Who Should Participate? 

Students who... 

  • students in 9th or 10th grade as of fall 2023. 
  • desire to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
  • have the potential for leadership but who have not realized their full potential. 
  • desire to grow in their understanding and application of servant leadership. 
  • desire to be used in greater measure by God in ministries of significance in their community, the Jeremiah Project, and beyond. 
  • are willing to commit to a year-long leadership development experience. are willing to meet periodically throughout the year via video conferencing for additional large group and individual accountability. 
  • are willing to invest in and be present for their own learning and in the lives of their cohort. 






What Will LEAD Be Like?

Students will... 

  • gain a Biblically-based, Christ-centered definition of leadership. 
  • be able to identify their top 3 spiritual gifts for ministry. 
  • begin to explore where God might be calling them to use their leadership for the kingdom. 
  • engage in leadership roles in a hands-on experience.
  • build relationships with other student leaders within the context of their own cohort. 
  • learn strategies for how to approach problems and resolve conflicts. 
  • identify a unique ministry opportunity that aligns with their gifts and calling and addresses a need within their community. 
  • create a plan for their ministry opportunity that includes setting goals, identifying resources, establishing a plan for accountability and follow-through, and identifying a way to measure fruitfulness. 


The LEAD Four:Twelve Experience

"If serving is beneath you, then leadership is beyond you."

  • foundational scripture

    1 Timothy 4:12 is our foundational scripture: "Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."

  • leadership development

    LEAD Four:Twelve is focused on 9th and 10th graders who desire to grow in leadership. Our hope is to provide intentional leadership development for a cohort of approximately 12 students beginning in their freshman or sophomore year of high school, with the aim of encouraging them to develop their gifts so they can be leaders in their youth groups, churches, and beyond.

  • One year experience

    LEAD Four:Twelve is a one year experience, built around four retreats and one-on-one coaching. The first retreat is held during the same weekend as JOURNEY. in March. The second is a three-day mission experience that will take place in the summer during a JP work camp. The third retreat takes place at Lake Anna in the fall.  The final retreat will be held the same weekend as JOURNEY the following year.

  • Exercise leadership

    Within that twelve-month period, students will be invited to work closely with their coach and cohort members to exercise leadership within their church and community. Each student will also identify a mentor who attends their home church to walk alongside the student for the duration of the LEAD experience. The LEAD Four:Twelve leadership team will follow up periodically with students in the cohort to check-in with them, most particularly to hear how they are using their leadership gifts in their home churches. 

  • Reading Assignments

    Students will read 2-3 (short) books over the course of the year that focus on servant leadership and developing healthy spiritual practices.  These books will be used to prompt great discussion and community development during our retreats.

  • serve with jp

    At the conclusion of the LEAD Four:Twelve, students will serve as either a
    J. Staff or Kitchen staff for a week of service.  As a JP Staffer, your most important role is     to be a Christian witness in word and deed.  

  • Coaches

    Students will work closely with their coach and cohort members to exercise leadership within their church and community. The LEAD Four:Twelve leadership team will follow up periodically with students in the cohort to check-in with them, most particularly to hear how they are using their leadership gifts in their home churches.