The serene setting of Camp Alamisco in Alabama became a hub of inspiration and strategic planning as the Gulf States Conference (GSC) hosted its first annual Education Leadership Summit from March 7-9, 2024. Designed for school principals, school board chairs, church pastors, and head elders, the event provided a dedicated space to explore the vital role of discipleship in Adventist education.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Scott Ward, Associate Professor of Discipleship & Campus Ministries at Andrews University, led the summit’s discussions. His presentations were drawn from his book, Following Jesus, focusing on topics such as “The Discipleship Process”, “The Importance of a Devotional Life” and “Creating a Discipleship Action Plan for Schools.” Dr. Ward underscored the urgency of integrating discipleship into school culture, emphasizing that Christian education must go beyond academics—it must be a movement of training young people to follow Jesus in every aspect of their lives.”
Through engaging sessions, attendees examined practical ways to create a school environment that nurtures students' spiritual growth. Dr. Ward challenged leaders to evaluate how their institutions model discipleship, encouraging them to implement intentional strategies that extend beyond classroom instruction and into everyday interactions.
The summit also served as a platform for collaboration among educators and church leaders. Participants shared experiences, discussed challenges, and developed action plans tailored to their unique school communities. Workshops and breakout sessions allowed for deeper engagement with the principles of discipleship and how they could be effectively applied in the GSC school system.
GSC Vice President for Education, Scott Bowes, expressed his enthusiasm about the summit’s impact, stating: “This gathering provided a valuable opportunity for our church and school leaders to come together with a shared purpose – intentionally planning how to disciple students and unite our schools and churches in making a lasting impact for Jesus in the lives of our children. I am so excited to see the incredible difference the plans developed this weekend will make in our schools and churches!”
The Education Leadership Summit reaffirmed the Gulf States Conference’s commitment to strengthening Adventist education as a training ground for discipleship. As participants departed from Camp Alamisco, they carried with them a shared conviction: to make their schools not only centers of academic excellence but also places where students are intentionally discipled to follow Jesus.