General Assembly
of the Church of God
in Michigan

"equipping local congregations
to extend the Kingdom of God"

MSLI

Michigan Student Leadership Institute (MSLI)

The purpose of Michigan Student Leadership Institute is to provide and plant Christian Servant Leadership principles, reflective of the heart of Christ, into hearts, and minds of students.

The Michigan Student Leadership Institute (MSLI) is a three Year leadership training course. Through instruction with some of our state's best leaders, students will learn what it takes to become a leader now, not just in the future! MSLI is two days of high energy worship, student training, and challenges in a three year track. Leaders choose youth who exhibit leadership in local churches and seek development.

Dear Senior Pastor,

The Youth Ministry of the Church of God in Michigan is inviting you to share an incredible opportunity to train leaders within your youth ministry. Michigan Student Leadership Institute (MSLI) is a three-year program aimed toward very mature eighth grade and senior high students who have inherent leadership abilities, yet need practical guidance in applying those skills in a ministry setting. MSLI meets once per year for a Friday evening of great worship, challenges, and fun. Saturday is filled with both classroom and hands-on training in various areas of leadership. Incredible relationships are formed with other students from across the state, who, like them, are considered leaders or potential leaders in their home church or youth ministry.

Upon completion of the three-years, there is a gift, a letter of recommendation for college, and a Commissioning Service. Students are specifically sent out to minister as servant leaders right where they live, work, and attend school.

This is all available for just $60 per student per year (including a $30 non-refundable deposit) includes all meals, lodging at the church, materials, and training). Online Registration is available through Monday, April 10th.
If feasible, I would encourage you to plan for this in your youth budget or ask your local church board to budget for your students every year as an investment in their future and the future of your church.

For churches that have never participated in the MSLI, partial scholarships of $30 per student may be available to ignite your church’s investment in youth leadership development. Contact Connie Graham for more information. (Connie Graham or 989-600-0339) Graduates of the three years of MSLI, who then attend one of the Church of God Universities should receive a $1,000 leadership scholarship, renewable for all four years of schooling.

We hope to see many students return as well as many new Year 1 students at Floyd Church of God in Midland on April 21-22. This is a weekend which will pay dividends for you personally, your church, and your students for years to come!

Pastor Ben Kreider
Chair, MSLI Task Force

Suggested Criteria

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.

Schedule

Friday, March 1

5:45-6:00 p.m. Arrival/Registration

6:30 p.m. Opening Worship

8:00 p.m. Fun, Fellowship, and Food at Floyd CHOG

9:15 p.m. Retire to hotels & beds @ church

Saturday, March 2

8:00 a.m. Breakfast at Floyd
8:50 a.m. Morning Worship
Session 1 and Session 2
11:30 a.m. Interactive Lunch
Session 3 and Session 4
4:30 p.m. Closing Service
5:30 p.m. Departure

Times in this schedule are subject to changes

Lodging

Groups will have the choice of securing their own hotel rooms or staying overnight at Floyd Church of God.

For those staying overnight at the church, girls will be in the youth room loft, and guys will be staying in the basement of the main church building. Both buildings will be locked at night, with chaperones in each location. We recommend air mattresses and/or bedding for sleeping on floors.   Showers will be available at specific posted times (optional) and breakfast will be served in the gym on Saturday morning. 

Leaders, please ensure that you bring 1-2 volunteer chaperones for any larger groups staying at the church.

Leaders coming to stay for MSLI must bring medical permission information for students that they will retain. If a student is coming to MSLI without a leader, the student must bring a copy of a medical permission with insurance information that he/she turns in at registration.

Questions?

Pastor Ben Kreider; Chair, MSLI Task Force

(989) 463-3730

Suggested area hotels in Midland. (AAA accepted)

Hampton Inn
6701 Eastman Ave., 989-837-4000

Baymont
2200 W. Wackerly, 989-631-0070

Sleep Inn
2100 W. Wackerly, 989-837-1010

Spring Hill Suites
800 Joe Mann Blvd., 989-837-2700

Registration - Online

The following information will need to be answered when you complete the online registration link below:

  • Student Information - Name(s), gender, age, school grade, Year in MSLI
  • Returning Graduates - Student Information - Name(s), gender, age, school grade
  • Student(s) Driving Themselves to Event?
  • Special Instructions - dietary needs, allergies, any medicines currently being taken, etc.
  • Emergency contact and phone number
  • Where will your group be staying on Friday night - Floyd Church of God or a Hotel?
  • Groups staying overnight at the church - List total # of females and total # of males
  • The total # for breakfast Saturday morning at Floyd Church of God



Registration - Mailing a Check

The following information will need to be answered when you email Connie Graham if you prefer mailing a check.

  • Student Information - Name(s), gender, age, school grade, Year in MSLI
  • Returning Graduates - Student Information - Name(s), gender, age, school grade
  • Student(s) Driving Themselves to Event?
  • Special Instructions - dietary needs, allergies, any medicines currently being taken, etc.
  • Emergency contact and phone number
  • Where will your group be staying on Friday night - Floyd Church of God or a Hotel?
  • Groups staying overnight at the church - List total # of females and total # of males
  • The total # for breakfast Saturday morning at Floyd Church of God

Make checks payable to: Church of God in Michigan, 4212 Alpha Street, Lansing, MI 48910