LeadNow is a leadership development program that seeks to develop the head, heart and hands of Lancaster Bible College student leaders. Leadership training is a key part of who LBC is, which is why the college and its student development staff have intentionally created this leadership preparation program.

LeadNow was initially developed by a previous LBC vice president, Josh Beers, who remains deeply connected to the college because of both his family’s ties and his role with the gap program, OneLife. LeadNow was intended to help train and empower incoming students to be leaders and culture-creators on LBC’s campus. The program provides students with leadership training through attending monthly summits, meeting one-on-one with mentors and serving on campus.

“[Students] are able to have people pouring into them,” said Dwight Shelly (’13), current director of LeadNow and LBC’s Director of Discipleship and Leadership. “They can grow in their knowledge of leadership, they can grow in their implementation of leadership, and they get someone right off the bat who is investing in their stories.”

Approximately 40 first-year students are hand-selected by a committee of LBC staff and faculty to participate in the program. Each student is required to complete an application and interview. Acceptance is accompanied by a $1,500 leadership scholarship for qualified applicants.

Shelly explained that the first year of the LeadNow program is targeted toward those 40 selected freshmen, seeking to develop their leadership skills as well as open their eyes to the potential impact they have in creating campus culture.

“Even though they don’t have a title as an incoming student, they are called to lead—not just participate in culture but join God’s creative work of being culture creators and shapers,” Shelly said.

At each LeadNow summit, students are able to connect with their mentors and small groups, as well as sit under the teaching of some of LBC’s finest leaders on campus. Each summit deals with a particular aspect of a gospel-centered leader, such as priority setting, conflict resolution, listening and more. This year, summit speakers will include LBC Executive Vice President Jael Chambers, Associate Provost for Academics Dr. Julia (Naugle ’98) Hershey and Connection and Worship Pastor at Lancaster Alliance Church Ray Taylor (’06). The speakers challenge the students in their knowledge and application of leadership concepts.

“A favorite memory I have from LeadNow is learning [at a Summit] about the ‘velvet brick’ style of leadership: balancing both strength and sensitivity when leading others,” said Abigail Benedick (’27), a Marriage & Family Counseling major LeadNow alumnus.

Students are paired with a mentor at the start of the school year. These mentors are staff and faculty of LBC with a heart to pour into and disciple the students. Students also have the opportunity to meet one-on-one and in mentor groups over the span of the semester, as these one-on-one meetings help students journey through their first year at LBC with confidence and encouragement in their spiritual leadership development.

“Having a mentor that first year of college was very encouraging,” Benedick said. “My mentor helped me transition into college, was someone I could look to for advice and ask to pray for me in the season of transition.”

During the second, third and fourth years of the LeadNow Program, students are required to apply the leadership skills they have learned by taking a position of leadership on campus. They are expected to maintain a 3.0 GPA and attend fall and spring summits. Students are invited to step into leadership roles as Resident Advisors, Foundations Mentors, Student Organization Leaders or on athletic teams.

Benedick shared, “[LeadNow] helped provide me with practical tools and advice not only to lead well but to live and work with people well.” She went on to serve as an RA and the president of Student Mission Fellowship for two years.

The heart of the LeadNow program is discipleship: leaders empowering and training younger leaders to serve Christ with their head, heart and hands. It seeks to open students’ eyes to how God has called them to be culture-creators while they are at LBC and beyond—all for His glory.