February 3, 2003
Students began student leader conference
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___BELTON--Safe sex seminars and workshops about how to launch gay-lesbian student groups weren't the kind of student leadership conferences Brandon Tidwell wanted to attend.
___But he couldn't find an alternative among the training events offered statewide or nationally for university student leaders.
___When Tidwell was student body president at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, he shared his concerns with George Loutherback, assistant vice president of spiritual life.
___"There was an absence of good leadership development opportunities designed to meet the unique needs of Christian campuses," Tidwell said. "The national conferences for
student leaders weren't talking about leading in a way that honors God."
___Tidwell told Loutherback about his dream for an organization that would draw student leaders from Christian colleges and universities. Loutherback, in turn, presented the idea to key leaders with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, who provided financial support.
___The Christian Association of Student Leaders held its first conference in Belton in 1999, drawing its charter membership from the eight universities affiliated with the BGCT.
___The association opened its membership to leaders in student government, campus ministries, fraternities and sororities, intramural activities and other areas of university life.
___The association returned to its Belton birthplace for its fifth annual conference Jan. 23-25. The meeting drew about 200 participants from 10 schools, including Baptist universities in Georgia and Missouri. Abilene Christian University, a school affiliated with the Churches of Christ, also sent representatives.
___Tidwell, now a grant writer in Memphis, Tenn., came back to speak to the group. True Christian leadership demands humility and a willingness to serve, he told the student leaders.
___"Your role is not to walk in front, but behind--to be a megaphone for the voices not often heard," Tidwell said.
___John Borum from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, current president of the Christian Association of Student Leaders, hopes in the near future that message can be carried from coast to coast on the campuses of schools not religiously affiliated.
___"My vision is to see the association have a nationwide impact, and I'd like to see us find a way to include Baptist student leaders, and other Christian leaders, from large state universities," Borum said.
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