him. Isaac spoke about the key qualities of great leadership, before explaining how and why he chooses Jesus as the best leader ever to follow.

There was so much energy throughout the day, and we all commented on how friendly and mature the students were. I met a student who had attended the conference a few days later when I was visiting her school and she enthused eloquently about how much she had got from the day, how she had met over twenty new people from other schools and how much fun it had been.
 
I even had the unexpected joy of walking into the youth auditorium at lunch time to find a group of students singing “hallelujah” round the keyboard Isaac was playing, another on the drums, and a further group gathered round a lad with a guitar – it was like a worship jamming session!

It is hard to sum up this event in just a few paragraphs, so many “God conversations” happened, so much “God networking” occurred and so many seeds were sown. It was a wonderful day.

And I can’t finish this article without mentioning the huge team who helped make the event happen – too many amazing people to mention by name, but without such a collective effort this kind of event simply can’t happen. I am so grateful to everyone who served so willingly, whether by collecting over £400 worth of sandwiches from M & S, moving a lot of tables and chairs around, leading seminars, taking photos, welcoming students, serving refreshments, to hoovering and sweeping, to name but a few roles. Everyone’s contribution was essential in making the day the huge success that it was. Thank you all and thank you God for blessing us so much!

Amy