Strong Rock Christian School students traveled to the nation’s capital this summer for SLU 201, an intensive leadership development experience designed to equip young leaders to think, dream and lead at the feet of Jesus.

Led by Strong Rock teachers Dr. Jay Sanders and Mrs. Marsha Sanders, the group participated in several sessions each day led by leaders in business, politics, the church and the military. Topics included defending the truth in a Christlike way, understanding a biblical worldview, remaining faithful to God in hostile environments, and loving God with our minds by developing critical thinking skills.

Between sessions, students visited significant sites in Washington, D.C., including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Museum of the Bible, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Jefferson Memorial, and memorials honoring service members from World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

Visiting these locations while learning about the importance of a Christian worldview helped students better visualize what it means to live for God’s glory in a world that often rejects Him. The Holocaust Museum served as a powerful reminder that worldview shapes how people live, while the war memorials stood as vivid lessons on sacrifice in the battle of good against evil.

“This trip was good because it offered other voices to underscore with their stories what our students have been learning at Strong Rock,” Dr. Sanders said. “Some of those stories came from living men who are currently in the fight. Others were told by the memorials found all throughout our nation’s capital.”

Student Isabelle Hoenes said one of the most memorable moments for her came from a session on decision-making. “The speaker, Brent Crow, shared his philosophy on decision making based on biblical principles, and the entire lesson gave me a new view on everyday decisions that I make.”

Student Leadership University is a ministry with one objective: to equip students to think, dream and lead at the feet of Jesus. Building on the personal leadership foundation taught in SLU 101, SLU 201 challenges students to lead as citizens and catalysts for change while exploring 10 foundational components of leadership.

By the end of the trip, Strong Rock students returned home carrying an important truth: to recognize Jesus as the author of their story and live accordingly.