"What is truth?"

"For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world

—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 

Pilate said to him [Jesus], “What is truth?”

After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him."

John 18:37-38 (ESV)

Student Leaders gathered from all over to discuss the timely subject of truth at the 2025 Student Leadership Conference (SLC). Held at the beautiful Zichy-Vajta Castle, the event was hosted by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and included four main sessions, several workshops, group discussions, group games and activities, and more!

 

 

Main Sessions

Former ICSB Chaplain, Mr. Dave Totman, posed the questions “What is truth ?” and "Where is truth found?" based on John 18:28-38 and John 17:6-19, respectively, in the first two main sessions. Mr. Totman, who was the main speaker at the event, then went on to discuss "Meeting the Truth" in the person of Jesus, as laid out in John 14:1-6. He ended the final session with "Living the truth," teaching from 1 John 1:1-2:11.

 

 

Following each session, students broke out into their discussion groups, attempting to answer questions like  "How would you answer the question, 'What is truth?'" or "Is there a particular aspect of truth (knowable, absolute, objective, fixed) that you struggle to understand or accept? Why?" in response to the first session. Later in the conference, they went on to wrestle with questions like "Why do you think it is difficult for us (for leaders) to confess wrongdoing? Why is it important that Christian leaders confess sin (to God and to others)? Are there times when a Christian leader should not confess sin publicly?" 

 

 

Workshops

Each day, students had a myriad of workshops to choose from around the topic of truth and leadership. These workshops explored a variety of topics, including wisdom and discernment, stewardship, evangelism and apologetics, and worship. Multiple workshops focused on leading through difficult situations, such as 'Building Trust Through Conflict,' 'Helping a Friend in Need,' and 'When Life Hurts.' Several workshops dove into topics involving leading in students' personal lives and interpersonal relationships. These included seminars like "God's plan for healthy relationships with the opposite sex," "Band of Brothers: How to fight sin with people who make you better," and "3 Desires of a Lonely Heart that can only be met in Jesus Christ." In the latter, they studied Psalm 139 and discussed how God's Omniscience, Omnipresence, and Omnipotence meet the needs of those who may be dealing with loneliness. Another relevant workshop focused on the topic of becoming "Unoffendable." This workshop raised questions such as "What if Christians were the least offendable people instead of the most offendable? What if we practiced forgiveness and kindness instead of anger?"

 

 

Chaperones also met during this time to discuss how to encourage and help develop a biblical worldview in student leaders. They discussed how such a worldview can shape the way student leaders engage with society and utilize their influence, in relation to the "Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration" components of said worldview. 

 

 

Students and chaperones left the 2025 Student Leadership Conference with journals filled, hearts stirred, and minds challenged. Whether in the quiet moments of reflection, lively group games, or deep discussions, participants were challenged and equipped to lead with integrity, humility, and grace. 

I personally see SLC as a great experience to grow in leadership (as it says in the name), and grow in the knowledge of God. It is also refreshing to have other Christians from the world, sharing their ideas and beliefs on who God is to them.

Min K.

As these young leaders return to their schools and communities, may they do so with a greater awareness of what it means to live and lead in the light of God’s truth. May we all do the same.