Leadership Training for Christ

General Information
Leadership Training for Christ (LTC) is an activity-based program designed to teach and refine skills needed to grow servant leaders in the Church.  LTC is open to young people from grades 3 - 12 as participants.

The different events at LTC work to strengthen the skills of an individual.  Several events also build social skills and team spirit within the youth group.  These skills help the young people to participate in sharing the message of our Lord through mission trips, Vacation Bible School, and in their daily lives.

LTC events include challenge, pre-convention, and convention events.  Students DO NOT have to attend convention to participate in LTC.  Pre-convention and challenge events are completed before the convention weekend, and students may participate in these events without attending the weekend convention. 

Cost
Each participant must pay a $35 registration fee.  This small fee includes all of the participant’s events and an LTC t-shirt.

Contacts
Congregation coordinators – Sharon Duncan, Beckie Gasvoda, Leah Hewitt
Scholarship coordinator – Doug Thompson

LTC website – www.ctltc.net

Deadlines

Event Summaries

Select a category below to read that categories overview

Bible Bowl
Bible Class Teaching Challenge
Bible Reading
Bible Reading Challenge
Bulletin Board
Children’s Book
Chorus
Christian Art
Live Modern Christian Drama
Puppets
Radio Minute Message
Scrapbook
Scripture Challenge
Service Challenge
Signing for the Deaf
Song Leading
Song Writing
Speech
Video Bible Drama

Bible Bowl:  Teams of four children compete against other teams in their grade level.  The teams are asked multiple choice questions that come from the Books of Acts (NIV). The questions asked don’t require interpretation of the scriptures, but rather tend to be related to the direct content of the book and include a wide range in level of knowledge.   Bible Bowl is a convention event. Participants must study each of the books represented this year in depth and learn as much detail as possible about those books prior to the event.

Bible Class Teaching Challenge:  Bible Class Teaching Challenge is open to all grade levels and provides participants with the opportunity to experience the different aspects of teaching including touring the teacher workroom, assisting a Bible Class teacher, preparing a lesson, teaching a Bible class, and writing a short report explaining the personal benefit gained from the experience.  A log and short report are due April 6.   The coach will work directly with each participant throughout each task of this challenge. 

Bible Reading:  Bible Reading includes introducing a pre-selected Bible passage and then reading the passage in front of an audience of other participants and supporters at the convention.  The introduction is no more than 20 seconds and is very simple in nature.  The reading itself is between one and two minutes in length.  Bible reading is open to students in 3^rd through 6^th grade.  Participants must pre-select the passage, develop the introduction, and practice the passage to be read.  The coach will help participants select a passage, develop an introduction, and offer times to practice in front of members of our congregation so that participants have a chance to get comfortable reading in front of an audience.

Bible Reading Challenge:  Bible Reading Challenge is the 7^th through 12^th grade version of Bible Reading. It includes introducing between two and six pre-selected Bible passages and then reading each passage in front of members of our congregation prior to March 1.  Each passage includes an introduction of no more than 20 seconds and is very simple in nature. The length of each reading is between one and two minutes.  Participants must select each passage, develop the introduction, and practice the passage to be read.  Each passage is typically completed individually.  The coach will help participants select a passage, develop an introduction, and offer times to practice in front of members of our congregation

Bulletin Board:  Bulletin boards are designed to be an information-giving tool and make a clear point that represents this year’s theme of “Unstoppable.”  Bulletin Board can be either a team or an individual event.  Bulletin boards are prepared before the convention and delivered for judging by 6:00 p.m. on convention Friday and picked up by 5:30 on Saturday.  Participants must complete their board prior to convention, making sure it is durable and transportable and that they have a way to deliver and pick it up from convention.  The coach will offer times to assist each participant in designing their boards and working on their construction in a group setting and will encourage the participants to complete their boards in a timely manner.  Materials are available in the teacher workroom for bulletin board construction.  Participants do not need to attend the convention to participate in this event.

Children’s Book:  In today's world, there is a need for children’s books that convey a Christian message.  This event encourages those who enjoy creative writing and drawing to use their skills in a Christian arena.  Each participant writes a children’s story for an age group no older than 5th grade that reflects this year's theme, “Here I Am.”  The story may be written in any form of fiction/non-fiction (e.g., mystery, action, humor, fable, etc.). The book must be illustrated (drawing, cartoon, photographs, or computer-generated) with original (no use of copyrighted) artwork. One person may write the story and another may illustrate.  Participants must complete their work by March 1.  The coach will offer times to assist participants in the design and construction of their work and encourage participants to complete their work in a timely manner.  Participants do not need to attend the convention to participate in this event.

Chorus:  The purpose of the Chorus event is to present a cappella music in order to encourage believers, witness to unbelievers, and praise our God.  Choruses varying by grade level and size all perform at the convention.  The composition of each Chorus and the music performed is determined each year after the participants have been identified, allowing the coach to best utilize our children’s talents.

Christian Art:  Christian Art is an individual event designed to help young people communicate their faith and beliefs through the artistic medium of sculpture, photography, and 2D art (painting, drawing, mixed media, and computer-generated art).  Each participant prepares an art piece that is displayed and judged at the convention.  Each work of art should make a clear point and should visually represent this year's theme, "Here I Am."  Christian Art is prepared before the convention and delivered for judging by 6:00 p.m. on convention Friday and picked up by 5:30 on Saturday.  Participants must complete their work prior to convention, making sure it is durable, transportable, and freestanding, and making sure they have a way to deliver and pick it up from convention.  The coach will offer times to assist each participant in design and construction in a group setting and will encourage participants to complete their work in a timely manner.  Materials are provided for this event.   Participants do not need to attend the convention to participate in this event.

Live Modern Christian Drama:  Live Modern Christian Drama encourages students to dramatize modern-day life applications of Christian truths.  The drama is a modern-day application of any Christian truth, with respect to this year's theme, “Here I Am" and not a Bible story reenactment.  Live Modern Christian Drama is a convention event that requires attendance at practice sessions prior to convention weekend.  The coach will work with participants to select a script, cast the parts, design and complete costumes, props and staging, and conduct scheduled practice sessions. 

Puppets:  The purpose of Puppets is to encourage students to present Bible stories through the use of puppets.  Puppet teams are formed by grade levels and each team performs a 4-5 minute puppet show at the convention.  The puppet shows are also a great spectator event at the convention.  Puppets is a convention event that requires attendance at practice sessions prior to the convention weekend.  The coach works with each team to select a script, cast parts, design and complete props and staging, and practice.  The puppets are provided by the church.

Radio Minute Message:  Radio Minute Message challenges participants to develop and deliver a 30-60 second radio spot. The radio spot is designed to reach out to the community and encourage them with the message of Christ.  Students in all grade levels can participate in this pre-convention event.

Participants must complete their work by March 1.  The coach will offer times to assist each participant in the design and construction of their work and encourage participants to complete their work in a timely manner. Participants do not need to attend the convention to participate in this event.

Scrapbook:  Scrapbook challenges participants to use their creative skills to prepare a scrapbook about youth activities in our congregation during the past year.  Scrapbook can be either a team or an individual event.  Scrapbooks are prepared before the convention and delivered for judging by 6:00 p.m. on convention Friday and picked up by 5:30 on Saturday.   Participants must complete their work prior to convention, making sure they have a way to deliver and pick it up from convention.  The coach will offer times to assist each participant in designing their books and working on their construction in a group setting and will encourage participants to complete their work in a timely manner.  Participants do not need to attend the convention to participate in this event.

Scripture Challenge:  Scripture Challenge includes memorizing at least 50 Bible verses throughout the year. Each student may select the scriptures that they would like to learn. The memorized Bible passages are recited to an individual from our church prior to March 1 with multiple verses recited at a time. 

Participants must select the verses, memorize them, and recite them for an individual judge from our congregation.  If your child would like to complete this event at a more leisurely pace, this would be an outstanding time to begin your work for next year’s convention.

Service Challenge:  Service Challenge is designed to encourage students to make Christian service an integral part of their lifestyle.  Service projects are selected by each participant according to their interests and skills, with each participant completing 6-10 service projects. Each participant also writes a report of one page or less explaining how the projects performed have benefited both the participant and others.  Service Challenge must be completed before the beginning of the convention weekend, and the report is submitted by the coach by 6:00 on convention Friday.  The coach works with each participant to select service projects, organizes group service projects, and assists the participants with logistics.

Signing for the Deaf:  Signing for the Deaf is designed to encourage students to develop the ability to sign so that they can minister to and develop relationships with the deaf and hard-of-hearing which will glorify God and His church.  Students interested in this event may also be interested in the Interpreting for the Deaf event.  Participants at the Beginner level will sign a song, the Intermediate level will sign a song and a scripture, and the Advanced level will sign a song and a scripture chosen by the judges from a predefined list.  All materials are provided in advanced so that each participant may practice before performing at the convention in front of other participants and their supporters.  The coach will assist each participant in learning the signs required for their selected works.

Song Leading:  Song Leading includes introducing a single, pre-selected song from the hymnal and then leading the song as the audience sings. Song Leading is open to students in all grade levels.  Participants must pre-select the song and practice leading the song alone and in front of an audience.  The coach will help in song selection, coach the participant in song leading techniques, and offer times that each participant may practice in front of members of our congregation so that they have a chance to get comfortable leading in front of an audience.

Song Writing:  Song Writing challenges individuals to demonstrate their creative and technical talents by developing an original melody and lyrics.  The presentation must glorify God and represent this year’s theme, “"Here I Am.” Students in all grade levels can participate in this pre-convention event.  More than one person may work on a composition with the song judged in the division of the oldest participant.   Participants must complete their work prior to March 1.  The coach will provide assistance based on each participant’s grade level including giving examples, helping with ideas, assisting with technical items, monitoring the entire process, and encouraging participants to finish their work in a timely manner.  Participants do not need to attend the convention to participate in this event.

Speech:  There are two types of speech events at convention—Original Oratory and Extemporaneous Speech. An Original Oratory Speech is a 3-6 minute speech prepared prior to convention, presented from memory or with use of index cards, and related to this year’s theme, "Here I Am."  In Extemporaneous Speech, each participant is given a topic on which to speak, has 20 minutes to prepare, and then presents a 3-6 minute speech to the audience. In Extemporaneous speech, resource materials, such as a concordance, are allowed and must be brought to the convention by the participant.  Participants in Oratory Speech must compose and practice the speech alone and in front of an audience. The coach will help in topic selection and content development and will offer times that each participant may practice in front of members of our congregation so that they have a chance to get comfortable reading in front of an audience.  Participants in Extemporaneous speech must bring resources with which they are already familiar.

Video Bible Drama:  The purpose of Video Bible Drama is to encourage students to dramatize, on videotape, a Bible story which illustrates this year's theme. Each Video Bible Drama team creates a 10-minute script, costumes, and video as a pre-convention event. The Bible drama may be selected from the Old or New Testament.  This event is open to all ages with each tape submitted according to the grade level of the oldest participant(s).   Participants must complete their work prior to March 1.  The coach will provide assistance in script development, costumes, props, and acting techniques. Video editing is performed by adults in our congregation and is not a participant requirement.