Share this story.

Ignite 2006-7: The Fire Is Spreading

By Elissa K. Harvill

---

Click Photo to Enlarge Daugherty and Swanson: leadership is serious business.

Click Photo to Enlarge "God has blessed Sara and me with amazing friends who desire to help us," shared Daugherty, "and they have the most humble hearts." Because Ignite is student-led, not only do the student leaders coordinate activities, they are also responsible for attracting and recruiting volunteers.

First ORU, now the world.

What began in 2003 as a leadership conference for ORU students has since expanded into additional workshops, mentoring groups, and now invitations to participate going out to college students everywhere.

Introducing Ignite Beyond.

This coming year's conference leaders are junior communications major Sara Swanson and Paul Daugherty, a junior theology major. In previous years, Swanson has served the Ignite conference in guest relations and as a volunteer coordinator. Daugherty has led praise and worship at the fall workshops for the past couple of years.

"[Ignite 2006-7] will maintain the same focus on leadership development for our students but will be making a stronger effort to reach out to our community," said Swanson. "There are many new and exciting plans involving the mentor group program in 2007, but we will continue to provide a fun, motivating environment for people to grow in the Word while developing lasting relationships along the way."

"Sara and I have plans to take Ignite to a whole new level spiritually and professionally," added Daugherty. "Our goal is to equip college students to become leaders right now, not a few years down the road."

To rev up the professional aspect of the conference, the new leaders plan to have businesses, camps, ministries, and other organizations at the conference ready to interview anyone who wants to work, intern, or volunteer as a leader. Swanson and Daugherty are hoping to see participation rise to 2,000 students--2,000 "future leaders"--in '07.

Ignite "will impact participants for life," Daugherty promises. "It will give them a passion, understanding, and ambition to do something great for God in our world. It will help people even outside ORU to comprehend the leadership that we as God's people can possess."

One of the main objectives of Ignite is to show participants that everyone is a leader to someone, in some way, whether he or she realizes it or not.

"The majority of people have a desire to help bring about change but don't know how or where to get started," explained Swanson. "The Ignite leadership conference teaches us how to be a leader in our current field of influence while preparing us for future leadership endeavors."

To check for updates on workshops, events, and conference speakers, visit http://ignite.oru.edu/.