The students of the Effingham YMCA Christian Leadership Academy met with state Rep. Ann Purcell on Dec. 7 at the Effingham County Judicial Complex in Springfield.
Rep. Purcell talked with the students about her job as a legislator and explained the history and the modern day workings of government in the state of Georgia. Purcell shared key principles of leadership that she felt the students should know in order to be effective leaders. Among these key principles were flexibility, hard work and having core principles. Purcell shared how her faith helped guide her decisions and encouraged the students to be strong in these areas.
The CLA extended special thanks to Rep. Purcell for giving her time and leadership advice and also extended special thanks to Dewayne Ladner and Dewitt Insurance for funding the meal for the evening and the Effingham County Sheriff’s department and Effingham County Administrative Complex for security and the use of the building.
The CLA students will be attending Effingham Day at the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta to be held on Jan. 25, 2011. The students will participate in a breakfast hosted by the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce and then will enjoy a visit to the Capitol to see state government in action.
The Christian Leadership Academy, a seven-month program beginning in September and running through April, is designed to take rising high school sophomores and juniors from Effingham County public and private schools and train them in the skills of leadership done from a Christian perspective.
The purpose of the Christian Leadership Academy is to train today’s students to carry Christian leadership principles into the future world of family, education, church, government, and business. The students meet one evening a month, in various local locations, to discuss topics such as: Pursuing Personal Excellence, Discovering Your Purpose in Life, Principles of Christian Leadership in the Home, Being Informed and Involved in Government Leadership, Impacting Your Community Through the Local Church, Personal Financial Responsibility and Stewardship, and Christian Professional Ethics.
To learn more about the CLA, contact the Effingham YMCA at 826-2199.
