Recommendations

I was blessed to go on three leadership retreats led by Mr. Surrett. Each retreat was different and special in its own way. The Lord had an uncanny ability to put into Mr. Surrett's mouth the exact words that I needed to hear each teaching session. I learned a lot from his session on pride and I remember his points clearly even though I heard them three years ago. The sessions on each retreat have helped shape me as a leader and also have shaped my worldview as a Christian. By hearing what Mr. Surrett had to say as well as the interaction from my classmates, I was able to glean so much from the sessions on every retreat.

One of the best parts of every leadership retreat that I was on was the team building activities. I never ceased to be challenged and stretched through the various games and puzzles that Mr. Surrett put us through! As difficult as some of the tasks were, they really were quite effective in drawing us together as a group or as small groups. We also have done some less-conventional team building tasks such as video projects where, as a group, we had to create and film a short movie. I did the movie project twice and both times they created many great memories and even more laughs!

The leadership retreats led by Mr. Surrett that I attended were geared towards bringing my school's student government together as one focussed, cohesive unit. Without fail they accomplished exactly that. Because we had them towards the beginning of each school year, the effects of the retreat were able to last into the year and aid us in our efforts as a group. Being both fun and challenging, these leadership retreats have become some of my favorite high school memories.

E. Kauffman, HS Senior

One of the highlights of my high school career has been attending the SALT (Service and Leadership Team) retreats each November. I enjoy every minute of the busy, fun-filled weekends when I can take a break from schoolwork and focus on sharpening my leadership skills. A very small part of me dreads the retreat each year because I know that the topics Mr. Surrett will talk about will be extremely convicting, and I don’t want to go through that spiritual discomfort, but each year I am refreshed and renewed spiritually. The sessions presented by Mr. Surrett are so well done: practical, pertinent, and expressed in a loving, yet instructing manner. He gives excellent examples so we as students can relate the topics we are learning about to our lives. Mr. Surrett very rarely presents a point in a lesson without backing it up with Scripture, so we can be confident that the valuable lessons we learn are completely biblical.

The team-building games are so fun! Mr. Surrett has us do crazy, fun, and awkward activities to get us outside of our comfort zones. The improvisation is aimed at getting us to work together and think on our feet, and it provides hysterical entertainment for those watching. We play a variety of games, swaying from active to mental challenges. Every game has a purpose, a lesson to teach us about ourselves or others. Mr. Surrett drills into our heads that many times games don’t have to be a win-lose situation. We play multiple games where everybody wins, and after playing them we re-group to discuss how we can learn to find a solution or compromise in sticky leadership situations that can suit everyone involved. Useful, wise advice is freely given by Mr. Surrett on every SALT retreat as we as student leaders learn how to interact with our fellow team members in the most beneficial, caring, and godly way.

H. Zentz, HS Senior

After four years of attending Mr. Surrett’s leadership conferences, I am disappointed to realize that this year was my last. Every year as I began school, I looked forward to the weekend in November when I could go on the annual retreat for our school leadership team. Through highly convicting sessions and fun, yet sometimes uncomfortable, team building activities, Mr. Surrett taught me each year how to leave my circle of friends and effectively lead my peers.

The retreats were designed to instruct our leadership team in how to lead others, but the sessions were aimed at challenging each of us to grow spiritually before we tried to lead our peers. Despite the fact that there were twenty other people in the room listening to Mr. Surrett’s lessons, it always seemed as if he knew exactly what I was struggling with and was speaking directly to me. As Mr. Surrett used Scripture to support every lesson, the Lord used his wisdom to point out my flaws and encourage change in my life.

Each retreat also consisted of various activities to train our group in working as a team to accomplish a given task. Through these games Mr. Surrett taught us that there are many situations in life which we view as win-lose, when really there is a solution to benefit everyone. Every activity correlated to an important lesson that taught us more about ourselves and how we can best lead others. Inevitably, these retreats always led to a positive change in my leadership abilities, and they have certainly shaped me as a Christian. While I will definitely remember all the fun that my friends and I had on Mr. Surrett’s leadership conferences, I will more importantly be affected by the wisdom, advice, and encouragement he shared as he taught me to examine my personal life before leading others with a godly, servant’s attitude.

J. Bucknam, HS Senior