ACSI Student Leadership Conference in Budapest

October 18, 2024
Association of Christian Schools International / ACSI / About ACSI / View All Stories / Story
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By: Paul Madsen 

It was an incredible blessing and joy to host two Student Leadership Conferences (SLC) again this year, marking the 26th year of SLC. Three of these years have included back-to-back events, and it all began in 1999 with just 80 participants.

This year, we welcomed 234 participants from 22 schools and 11 countries in the first week, and 154 participants from 13 schools and 9 countries in the second week. In total, 16 countries were represented, and over 90% of this year’s attendees were first-timers.

Looking back, we estimate that nearly 6,000 students and 500 teachers have participated in SLC over the years. The mission of SLC has always been to inspire a biblical view of leadership that can be applied within school communities, personal relationships, and future vocations, as part of God’s purpose for each individual.

The five main sessions offered times of worship, reflection, learning, and prayer, followed by student-led discussion groups where participants could apply what they learned to their own contexts. In addition, there were three workshop sessions, each offering several options, designed to provide practical training on the conference theme and to encourage growth as both Christ-followers and Christ-centered leaders.

Free time and cross-school interactions were also valuable for fostering community and building long-term relationships and support networks. The final evening culminated in a time where each school team shared their action plans, detailing how they would incorporate their learnings into meaningful contributions to their school communities.


Chaperones, usually teachers or school leaders, also spent significant time in separate discussions and workshops. These sessions offered practical guidance on how to support their students in building a culture of student leadership in their Christian schools.

Student Feedback
This year’s participants shared powerful insights about their personal and spiritual growth: 

  • “I had never thought myself as a leader in my life and just recently God has been revealing things, including coming at SLC, which is showing me that maybe He wants me to become one. I was a discussion group leader this year, and it was a bit out of my comfort zone, but I was able to trust in God and really lean on him when feeling nervous. I think that prayer became really important to me during this week and kept me grounded.” 

  • “I recognized at this conference that my time abiding with God is one of the most formative and important parts of being a leader. I also saw myself realizing that I need to recognize my gifts in order to grow God’s kingdom.” 

  • “It is quite a challenge because I considered myself as someone who follows a leader, and not someone who actually leads. Even though things are new and challenging, I am sure God will use me as a tool for His glory and for good, and that He has a plan for me.” 

  • “Coming to SLC was a new experience for me and pushed me into making new friends and being a discussion group leader and to trust that the Lord was going to provide and care for me through it. But he was always caring for me and I really felt it.” 


Impact on Their Call to Invest in Others   

  • “We’ve got a lot of things planned as a school leadership team thanks to the action plan, and the whole event was specifically aimed at training us about leadership, which raised an awareness about personal skills that I need to invest in more.” 

  • “I was really encouraged and drawn to pouring into others in more practical ways especially those in my life who are younger and need discipleship.” 

  • “I want to help people find their spiritual gifts so they can grow in them. We all need everyone because we all have weaknesses and knowing your gifts is super helpful.” 

  • “I’ve struggled with loneliness for a large portion of my life and that loneliness prompted some really dark thoughts... Others should not have to go through things alone. SLC has taught me that everyone needs a challenging and loving Christian community to thrive and grow, especially those who are struggling. I really want to help those people, and I think God wants me to as well.” 

  • “My family is non-Christian, and I am the hope. The hope of showing my family I am different than they are, I have something they don’t. I have Jesus. I would love to meet them in heaven, you know…” 

  • “I think being able to lead a discussion group better will be a great way for me to help lead the Bible study we’ll start at our school. I took away a lot that I will be able to apply to our community.” 


Reflections on Fellowship and Community   

  • “It was so fascinating to talk to people from other countries, who have different cultures and experiences than me. It made me want to put myself out there and engage with others. Also, seeing the way other people experience God made me stop to think of the way I experience God. It makes me want to strengthen my relationship with Him.” 

  • “I have discovered that faith is not something you do alone, but something you do with our Christian brothers and sisters in giving God all the glory.” 

  • “The community here at SLC has been one of the best I have ever experienced anywhere before. Everyone was so welcoming and loving. I learned a lot about God this year and I will take back what I learned and put it into practice. I have grown closer to God through other people.” 

  • "Honestly, I felt so encouraged by other people and I learned so many new things to help me grow on my faith in God. I really needed this kind of experience.”


Grateful Acknowledgements

We are deeply thankful for the incredible speakers this year, including Mike Epp, Oliver Jokisch, and Paul Madsen during the first week, and Jerry Nelson during the second week. The progression of topics focused on foundational aspects of biblical leadership: 

  • Realizing our identity in Christ 

  • Investing in community (identifying our gifts) 

  • Engaging in God’s mission (using our gifts) 


Looking ahead, the next SLC events will be held in the last week of September and the first week of October 2025. We also recognize the growing need for community, training, collaboration, and support in developing student leaders across Europe and globally. Additional SLC events are being considered for other regions as we continue to seek God’s guidance on how to reach and impact more students for His purposes.