Two things especially stood out to me at that first conference. First, the principles taught at the conference were not new but were very similar to what we sought to teach in our church and school. Our students were encouraged, challenged, and motivated by a fresh presentation of biblical truth during this time of retreat away from their normal routines. The second thing that stood out to me was that our students returned with a workable strategy to be effective biblical leaders. They learned to work with the younger students by serving them and they learned to create and maintain a positive Christian atmosphere in the school that was conducive to spiritual growth. We immediately recognized how important the Student Leadership Conference was for our students. Our school has set aside time for such a conference every year since.
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I was so excited about the results of that first week that I began telling other schools about the conference. Although they liked the idea, most felt that it was too far to travel to North Carolina or Colorado from the Midwest. Believing in the effectiveness of a week of leadership training, I brought the conference to Kansas City in 1991 to provide an opportunity for the schools in our region. In 1993, a similar conference was hosted in New England; West Virginia and New Jersey followed soon after. By the end of the 1990’s, the AACS, along with The Wilds Christian Camp in North Carolina, began sponsoring Student Leadership Conferences around the country. 
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