The History of Leadership Training for Christ
Lads to Leaders
In the late 1960's, Jack Zorn began working with the young boys in his Montgomery, Alabama congregation. His goal was to develop their leadership skills. Under the name "Lads to Leaders", the program spread to nearby churches of Christ. Annual Easter weekend conventions usually held in Nashville, Tennessee, attracted participants from many states. Eventually, the convention registration grew to about 3,500 participants. Recognizing that more groups would participate if the convention were closer to home, an effort was made to establish a Southwest Region of Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes. A regional convention was held in Houston, Texas, during the Easter weekend of 1988 and over 700 attended.
Leadership Training for Christ
Following the 1988 convention, it became obvious to the group in the Southwest Region that the geographical complications of coordinating two conventions through two boards of widely dispersed members were hindering the basic goal of both groups. The decision to form Leadership Training for Christ (LTC) was finalized in October 1988. In 1990-1992 LTC conventions were held in Houston and Dallas.
Leadership Training for Christ - Western Region
In 1992, the chairman of the North Texas LTC in Dallas asked Ernie Simmons if he and Vivia would start a Leadership Training for Christ program in Phoenix. Ernie & Vivia had been heavily involved in the North Texas Leadership Training for Christ program before moving to Phoenix, Arizona. Ernie began immediately by meeting with board members from Dallas and soliciting help from church members living in Phoenix and California who had been actively involved or had visited the LTC in Dallas. Under the umbrella of Dallas LTC, a Western Region LTC board was implemented, event directors selected, and a convention location was established. On Easter weekend 1993, participants from West Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, and Idaho gathered at the Crescent Hotel located at Dunlap Avenue and I-17 in Phoenix, Arizona for the first LTC Western Region convention. There were 327 participants entered in 10 Pre-Convention and 10 Convention Events. An Awards Ceremony was held on Saturday night and all the participants received their awards. The convention concluded with a worship service on Sunday morning that was conducted by the young men who had participated in the convention. Approximately 450 attended the worship service.
Leadership Training for Christ Continues to Expand
In 1996 a new Midwest Region was established in Kokomo, Indiana. The Dallas Region (now called the North Texas LTC) was further divided into new regions with additional conventions held in Houston, Texas (Central Texas LTC), and Tulsa, Oklahoma (Great Plains LTC).
Leadership Training for Christ - Southwestern Region
In 1996, the LTC Western Region had outgrown the hotel where the convention was held. It was decided to expand LTC into the San Francisco, California area. A group from the LTC Western Region met in Pleasanton, California to establish an LTC a board of directors. In 1997, the first Northern California LTC was held in Santa Clara California. The LTC Western Region became identified as the LTC Southwestern Region at that time.
Leadership Training for Christ - Northwest Region
In 2006 the Lord provided a way for the LTC Southwest Region to help mentor the beginning of the LTC Northwest region in Prineville, Oregon. The first year they had 24 participants and they have grown rapidly. Several congregations that were traveling to Phoenix have begun attending the LTCNW Region convention and provided their support and encouragement. The call for Christian leadership can come in many different forms. The LTC-SW Board is very proud to have been a part of the LTCNW Region.
Since its origin, LTC has focused on making the annual convention an opportunity to challenge young people to develop in an increasing number of leadership areas. Each year more congregations become involved in the LTC � Southwestern Region. Over the years, new events have been added and removed. The award ceremony on Saturday night has changed to a Saturday Night Celebration to allow many of the youth to demonstrate their God given talent that they have been blessed with and worked so hard all year long.
Each congregation is encouraged to conduct their own award presentation at their home congregation so the local membership can see what their youth had accomplished and worked so hard for.
The board sees the Convention as a time and place where young people can meet together, demonstrate their accomplishments, and broaden their definitions of excellence. The events are the whetstone necessary to sharpen the tool, the opportunity to practice leadership skills, and a challenge to raise our collective standards. Be sure to thank God for those individuals at your congregation that have dedicated so much of their time to the LTC program.