IGNITE: Lighting a Fire for Middle Schoolers

Ignite:

LIGHTING A FIRE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS

By: Libba Tullos

The first spark flew during a June brainstorming session with our Middle School spiritual formation team. Once Dr. Bell began speaking, I could tell that she was inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Coach Braden Smith cheers on a couple of competitors for Foster house.

She kicked off our time together with a “State of the Union”–type address, which went something like this: “Due to COVID, our students have missed out on summer camps. Many have not been to church in person for long periods of time. No one is meeting for spiritual-emphasis retreats. Is there anything we can do for them? Is there a way for us to bring everyone together from the start and create an experience where our students can have some life breathed into them?”

It was at that moment that I knew why we were invited to the meeting. I uttered a soft “Thank you, God” and then sat in rapt attention. I watched as, one by one, my coworkers walked to the white board in Dr. Bell’s office and wrote down their thoughts and ideas. Our aim was clear: Start off the school year in an unprecedented and exhilarating way, to fill the cups of students who were desperate

for connection after the isolation we all endured during the pandemic. After a couple of hours of asking questions, throwing out ideas, and praying, we landed on this theme: “Ignite.”

We laid out a conference for the first two days of school that would challenge, encourage, and equip our students to grow in their faith. We planned activities and worship to be fun and engaging, simultaneously offering our students a way to experience a spiritual awakening.

The weeks, days, and minutes before the first day of school — and Ignite — felt a bit like waiting for Christmas morning. Finally, the day arrived. The Middle Schoolers trekked over to the Upper School campus with anticipation and excitement for what was to come. As they entered the dimly lit Legacy Performing Arts Center, each student was handed a bucket hat and a giant glow saber. Our students were stunned to see what had been created behind the scenes for them and appreciated being loved and thought of in this way.

They were captivated by the opening: a black-lit drumline playing dynamic and riveting rhythms and bold beats. After the drumline concluded its invigorating performance, the Middle School worship team took the stage, followed by an inspiring and relatable biblical teaching from our speaker, Pastor Tyler Heidelberg. He cited John 1 and spoke of Jesus’ invitation to come and see. You could have heard a pin drop as Pastor Tyler leaned toward our students: “I went to a private school growing up and I felt like I always heard about who God was,” he said. “I knew about Him on paper; He was an explanation to me, but I realized He wanted me to experience who He is. Jesus was and is inviting me to Come and See. Jesus is inviting you to a come-and-see relationship with him.”

His message resonated with our Middle School students, who were given the opportunity to invite Jesus to be their Lord and Savior and to enter into a growing-closer relationship with him this year.

Beyond the message, Ignite enabled all students to start the academic year as a unified community. Everyone was welcomed. Everyone had a place to belong. Ignite, in many ways, leveled the playing field. Middle School students felt seen, heard, and appreciated. The second day of the conference was equally as important as it laid the framework for the unveiling of the highly anticipated house system for Middle School. Students began building relationships and camaraderie right from the start with the first few team competitions.

“This was the best first day ever!” exclaimed one student.

“I’ve never experienced a start to school quite like this before,” said another.

The Ignite conference accomplished the goal of uniting the Middle School and affirming students’ passions for the Lord. It prepared them to conquer the academic year together with a positive mindset, all the while feeling loved and celebrated.

With giant glow sabers in hand, the Middle Schoolers were ready to kick off the Ignite conference in the LPAC.

Libba Tullos is currently a 5th-grade teacher at Legacy. She has been inspiring and encouraging leaders from all walks of life for over 18 years. Her love for people and for the Lord is contagious and mediocre is not in her vocabulary. Libba has two beautiful daughters, McKenzie (’23) and Berkley (’26).