Joseph Backholm, Charlie Kirk, & more – this year at LEAD WI

Joseph Backholm, Charlie Kirk, & more – this year at LEAD WI

Wisconsin has increasingly deviated from biblical principles. In order to restore our culture and change the course of our state, we need to raise up Christians who are equipped with godly character to be leaders in their families, schools, and professions. 

For the second year in a row, Wisconsin Family Council is hosting LEAD Wisconsin, a week-long camp built on a government and civics platform with the purpose of equipping teens to become effective godly leaders who engage the culture from a biblical perspective.

Last year, we had an unbelievable week carrying out that purpose! We saw three campers come to faith in Christ, spontaneous revival, and amazing work all week long as the teens heard practical presentations on biblical worldview, gained leadership experience, and grappled with the bills they supported and opposed.

This year, from July 10-15, campers ages 13-19 will again experience authentic leadership simulations, engage in biblical worldview discussions, take part in faith-building worship, and build relationships with other teens. 

Over 100 campers are attending this year and almost half are alumni from last year. Over 40 crew members will come to minister to the teens as counselors, chaperones, and other camp helpers.

First year campers are in the Assembly Track while returning campers are in either the Senate Track or the Media Track. Only five campers are in the Media Track, selected by an application process.

Alumni campers will role-play as state senators and take up challenging tasks by offering amendments to bills and engaging in open debate. 

Through the media track, campers will cover all camp events. The LEAD News Network’s (LNN) print publication, “The LEADer,” is a daily newspaper featuring the latest news, updates and opinion pieces—all written by the Media Track campers. LNN produces a broadcast shown at the end of the week during the commissioning ceremony. This track focuses on Journalism and Reporting, Writing and Research, Videography and Photography, Interviewing, Editing, and Media Ethics.

For all LEAD WI attendees, trained instructors will discuss abortion, religious freedom, worldviews, creationism, leadership, marriage and family, racial issues, and social media. The teens will gain crucial life-skills that they will need as Christian leaders in a secular culture. 

Joseph Backholm with Family Research Council is our worldview speaker this year. Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA will also join us for an afternoon. 

Other speakers include Pastor Curtis McMiller from Kenosha; Jacky Drewry with Anchor of Hope pregnancy care/medical center in Sheboygan; Daniel Suhr, former legal counsel to Gov. Scott Walker and former Chief of Staff for Lt. Gov Rebecca Kleefisch; and Dave Gerry, a Christian businessman in Madison.

Sustaining the vitality of our society depends on the modeling of and transferring of those moral and social ideals to the next generation. This is exactly what WFC intends to do. 

Please pray for LEAD WI during the week of July 10-15: for our speakers as they prepare and deliver, for our teens as they listen and engage, and for God to move in amazing ways as we help build the next generation of Christian leaders.