Lofting Leaders Shepherd a Successful Weekend of Learning and Discovery!

A Weekend of Growth and Inspiration

One thing that is universally true is that learning never stops. No matter who you are, how old you are, or how experienced you might be, with every new person you meet and every new experience you have, there is something new to be learned. The Lofting Leaders take this to heart, which is why when Pastor Jenn Styles Williams at St. Luke's UMC approached them to lead a leadership seminar, they didn’t hesitate to say yes.

"We focus on teaching youth from a youth perspective, but broadening perspectives is part of the way that we can learn to be better leaders," says Sydney Gass, one of the youth leaders. "Just as we teach others to broaden their perspective, we make sure that we do the same."

The Retreat Kicks Off

On February 7th, St. Luke's UMC, along with Lofting Leaders, kicked off its adult leadership retreat! Open to anyone who wanted to learn how to center themselves in their own style of leadership, the retreat was based on the Lofting Leaders curriculum. Friday's kickoff was followed by a seminar taught by the Leaders themselves on Saturday. Along with their mentors, Angie Winn and Brandon Sangster, the Lofting Leaders team taught community leaders from every field how to further their own style of leadership, bringing a fresh perspective to an older crowd and showing them that there’s always more to learn.

Lofting Leaders youth, Lucca Bertuccelli, Jack Winn, Zane Arrowwood, and Courtney Amat pose for a picture.

Angie Winn stands on stage speaking during the retreat.

The Visionaries Behind the Weekend

Angie Winn, the founder and creator of the Lofting Leaders curriculum, and Brandon Sangster, her partner in crime, were the first to learn about the Leaders' role in the weekend’s festivities. "Jenn thought that what we were doing was amazing and wanted us to teach the adults because it was inspiring to see us lead," Winn says. Although the original role the Leaders would play was unclear, by the end, “they wanted us to run the whole thing,” she says.

Angie describes the planning of the retreat as being “chaotic.” "What planning? We were called to Jenn’s office two weeks beforehand and asked to lead it. We drafted an agenda and met with the kids that night." Even with all the stress, she agrees the weekend was a success and expressed how proud she was of everyone involved.

Brandon Sangster shared Angie’s sentiments about the rush of planning. "I was just there to make sure everything ran smoothly. I helped run the spiritual practices and set up the tent." The tent was a centerpiece of the weekend — a symbol for the spiritual practices they were teaching. Each pillar represented a different part of the Lofting Leaders curriculum: Mind, Body, Heart, and Spirit. Each pillar was taught by a different member of the youth team.

Youth Leaders Take the Stage

"My role was to speak about the Body pillar. I ran the body scan pause," says Ansley Sikes, one of the youth leaders. "It was important to teach the body scan because being able to calm yourself down in any situation is important, like self-regulation. I would want to do it again."

Another youth leader, Jack Winn, taught about the Mind pillar. "We wanted to teach about our mission, which is to be heard and be understood in the same way that we want others to hear us." Reflecting on the retreat, he shares, "My favorite part was that people realized we were actually legit. We’ve been able to get Lofting Leaders to the point we have because of all the work we’ve put in, and it was cool that people were impressed by how much we've grown."

Looking Ahead

So what’s next for the organization? Brandon puts it best when he says, "So many things and so many dreams. We want different retreats, new youth groups to join, new cohorts, college ministry — just however God wants to take it."

With their passion and vision, there’s no doubt that Lofting Leaders will continue to inspire and empower leaders of all ages.