​Leadership Lab International (LLI) provides mentored, practical cross-cultural leadership development and discipleship training to equip young leaders in Transform (18-28 years) and BRIDGE (20-40 years) to serve on multicultural teams in God’s kingdom work. Utilizing experiential learning, Bible teaching, cross-cultural team building and leadership development, spiritual formation, outdoor education, practical Christian ministry assignments, adventure education, character and life skill training students are equipped and empowered to live in a Covenant Christian Community where they invest their lives into others as servant leaders who actively follow after Christ.

Vision

The Vision 

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No young leader should be thrust into ministry without being mentored and trained.


​The vision of LLI is to prepare a new generation of disciple makers to be equipped to serve on multicultural ministry teams in Jesus' Great Commission around the world.

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Org Partners

Organizational Partners

Leadership Lab International is a leadership development ministry of Scripture Union in partnership with SEND International.

Missions and Academic Partners

Beliefs

Our Beliefs​

LLI is an interdenominational Christian ministry and as such we need to know that all participants agree to the following statement of faith: 
We believe in the Holy Scriptures as originally given by God divinely inspired, infallible, entirely trustworthy, and the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct; the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, His substitutionary atonement for sin, His bodily resurrection, His personal, visible return to earth to reign in righteousness and glory; the Person of the Holy Spirit and His work of conviction, regeneration, and sanctification, Who indwells every believer, equipping them with gifts for service and witness; the necessity of new birth, in salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone, and the importance of a life fully committed to the will of God in Christ and the church as the one universal body of Christ Who is the Head, called to be God’s redeemed people.

Meet the Team

MEET THE TEAM

Steve Meeker
​Director

One of my greatest passions is to walk alongside young disciplemakers and encourage them to grow in their abilities and walks with Jesus as they serve together on multicultural teams. 
After growing up around God's creation in Colorado with a short stint in Alaska, I finished a degree in International Ministries. This foundation prepared me for the next big chapter of my life where together with my wife, Jenny, and four boys, we have had the privilege of serving with fellow Christ-followers in Croatia for over two decades.  God opened the door for us to launch Leadership Lab International in 2014 where together with trainers from around the world we help equip others to serve in Jesus’ Great commission in a multicultural experiential learning environment. Each time we offer training, I look forward to seeing what God will do in and through the lives of all those who participate!​

Lina Cetinić
​Administrative Assistant

One of the things I find enjoyable is discovering more about people, God’s creation and life. My hope when you come and participate in LLI is that you will find a place where you are accepted and encouraged to discover the gifts God gave you to become a blessing to others. A little bit more about me, I'm a student of English and French language and literature at the University of Zagreb. I like languages because they each represent a different culture and a different way of looking at the world God created.
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Michael Brent
​Theological Education Trainer

After his resurrection, Jesus walked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus teaching them about himself, but without revealing his identity. Later, the two men reflected, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while he was explaining the Scriptures to us?"  That is my hope and joy, that Jesus would meet us in His Word causing our hearts to burn within us as He opens our eyes to His truth and as He equips us to help other people to see Him.  My wife Brenda and I grew up in North Carolina.  We have lived in Croatia 16 years now, primarily in ministry to college students.  I love getting into the Bible with my daughters, Julia, Ana and Claire. I also love playing Ultimate Frisbee with them.  I am hoping we can get in a game or two during our training.

Mia Helweg
​Outdoor Adventure Trainer

Sometimes we get to catch a glimpse of God's bigger plan, and working with LLI feels like just that--so many experiences in the past years of camping and adventure ministry--leading up to this opportunity to be with students in Croatia.  What a unique and amazing privilege!  Nate and I and our three boys, Corbin, Larson, and Beckett, are so excited to meet and grow with a new group of students, as together we explore creation and adventure.  Kids often come to camp because of the activities (which we will gladly help people learn to facilitate) and leave changed by their encounters with God and his people.  We look forward to being changed as well!

Nate Helweg
​Outdoor Adventure Trainer

My name is Nate Helweg, I live in Grand Rapids Michigan with my wife and three young boys.  I run an adventure and leadership development company.  Though it is a small part of what I do, teaching and guiding rock climbing is also my favorite thing to do, especially when it is helping others to utilize it for ministry.  I'm looking forward to seeing how God will use our time together in Croatia! ​
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Megan Larson
​TESOL Trainer & Mentor

While hiking in the mountains of Colorado years ago, the Lord told me that he wanted me to go serve him in Croatia. A Google search led me to LLI, and I’ve been beyond blessed to work with this ministry on site and online. I have a Master’s Degree in Literacy Education and am a middle school English teacher in the great state of Minnesota. I have a huge heart for equipping the next generation to serve and love Jesus, whether it’s students in my youth group at home or LLI students abroad. My husband, Evan, and I love spending time outdoors hiking, camping, and biking. I also have a slight obsession with donuts and dream about Mondays in Severin na Kupi when they’re delivered by the bread truck.

Katy Smelser
​TESOL Trainer & Mentor

My husband and I have been to LLI three different years and each time we have seen God use our talents and past experiences in unexpected ways. I came to Europe many years ago as a college student, first on a study tour and then on a puppet ministry trip to England, so I see mentoring and training at LLI as a payback for the guidance I received as a young adult. For the past 32 years I have lived with my husband, Randy, in northern Germany, in the Hannover area. We work with a church and serve in multiple ways. I have been teaching English at the local adult education center for over 25 years, which has been a great way to meet people and plant seeds for the kingdom. In 2016 I graduated from Biola University with an MA in TESOL and I’m always excited to share some of what I’ve learned about using English for ministry and outreach and as a way to bless others.

Emily Twigg
​Sport & Play Ministry Trainer

‘Hello! I’m Emily and I’m a Strategic Sports Minister with PSALMS (Putting Sport Alongside Local Ministries), a Christian sports ministry charity in the UK that seeks to share the gospel with children and young people using sport. I studied a practical theology and youth and community work degree at Bristol Baptist College, and then became an ordained youth minister in the Baptist Church in 2016. I have a real heart for young people and love seeing God break through and transform their lives. I am passionate about developing young leaders and empowering them to impact their friends and wider communities because of the Good News. I have been astounded at how God is using sport as an effective way to share the Gospel and am keen to share my knowledge and experience with others, whilst also learning from them too!’

Beata Widmann
​Christian Counseling Trainer

Together with my husband Hans and our three kids, I have been in full time ministry for more than 20 years. I have always had a passion for our generation, to encourage them to embrace the life we can find in Jesus Christ. Being brought up in a non-Christian home, I was hungry to understand how we can live the Christian life. Through different counseling courses I learned more about how real our Lord is, and how He is changing us into what He created us for. I love to share in creative ways how Jesus loves to enable us to live with Him. ​
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Hans Widmann
​Experiential Learning Trainer

Growing up as a missionary kid, I learned very fast about the great work of God.  So much that I desired to serve this God with all my heart and life.  The lessons God has taught me, and the experiences I have gone through, have put that great desire on my heart to encourage and share the goodness of God with the coming generations of leaders.  In the outdoors, the classroom and in every part of my life I am deeply moved by the great love of God which He shows us in Jesus Christ.  Every day, I am thankful for this relationship with him.

Johann Go
Mentor Camp Program Director

I am graduate of Moody Bible Institute with a degree in Sports Ministry and Bible, I have a passion and desire to disciple, serve, and see young people be equipped into ministry. Having grown up in the Philippines and America, it has allowed me to see the beauty of diversity from different cultures and perspectives.  With the various experiences I had in youth, discipleship, camp, and MK ministries, I can't wait to share and impart these to you. Of course this is over coffee! If you like volleyball better get ready because we're going to get sandy this summer!

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OUR MENTORS & COACHES

Brenda Brent
Mentor & Coach

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Jenny Meeker
Mentor

Throughout 25 years spent in ministry with my husband Steve to our four boys (now young men), campers, staff, volunteers and young leaders, I have seen God at work in marvelous ways! Through your time in LLI training God will do His work through prayer, reading The Word, worshiping God, serving together and encouraging one another to love and good works. He calls us ever deeper into an intimate and fulfilling relationship with Him. It is a unique privilege to come alongside you in your journey through this ministry, and I look forward to meeting you!

Randy Smelser
Mentor

As a student at Ozark Christian College I did an internship in southern Germany and a year of ministry based in Vienna, ministering to believers behind the Iron Curtain. In 1985 I moved to northern Germany and have been doing church planting, evangelism, preaching, home Bible studies, and youth work ever since. In addition, I have done a lot of mentoring of university students, both Germans, as well as Americans who come for six months to a year for an internship. On the side, I also teach English at the local adult education center. Katy and I are involved in a local organization, Familien für Familien (Families for Families) which connects refugees with families willing to help them. Through that we have helped three single men and a family, all from Syira, through the hurdles of adjusting to a new culture. 

  




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Contact Us

Email:
info@leadershiplabinternational.org