Our mission is to equip and empower students to impact their world for Jesus Christ through servant leadership.
This weekend is a leadership conference designed for High school students who have sensed a call to ministry leadership or who desire to lead in their school, workplace, and community. Students will learn the importance of Christian character, spiritual gifts, personal profile, and their ministry type. They will be challenged to develop spiritual habits and meet other students who are passionate about Christian leadership.
What you will gain,
Students will understand how God has wired them. Learn how to be unified with others who are wired differently. Will challenge them to become fully devoted followers of Jesus. His disciples.
Students will learn of their spiritual gifts and help discover the type of leader God has created them to be(come). How using their personality traits along with their spiritual gifts will help them become Christ centered leaders. How Christ centered lifestyle helps them to be an effective leader.
Students will learn the importance of having spiritual habits as a growing Christ-follower and leader. Students will have opportunity to practice these habits individually and in community. They will understand the importance of being a servant leader, following the example of Jesus.
Pastor Mark A. Staton II is the Lead Pastor of New Creation Church of God in Flint, Michigan. He is the proud husband of one incredible wife, Jessica Staton and father of two amazing children, Mark Andrew III and Madilyn Rose. Pastor Mark is known for his passion for God’s people and God’s word. He utilizes a blend of humor, insight and illustration, to practically communicate sound biblical instruction. His diverse experience of over 20 years has fostered a unique ability to connect with individuals from all walks of life. With an approachable demeanor, and common-sense approach to Kingdom living, he seeks to reach the lost, while inspiring the found.
Matt Moore is an independent Christian rock artist who has mastered his craft through constructing a discography of chart-toppers — and then taking his message of hope and redemption to over 2,000 stages across the country.
“I feel like the last few years have been an incredible season of growth for me and my music,” the singer and songwriter reflects. “I feel so blessed to have worked with so many amazing people, and to have even more opportunities to share my music with the world.”
Some of that collaboration includes work with producer Josiah Prince, musical collaborations with Zahna and The Protest, and a remix released with pop artist Matthew Parker. Matt Moore has also had the chance to share the stage with mainstays like Skillet, Drowning Pool, Disciple, Thousand Foot Krutch, NF and Adelitas Way.
Musing on his life’s calling, Matt Moore offers, “I always want to serve people as best I can as a live artist. I hope that people are entertained by the music and the performance, but I also want to share the life, love and hope that I’ve found in Jesus everywhere I go.”
Often, sharing that message comes in the form of first acknowledging the harder parts of human experience. With his songs “Darker Waters” and “Tether,” Moore took a deep dive into mental health: depression, anxiety and how we find our way out. It follows naturally from his The Art of Precious Scars EP, a collection based on concepts of brokenness. The intense relatability of these songs has seen each successive single chart in the top 10 on national rock radio.
“I want to continue to push myself to be even more honest and vulnerable with my songwriting, and to dive even deeper into themes in my life like faith, mental health and hope,” the songwriter shares. “I think that people connect with art that is genuine and honest. I want to focus on being able to offer that.”
That authenticity is a through line of every part of Matt Moore’s work as an artist: from the studio to the stage to the spaces for follow-up conversations.
“I think the most rewarding part about pursuing this calling is the relationships that I’ve built over the years,” he freely admits. “Relationships with fans, venues, other bands, etc… Those genuine connections really mean the world to me. It’s so special when someone reaches out to tell you that your music has helped them through a hard time, or that God used your song to touch their heart in some way.”
Friday Night
5:30-6pm - Arrival, Registration, Games
6:30 Opening & worship
7:30 Years 1, 2, and 3 Meet and Greet*
8:00 Fun, Fellowship, Food*- Youth Room/Gym
9:15 Groups to Hotels (showers available)
*Year 2 Students will take Spiritual Gifts Inventory in preparation for tomorrow
10:15 Kids to beds @ church
Saturday
7:30am Breakfast at New Creation
8:30am Worship and Devotion
9am-11:45am = Years 1, 2, 3 Student Level Sessions, Adult Session/Teambuilding
11:45am - Lunch
12:45pm-4:15pm Years 1, 2, 3 Student Level Sessions, Adult Sessions (w/ 30 minute break)
4:15pm - Closing Worship, Commissioning Service
5:30pm - Depart to Serve and Lead!
By attending MSLI your students will:
GAIN WISDOM and TRAINING that is applicable to their everyday life (self-discovery and spiritual gifts, practicing spiritual habits, sharing their stories)
LEARN from pastors and presenters from across the state, and
CONNECT with students who also have a passion for serving
On Saturday, we offer an intentional time to connect with other youth workers around the state, while receiving additional team-building and training. We'd love for you to join us! AND, the cost is only $10.00 per person for registration and food!
New Creation Church is graciously hosting and providing wonderful spaces for worship, classes, recreation, and sleeping on Friday night. We do ask that each church provide at least 1 adult to stay with each sex at the church. In case there are groups that do prefer staying at a nearby hotel, there is information below to get special rates for your group.
Comfort Inn & Suites Grand Blanc/Flint:
1359 Grand Pointe Court,
Grand Blanc, MI 48439;
(810) 498-3429
MSLI-Michigan Student Leadership Institute Liaison Room Bloc & Group Number - XJO7R0
$109.00/room
All rooms MUST be booked before Friday, Feb 13, 2026. After this date, the group room block is released to the general public and you will no longer have access to the special group rate.
The following list is to help youth pastors and leaders determine which of your students might be ready for MSLI.
- Student should have made a commitment by faith to God.
Student should display leadership characteristics in their daily life at church, school, home, and within your student ministry.
- Student should be interested in learning more about him/herself and how God may want to use him/her for Kingdom work.
- Student should be willing to make a one weekend per year commitment for three years to insure completion of the program.
As a general rule, the student should be High School age. In some cases, there may be an especially mature 8th grader that would benefit by attending. We encourage college students to return to complete MSLI also.
- Student should be a "regular attendee" of church and youth ministry functions. Most "occasional" attending students will have difficulty using what is learned in a practical setting if they do not have a consistent church life.
- Student should have a good general idea of what MSLI is about PRIOR to arriving the first day of the Institute.
- Student should be willing, upon completion of each track, to be available for follow-up and for serving within their home church and community.
These are only suggestions for use. To invoke interest or create curiosity, you may need to be less stringent to get that first set of students involved.
© General Assembly of the Church of God (Anderson) in Michigan 2002-now.
All Rights Reserved.
General Assembly of the Church of God in Michigan is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
