Michigan Student Leadership Institute

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

MSLI is open to all High School students interested in becoming leaders in today’s church.

The Michigan Student Leadership Institute is a three-year leadership training course. Through instruction with some of our state’s best leaders, you will learn what it takes to become a leader… not just in the future, but right now. Once you are a part of MSLI, you will remain in contact with our state’s leaders as, together, we help you plan for your ministry future while you actively minister to your present community. MSLI only meets once a year, but you will receive other learning and ministry opportunities throughout the year to help you get your feet wet and become more confident in leading the people of God.

Level 1 (Year 1)
Foundational Building Blocks

To be a successful leader, you have to know what you're made of. We're going to hit you with a barrage of inventories to determine your personality, spiritual gifts, abilities, and passions, and then show you how “who you are” affects your leadership style. We'll also teach you about different levels of leadership, discover what level you're on, and help you move on to the next floor!

Level 2 (Year 2, Prerequisite: Level 1)
Building a Framework for Ministry

Now that you know what you're made of, let's make it better. Being a leader involves a personal commitment to continued growth and development. We'll teach you what leadership skills are necessary for effectiveness, and how personal discipleship separates the leaders from the followers. We'll also teach you, based upon Christ’s example, how to make good and confident decisions worthy of a Christian leader.

Level 3 (Year 3, Prerequisite: Levels 1 & 2)
Senior Capstone

Now we go where others fear to tread. It's one thing to say that you're a leader; it's another to be one. In Level 3, you will learn how to share your faith with the tools that God has given you, and how to defend your faith when challenges arise. And to keep you humble, we'll show you how accountability is the key to inner personal growth and longevity in ministry.

Suggested Student Criteria for Appointment to MSLI

Youth Directors:

The following list should be used as a minimum criteria guideline for making selections from within your student ministry at your church for enrollment in 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. Some students may display their characteristics differently. Look not just for the “popular kid”, but those whose leadership may be displayed simply through daily example.
Student should be interested in learning more about himself and how God may want to use him/her for Kingdom work. There will be a Spiritual Gifts inventory, personality profile and opportunities to learn how God uses each of us uniquely.
Student should be willing to make a one weekend per year commitment for 3 years to insure completion of the program. The weekend is the course work for the first 2 years- the real tests come in how he/she uses what has been learned.
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.
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 positive outlook about life in general. Every student has “issues”, but how has he/she adapted and overcome theirs?
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 use in ministry in their home church.

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.