This month, we held our first live event of 2023 - our annual Ignite Winter Leadership Retreat. This gathering of member families was a wonderful chance for us to equip coaches to use the tools we have to better mentor, better evaluate, and better get students ready to speak.
Here are some comments we heard from those who attended: “I feel so much better equipped to coach.” Our coach track helped parents develop their ability to evaluate speeches and access more tools to continue coaching at home. “I understand why we are doing this now.” We dug into the philosophy of why we approach speech training and student equipping the way we do in the Institute.
“What a hope-filled event.” A theme of the week was hope - something I’ve personally treasured reminders of during these last few months. It was a gift to gather with so many folks who know we still have things to hope for, and how important it is to be ready to give a reason for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15).
“I use my ICC training everyday, in every way.” A panel of ICC alumni joined us at Ignite, encouraging us that what they learned in the Institute has been vital to their lives and their continued growth in many ways. It's always inspiring to see just how deeply ICC has influenced these lives!
“Thank you for being real and making this a safe place.” I was so encouraged to hear this multiple times. That parents felt safe enough to ask their questions and to see our leaders ready and willing to answer them – this is our core values at work.
“Ignite was so Christ-centered.” Part of what makes this community life-giving is that we come together with love for the Life-Giver. It was beautiful to see that in play all week.
“The best week of my life.” I was floored and touched when one teenager described her Ignite experience this way, especially after her mom had shared that she really didn’t want to come. She wasn’t alone - we had so many comments about this being one of our best events yet.
What incredible feedback on our first live event of 2023. Thank you for everything you’ve done to support phenomenal events like these for our member families. Because of you, we continue to see lasting and vibrant transformation.