Main Program Components

• 15 interactive webinars (2 evenings per month)
• 7 breakout meetings with other students & the OLI program director (1 evening per month)
• 4 recorded interviews with real world, culture-shaping Christian leaders
• 2 books to read
• 1 weekend-long retreat (optional)
• Access to Camp Ozark Alumni, who serve as networking contacts for OLI students

15 Interactive Webinars:

We will host 2 web-based seminars each month (September-April). These will be held in the evenings after school. These webinars will be recorded for those who can’t attend them live due to sports or other extracurricular commitments. Each interactive webinar will be jam-packed with perspective-shifting leadership training, biblical education, and cultural engagement challenges. These will be led by the senior leadership of Camp Ozark and the C.O. Foundation, including Patrick Hoercher (Ministry Resources Director), and Debbie Priddy (HR Director). Here’s a sample of our possible webinar themes for the Class of 2023- Leadership I program:

Welcome Webinar

Theme #1 – Think Differently

• Fall Webinar: A Different God
• Fall Webinar: A Different You
• Fall Webinar: A Different Perspective

Theme #2 – College Differently

• Fall Webinar: A Different College Prep
• Fall Webinar: A Different College Mindset
• Fall Webinar: A Different College Impact

Theme #3 – Engage Differently

• Spring Webinar: A Different Bible
• Spring Webinar: A Different Prayer
• Spring Webinar: A Different Service
• Spring Webinar: A Different Purpose

Theme #4 – Lead Differently

• Spring Webinar: A Different Excellence
• Spring Webinar: A Different Interest
• Spring Webinar: A Different Arrival

Graduation Webinar

7 Breakout Meetings:

We meet once a month, over zoom, to share God stories, discuss what students are learning through OLI, and center on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Participants have an opportunity to connect with other OLI students across the nation and process what they are learning together. Students have found Breakout Meetings to be an encouragement in endeavoring to live by faith and live out God's will in their real life. ”

4 Interviews:

We will have several prominent Christian leaders in the fields of business, law, medicine, politics, etc., who will be interviewed by us throughout the year. They will share advice and perspective on what it means to be a successful Christian leader out in the “real world.”

2 Books to Read:

We will assign portions of 2 books for program participants to read throughout the 8-month program. Participants will have ample time to complete the reading assignments. Here’s a sample of our possible books for 2022-23 (we will settle on only 2):

• A Practical Guide to Culture by John Stonestreet
• Twelve Ordinary Men / Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur
• Saving the Bible from Ourselves by Glenn Paauw
• Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? by Philip Yancey
• On Guard by William Lane Craig
• Pocket Guide to the Bible by Jason Boyett
• The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell

1 Weekend-Long Optional Retreat:

We will host 1 retreat for all program participants who can attend. This will give the participants a chance to build relationships with other Ozark Leadership Institute participants. We will process together what we have learned and been challenged with so far, as well introduce new directions forward in our perspective-shifting young Christian leadership program.

Access to Camp Ozark Alumni:

Program participants will have opportunities to connect with current and former Ozark staff members. A selected group of Camp Ozark Alumni have made themselves available, as Networking Contacts, for OLI students. These alumni are leaders in the young professional world and practice the principles taught about in the Ozark Leadership Institute. The networking contacts are available to OLI students on the participant's own initiative.