Students at the Asbury Student Congress (ASC) Conference last Saturday were called to embrace courage, cultivate community and place their hope firmly in God’s promises during the teaching centered on the theme “Unleashed.”
Speakers Dr. Asa James Swan and Allison Ball urged students to ground their lives and leadership in Scripture. They challenged students to reject fear and step into a deeper trust in God. “Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness,” Swan said, reminding attendees that true hope comes not from personal strength but from faith.
The conference emphasized that leaders must first learn how to lead themselves before they can guide others. “You can’t give what you don’t have,” students were told by Ball. “We all have our own brokenness.”
Drawing from Joshua 1:1–9, a passage repeated three times throughout the conference, the central message was clear: “Be strong and courageous.” Swan encouraged students to examine the voices influencing their lives. Are they listening to God in Scripture, worship and silence, or are they listening to fear?
To help participants reflect, speakers posed probing questions: Who were you before the world told you what you should be? Who does Jesus say you are? If your body could talk to you, what would it say? These questions were intended to stir self-awareness and call students to live from their God-given identity rather than external expectations.
Community was highlighted as a vital part of that journey. “Community is the antidote to the loneliness of leadership,” Swan said. Students were reminded that God often sends people to champion them — sometimes for a season, sometimes for life. This “movement community,” as it was called, plays a crucial role in cultivating thriving environments where leaders can grow.
“It’s time to start dreaming again,” Swan said in conclusion, urging students to take cues from mentors and senior leaders. Healthy leadership, Dr. Swan noted, requires accountability, honesty, and the willingness to both challenge and be challenged.
The conference also addressed the challenges of waiting seasons, which can feel discouraging or isolating. Students were reminded that “God acts on behalf of those who wait on Him” and that resisting the temptation to take control or yield to outside pressure is a vital part of spiritual growth. Biblical encouragement from Psalms 27:14, 25:3 and 37:7 reinforced the message that those who wait on the Lord will not be put to shame.
At its core, the conference carried a call to obedience and humility. “Be teachable and humble,” students were told by Ball. “A good leader knows how to follow.” The message included practical encouragements such as learning to communicate with confidence through clear speech, eye contact and presence — outward expressions of inward assurance.
But beyond practical leadership skills, the heart of the conference was a call to faithful obedience. “We don’t have to wait to do the things God has called us to do,” Ball encouraged. “The Lord always comes through. Obey God and leave the consequences to Him.”
The closing message focused on the urgency of God’s mission. “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few,” participants were reminded by Dr. Swan. Students were urged to take their calling step by step, trusting that God has a plan prepared since the beginning of time.
“There is a high destiny — something God has been planning since the beginning for each of us,” Dr. Swan said. “Do it with Him.” Passages from Psalm 116:1–2 and Psalm 34:8–10 reinforced the call to trust God’s provision and direction.
The conference ended with a reassurance: if God intends to move, nothing will stand in the way. “If necessary, God will move heaven and earth to show his will,” Ball said. “You won’t be able to miss it.”
Through worship, Scripture and practical challenges, the ASC Conference and its theme “Unleashed” left students with a clear message: courage is found not in self-sufficiency, but in hope rooted in Christ, community and obedience to God’s word.
Photo courtesy of Alanna May.
