Buford Leadership Training

BLT PROGRAM INFORMATION

Buford Leadership Training (BLT) is for youth and teens, Kindergarten thru 12th Grade, who desire to learn how to use their God given talents, see growth in their abilities, and actively serve the church and others. We see this spoken of in Ephesians 4:11-15, where we are to “…grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” BLT is setup to have adult mentors lead workshop sessions in different areas that are designed to teach and grow each person’s abilities. Application of these abilities is also a key part of this program. Throughout the year, opportunities will be available to serve the church. We encourage you to participate in these. Parents should guide youth in selecting the areas that they want to learn more about and grow in. Prayerfully consider the importance of this within your family and allocate the time needed to benefit from being a part of BLT.

Annually, Buford hosts the Leaderette Tea, Lads Celebration, and Puppet presentations, where all participants can take a part and Buford members can show their support. By using the Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes program, those interested can also participate in the National Convention held each Spring, where congregations of the church of Christ gather for a unique and uplifting experience.

The Buford Elders want to encourage our membership to become involved in this program through prayer, participating in the workshops, being a coordinator, and by using your talents in serving God. 

VIEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM & WORKSHOPS

REGISTRATION

• Registration is for Kindergarten – 12th Grade
• Participants need to register separately
• Registration is open!

REGISTER HERE

WORKSHOPS

Times and locations will be updated soon . . .

• ART SAYS IT – This includes Drawing/Sketching/Painting, Photography, Scrapbook and Mass Media.
  Coordinator(s): Connie Quinn & Emma Allen
  Location/Time:
• BIBLE BOWL 3RD-12TH – Bible Bowl participants will meeting a couple times a month to prepare for team participation at the L2L Convention.  
  Coordinator(s): Kyle Rye & Darcy Huber
  Location/Time: Upper room, Sunday 4:30PM
• DEBATE – Debate is for 7th-12th participants. Girl and Guy teams prepare to compete in the L2L Convention. They meet September – April.
  Coordinator(s): Harry & Natalie Garner & Ben McGreevy
  Location/Time:
• G.I.F.T.S. GIRLS STUDY GROUP – GIFTS (Girls In Fellowship and Team Study), (Girls 6th-12th grade) Grow in ability to lead and participate in Ladies’ Bible studies and to complete practical projects that will benefit the local congregation and community. This is a book study.
  Coordinator(s):  Katelyn Hopkins & Bethany Bohannan
  Location/Time: downstairs classroom, Sunday 4:30PM
• G.U.A.R.D. GUYS – GUARD (Guys 7th-12th grade) Grow in ability to lead and participate in worship, classes and devos, and to complete practical projects that will benefit the local congregation and community.
  Coordinator(s): NEEDED
  Location/Time: TBA
• JUNIOR LEADERS (K-2nd) – To instill basic leadership skills in young participants. Participants study Bible leaders and the leadership qualities that they had both good and bad.
  monthly, September – May. Parents are asked to walk their children to the room. Dates/time/location to be announced.
  Coordinator(s): Chase & Caitlin Burnette
  Location/Time:
• KEEPERS – Provide experience in practical homemaking skills that will be valuable to all Christian girls and women including those who work, at any point, outside the home.
  Coordinator(s): Natalie Garner & Shelley Thomson
• PROVIDERS – provide experience in typical areas of heading and maintaining a home and family that will be valuable to all Christian boys.
  Coordinator(s): Brian Strickland
  Location/Time:
• PUPPETS – Train students in a creative way using puppets and for the participants to learn valuable team-building skills in their preparation and presentation.
  Coordinator(s): Brad Hopkins & Connor McLean
  Location/Time:
• SONG LEADING – Guy participants learn to lead singing and grow in knowledge of pitch and reading music.
  Coordinator(s): Chase Burnette
  Location/Time:
• SONGS OF PRAISE – Girl participants learn to lead singing and grow in knowledge of pitch and reading music.
  Location/Time:
  Coordinator(s): Connie Burnette & Tamera Holzer
  Location/Time:
• SPEECH (Guys) – Public speaking and encourage high standards in speech content, organization, and delivery.
  Coordinator(s): Kyle Rye & Jack Thompson
  Location/Time:
• SPEECH (Girls) – Public speaking and encourage high standards in speech content, organization, and delivery.
  Coordinator(s): Tracy Thompson
  Location/Time:
• TEACH TO TEACH – Grades 7-12. To emphasize the importance of training teachers for Bible classes and encourage students and adults to study and become better prepared to teach God’s word.
  Coordinator(s): NEEDED
  Location/Time:

Lads To Leaders  & Leaderettes

Since the foundation of Lads to Leaders (L2L) in 1968, the mission has been to develop youth into Christian leaders. From a group of eight boys in that first year to more than 20,000 boys and girls today, their mission has remained the same. The training tools that are part of the L2L program are adapted to aid in Buford’s Leadership Training program. The year-round and convention events result in a well-rounded, confident, spiritually grounded individual that has the right foundation to be a worker for the Lord from youth through adulthood. The L2L Convention is an option for your family to participate but not required to be in BLT.

• View Information About L2L

Convention Information

2026 CONVENTION DETAILS

• WHEN – April 2-5, 2026
• WHERE – Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta, GA
• THEME – “Faith Works” James 2: 17-19
• BIBLE BOWL –  James and 1 & 2 Peter:  The 2026 Bible Bowl study questions, test questions, and final round questions will be worded from the New King James Version ONLY.
• DEBATE – Resolved: The New Testament teaches that people who have faith must also be baptized to be saved by God’s grace 

Typically events begin mid-day on Friday, April 3rd with awards for pre-convention events in the evening. There are events throughout the day on Saturday, April 4th with awards again in the evening. Finally, a morning Worship service is offered on Sunday and concludes the L2L festivities.

Additional Resources

• 2026 RULEBOOK

Note – All songs copied to pass out at Convention should have CCLI 1953026 on each sheet of music.

DEACONS