I love this pic. The dedicated planning of working men in the background. for the little people who, yet unaware of the huge benefits, are just loving the moment! This one is Roy Johnson, Glenn Colley and Colleyanna at a Lads recognition event at FHU.
A nine-year-old, who spent the night at Mammy’s last night, just walked into my bedroom. A huge teddy bear in one hand, she came straight around to my side of the bed and proclaimed today’s exciting scheduled event. “Lads to Leaders! Today is the day!”
We’re going to the Nashville Lads to Leaders convention today. This year marks 33 years that our family has participated in this event. And this weekend, five of our six grandchildren (Lily, the exception, will be participating from the audience, you can be sure…) are excited about verses memorized, speeches to give, knowledge gained from the book of James, songs to lead, art to display, and so much more.
Hannah (circa 1996)
Thirty-three years ago tomorrow, we pulled up in front of the Presidential lobby and hurriedly got that little bow-tie on Caleb and ran up those steps to enter the maze we’ve chaotically navigated all these years since, to get them to events—but really, with the ultimate goal of getting them to heaven. Along the way, we have given out over a thousand easter goody bags to children in our congregation, lots of trophies during my “lads ‘Vanna White'” days on the stage in my red dress, and thousands of “great job!” hugs. It’s now a third generation tradition that we hope to extend for lots more years. But it is more….
Hannah’s son, Ezra, at the 2024 Newcomer’s breakfast, Nashville
Lads to Leaders is the arena of the gentlest and friendliest competitions, the most rewarding self-challenges for kids, the most amazing corp of volunteers, and the most direct link to heaven of any annual “tournament” in which your kids will participate.
Ezra (Circa 2020)
This year’s theme “Faith Works” is a powerful herald, both practically and doctrinally, and I’ve heard it already at least a hundred times in preparation (and I’m just the Mammy!”). I know a four-old who memorized most of the book of James pretty perfectly this year. I know kids who have researched the fallacies cemented into the religious world by Martin Luther and are prepared to debate the doctrine of “faith only.” I know some funny puppeteers who could easily and biblically teach a children’s class about the importance of putting our actions behind our words (being doers of the word and not hearers only).
Thanks to all those who work hard all year to make it happen. Most of all, thanks to parents who start hearing the plans for next year’s speeches and projects and new areas of participation, in the car on the way home from whichever convention has just concluded. I met people last week in Arizona who were getting ready for the one in Las Vegas. There are people I love who will be in Atlanta this weekend and others who are traveling already to Orlando. And I know people in India who have solidified faith through the program. I’m praying for safe travels for all the families who have excited kids in the back seat. I’m praying for a big win for every child who participates– in the context of this truth: “True success is living our lives and going to heaven!”
You can read more about the program (and if you’ve never participated) you should read more at https://www.lads2leaders.com/.
Maggie Colley, in Orlando. (circa 2022)
Let me know if I can help you make Lads a part of your kids’ spiritual regime. It’s a parental tool, for sure, but one that has blessed our family, for three generations now, in a myriad of important ways.
