College Church L2L: Ready to Give an Answer

     The Lads-to-Leaders rule book lists over 50 events from which to choose. This allows each congregation to tailor its participation to the particular needs and talents of its children. Our group typically enters 25 events each year, both for the year-round participation and the annual convention. That’s enough to keep us busy, but attempts to revitalize old events or introduce new ones are always welcomed.
     This year, Greg and Kim Laing, leaders of Sunday night’s Construction Crew program, facilitated the introduction of new events under the L2L category Mass Communications: podcasting, PowerPoint, and Storyline.
     For podcasting, Abby Guy and Lilly Morris prepared and submitted an audio file where they discuss the story of Joseph as it related to the 2025 L2L convention theme, “Meant for Good.”
     Jordan Laing and Katelyn Brooks learned the skills necessary to put together a PowerPoint presentation. Jordan says that learning PowerPoint is a very practical skill that can be used at both church and school. In recognition for their fine work, Jordan and Katelyn were awarded second place for their PowerPoint project at the L2L convention last March.
     Storyline dramatizes a Bible story or truth in a video format. In preparing their Storyline project, Jordan Laing, John Laing, Easton Mitchell, Kade Mitchell, and Abby Guy gained experience in scriptwriting, acting, filming, and movie editing. Jordan Laing particularly enjoyed editing the movie, and John Laing said he learned the practical lesson of being kind to others at school from the film’s content.
     Michael Crouch, a former high school debate team member, helped revitalize an existing event by working with three young debaters—Addison Diles, Jordan Laing, and Katelyn Brooks—on their L2L competition. Addison Diles said that it was fun gathering evidence, defending a point of view, and improving her public speaking. Jordan Laing expressed a similar sentiment but admitted it was kind of scary speaking off-the-cuff while engaging much older and experienced debaters at the convention. However, the girls plan on continuing debate so that one day they are the experienced ones.
     1 Peter 3:15 encourages us to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” Podcasting, Storyline, PowerPoint, and debate are all activities that do just that.