Our Faithful Founder, Dr. Jack Zorn (The Red Coat Series, Part 1)

Dr. Jack Zorn, photo from the L2L Website

I had the honor of representing the participants of Lads to Leaders 

at Dr. Jack Zorn's funeral on 

August 28, 2021.

My Presentation at the Funeral

A Man of God in our Time

Jack Zorn impacted my life for Christ. 

He did that for many young people.  

Grown people, young people, tiny people... 

Dr. Zorn touched so many lives 

Dr. Zorn and his wife, Frances

The Red Coat 

The Red Coat Award is the highest achievement attainable for youth in Lads to Leaders.  Dr. Jack Zorn often wore a Red Suit Coat, and it matched his vivacious personality.

He wore his Red Coat from the time he began to mentor young men to speak and lead hymns.  He wore that coat to preach, and to worship.  It became an icon in the Church of Christ.  The Red Coat represented leadership, energy, magnetism, love, and encouragement.  It represented mentorship, sacrifice, humility, hard work, and dedication to a worthy cause.  It still does.  

I aspire to wear that coat one day.  I have dedicated much of my free time in pursuit of the achievement, much like an Eagle Scout award known to the Boy Scouts of America.  This last year of high school has been strenuous.  It has been challenging.  Times got tough, things went wrong, plans changed, but I pressed on, much like my mentor, Jack Zorn.  

I know that I may not attain this worthy goal; while also knowing that it is a high honor if I do.  I hope that Dr. Zorn will be honored if and when I am on stage, handed that Red Coat, and putting my arms through the sleeves, wearing it proudly.  I will strive to honor him, and his late wife, Mrs. France Johnson Zorn.  

I will be writing a series of 4 posts about my journey to the Red Coat in the next few posts.  I hope you enjoy reading about my endeavors.  

One can view the funeral of Dr. Zorn here, click the link: 

[Aug. 28, 2021] Jack Zorn Memorial - YouTube

(my portion of the service presentation

 begins at the 3 hours, 34 minutes, 45-second point)

From the L2L.com website

Jack Zorn taught me many things, one of them is this Poem: 

Honesty and Integrity 

 Approach all events and activities with the proper attitude. 

 Do your best. 

 Do not look for ways to stretch or bend the rules.

 Your honesty and integrity are more valuable than silver and gold.

 (Proverbs 22:1)

Dr. Zorn and Jack Watkins

Endorsements for L2L (from the website)

“Lads to Leaders is one of the most productive programs that our congregation has been involved in with our youth. It would be a wasted opportunity not to take this program seriously.”
Terry Broome, Minister at Broad Street Church of Christ, Scottsboro, Ala.

“I am impressed with the Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes books and materials, and especially the critical topics they address.”
George Bailey, Evangelist (deceased), Dallas Tex.

“Please allow me to express my gratitude to Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes for your outstanding work in training young men and women to be active workers in the church.”
Jeff Jenkins, Minister at Lewisville Church of Christ, Lewisville Texas.

"If we would have had this program [Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes], the young men I grew up with would not be in jail and dead today."
William Hardy Jr., Minister at church of Christ in Palestine, Tex.

 

Dr. Jack Zorn, the First RED COAT (Red Coat Series, Part 2)

Dr. Zorn holds up a sign 
encouraging me 

"You Are Awesome, Blaine"

I never had the great privilege of meeting Jack Zorn.  Everyone that I know who met him said they went away feeling loved.  He had a special gift.  He made others feel important.  He was a motivator and helped young people believe in themselves.  

Take note of the photo above.  This was taken at the annual convention in Orland, FL when I was only 13 years old.  Someone told Dr. Zorn that I had a blog and I had won first place in Louisville with that blog.  

He had a friend of my preacher send this photo to me on my dad's cell phone.  He did special things like that.  He loved kids.  He wanted them to succeed.  It will be a marvel to meet him in heaven when I die.  I imagine that day in my mind.  Will he have a Red Coat in heaven?  I imagine he will be there with Peter and John, laughing with Jesus and bringing little souls (like my baby sister) who died to Jesus, encouraging her to sing or talk to him and the apostles.  I am sure that the younger souls will be magnetized to Jack Zorn, that's just how he affects children.  

As soon as I heard about the Red Coat, I wanted to try for it.  I started doing more events when I was in 7th grade.  I loved speaking and leading hymns.  I had done Bible Bowl many years before there even was a Red Coat Award.  

It took a LOT of work. But if I can do it, you can do it.  Just start.  Jot down some notes, get organized, and start!  There is no time like the present, as they say! 

********************************************************************

 Here are my activities from year to year 

2015 - 5th grade – Speech (First Place), Song Leader, Painting, Sketching

 

2016 – 6^th grade – Speech (Winners’ Circle), Song Leading (Third Place), Puppet Theater (2^nd Place), Blog (1^st Place), Know the Books (Level 2, Gold), Read the Word (NT), Centurion of Scripture (Bronze), Good Samaritan (Bronze), Year-Round Bible Study/Reading, Bulletin Board (3rd Place), Provider (3 Medals), Art Says It - Painting (2^nd Place), Poster (1st Place), Photography (2^nd Place), Sketch

 

2017 - 7th grade – Winners’ Circle Speech, Song Leading (1st Place), Puppet Theatre, Year-Round Song Leading and Speech, Centurion of Scripture, Good Samaritan, Year-Round Bible Reading/Study, Year-Round Bulletin Board, Know the Books level 2 Gold, Mass Media:  Blog (3^rd Place), Video (1st Place), Audio, Art Says It -Painting (3rd Place), Sketch, Photography (2^nd Place), Bulletin Board, Individual Scrapbook, Provider -3 Medals (Louisville)

 

2018 - 8th grade – Winners’ Circle Speech (3^rd Place), Winners’ Circle Song leading (1st Place), Puppet Theatre (1^st Place), Year-Round Song Leading and Speech, Centurion of Scripture, Good Samaritan, Year-Round Bible Reading/Study, Year-Round Bulletin Board, Know the Books level 2 Gold, Read the Word OT/NT, Mass Media:  Editorial, Video, and Audio (1^st Place), Art Says It Painting, Sketch, Photography, Bulletin Board, Winner’s Circle Individual Scrapbook (3^rd Place), Provider -3 Medals, Group Scrapbook, Group Banner, Selected for Parade of Leaders (Louisville)

 

2019 - 9th grade – Winners’ Circle Speech, Winners’ Circle Song leading, Year-Round Song Leading and Speech, Centurion of Scripture, Good Samaritan, Year-Round Bible Reading/Study, Know the Books level 2 Gold, Read the Word OT/NT, Mass Media:  Editorial, Video, and Audio, Art Says It Painting, Sketch, Photography, Bulletin Board, Winner’s Circle Individual Scrapbook, Provider -3 Medals (Memphis)

 

2020- 10th grade – No convention held, but I still did work on Year-round Song Leading, Year-Round Speech, Good Samaritan, Scrapbook, Know the Books level 2 Gold, Year-Round Bible Study, Submitted Editorial (third place), Video, and Audio for Mass Media, Guard, Centurion of Scripture, Read the Word (NT only).  I was signed up to do Debate, Speech, and Song leading. (Louisville)

 

2021- 11th grade  - Served as a Volunteer Host, Worship Leader Sunday Morning (Song Leader), and Served Communion at Sunday Worship at  Convention, Winners’ Circle Speech, Winners’ Circle Song leading, Year-Round Song Leading, Centurion of Scripture, Good Samaritan, Year-Round Bible Reading/Study, Know the Books, Read the Word OT/NT, Mass Media:  Podcasting (1st place), Blogging (1st Place), Painting, Sketch (3^rd Place), Photography (2nd Place), Bulletin Board (3rd Place), Winner's Circle Scrapbook (1st Place), Provider -3 Medals, (Louisville)

 

2022 - 12th grade – I am registered and preparing for the following events:

Red Coat Candidate, Host Volunteer, Winners’ Circle Speech, Winners’ Circle Song leading, Debate, Bible Bowl Team A, Year-Round Speech (Bronze), Year-Round Song Leading (Bronze), Sower, Podcasting, Blogging, Centurion of Scripture (Bronze), Year-Round Bible reading/Study, Know the Books, Read the Word OT/NT, Winner's Circle Scrapbook, Art Says It Painting, Sketch, Photography, Bulletin Board, Provider -3 Medals (Lawn Mower maint., Car Maint and Repair, and Basic Home Security).

Also Volunteered to serve Communion on Sunday, Volunteer to lead worship in hymns or speck presentation for Sunday

 

***************************************************************

Start Now! 
You Can Do It!

 

My Leadership Project (The Red Coat Series, Part 3)

 

Frances and Jack Zorn
Founders of L2L

My Red Coat Leadership Project was something that took me a whole year to complete.  If you want to get technical, it took 5 years.  But the main project was this past year.  There were ups and downs, and I felt stretched to the max in my abilities.  Sometimes I wanted to quit.  But I pressed on. 

My Project:  Choosing a scripture to help me press on

 I chose a verse to help me stay the course when the going got tough. I Corinthians 9:24 tells us to "Lay aside every weight and sin that so easily ensnares us, and to run with endurance the race set before us."

 I had friends, teachers, preachers, elders, and youth group members cheering me on.  My parents encouraged me and listened to me talk and talk and talk about different ideas I wanted to try.  I had a special couple who took interest in me and gave me the most encouragement and support.  They are Halo and Rhonda Fernandez.  

I was to go to Florida at the end of my project to stay with them in their home.  Dr. Jack Zorn was living with them, being very frail and elderly.  I was to stay in the guest room, do special errands for the headquarters of L2L, and read to Dr. Jack (and talk and do bible studies, etc.).   I was so stoked about the whole trip, the time with this great man of God, sitting by his bed every day and talking to him about his life and the bible. 

But it was not to be.  Dr. Zorn passed on to the next life with Jesus the week before my trip was scheduled.  I was devastated.  But Miss Rhonda was a trooper.  Even though she lost her precious father, she took the time to talk to me and to help me pivot.  We made another plan. 

The New Leadership Project Plan  

I was to prepare a presentation for Dr. Zorn's funeral, being appointed as the representative for all of the L2L participants.  Long story short, I traveled to Montgomery, Alabama, and spoke at the funeral.  I think it was the honor of my lifetime.  

Presenting my thoughts to honor
Dr. Jack Zorn
at his funeral

Other Parts of the Project

Originally, my race was to press on to spiritual things… like getting to know Dr. Jack Zorn and his

 family better, traveling to his home to spend time with him, meeting his congregation’s youth, and

 door-knocking with Rhonda and Halo in the Orlando area to invite youth to a cookout and devotional.

.  Other activities were also involved in my plans, such as speaking on the subject of L2L in churches

 and youth events, leading Devos at Christian camps, and participating in a door-knocking campaign to

 invite youth to a gathering in which I would speak.   Some of these things happened.  Some did not.

 

Bible Bowl in PA

In addition to these goals, this project raised awareness of Lad to Leaders among those who knew

 nothing about it.  There were several campers at Camp Manatawny and Pennsylvania Christian Camp

 (after I spoke in a Devo) who had never even heard of Lads?  I was able to describe my experience with

 the organization to them and encourage them to become involved.

 

Party at the Local Nursing Home

My parents and I discovered L2L when I was in the 5th grade, and I have been actively participating in

 many events and activities in the program since that time.  I have enjoyed dozens of challenges, made

 lifelong friendships with fellow believers, learned many essential life skills, and have become a

 stronger believer in Jesus because of my time in Lads to Leaders.  

Puppet Show Team at Church

Years ago, I started writing letters (as part of my homeschool English class) to Dr. Jack Zorn.  

A unique relationship developed in the years following as we wrote to each other and became friends. 

Dr. Zorn is the inspiration for me to pursue this award.  If I had not known him, I would never have

 tried to go for it!  His written encouragement and positive affirmations will be motivations for me to do

 difficult things for the rest of my life.

My best friend Zane and I present our 
Poster at Church 

Objectives of my Leadership Project

There were several unique objectives to my L2L Leadership Project.  Research, inquiry, and surveying

 on the phone were some of the methods that would have been used to meet the original goals of this

 specific project.  But that was not to be.  Still, I pivoted and did some research, inquiry, and surveying

 on the phone to set up a public Internet Podcast that may continue to promote the vision of Jack Zorn

 long into the future. 

The podcast is and will continue to be available via the internet to anyone who wishes to listen to it and

 will encourage involvement in the events and activities of Lads to Leaders; specifically, the Red Coat

 Award and how it is earned are explored with the current award recipients.  

Traveling to Florida to become more acquainted with some of the founders and leaders of Lads to

 Leaders was not the Lord’s will for me.  I was very disappointed, but Dr. Zorn was called to Glory,

 and I had to come up with some other objectives to fulfill my project goals. 

I spoke to Dr. Zorn on the phone the day before he passed away.  I will always be grateful to God for

 allowing that blessing in my life.  How unique, how special.  

And yes, I did most of the speaking, but I could hear breathing and some verbal noises 

(I assumed they were affirmations) from Jack Zorn’s lips as his daughter, Rhonda held the 

phone up to his ear.  Rhonda encouraged me to give the speech to Dr. Zorn over the phone

 that I was scheduled to give at a youth event at the Concourse the following weekend.  

I did. 

I will never forget that phone call, it is frozen in my memory forever.  

So amazing.

Even though I did not get the chance to stay and work with Dr. Zorn that next week,

 I was challenged to present a 3-minute speech at his funeral.  

I was to represent the participants of Lads to Leaders, and I was deeply honored to do so. 

I traveled from Arkansas, spending two nights in a local hotel to attend the funeral of this 

great man of God.  I presented my thoughts on how Dr. Zorn influenced me for good.

  It was a day I will remember for a long time, and my presentation was preserved in a video that was

 broadcast internationally.

I have had the opportunity to present several other speeches this year, giving my thoughts to

 congregations and young people at church camps and youth meetings.  

Getting my message out about “Running the Race” for Christ has helped to encourage support by

 prayer, greater involvement, and has (hopefully) challenged kids to have an increased 

commitment to God and L2L.  

Bulletin Boards were another 
skill I learned in L2L 

 

We Must Be Strong (Red Coat Series, Part 4)

What does it take to earn the Red Coat?

The same thing it takes to follow Christ, give it your all!

Reciting the Gettysburg Address at
Bethany Village Nursing Home
during a Mother's Day Luncheon

It takes Courage! 

I developed courage as I learned new skills in L2L in my 7 years of participating.  

Courage is sometimes feeling fear and doing the thing anyway. 

 In a little while, it becomes easier!   

At first, I did not enjoy speaking in public.  

Now I love it!  Practice makes perfect.  

Although I rarely do it perfectly.  

This was the first time I led the 
Communion Service

It takes Strength

What else does it take to earn the Red Coat?

A tremendous amount of Strength. God will give you the strength, so don't worry.

Giving it your all

What does it take to follow Christ, to give him our "ALL?"

It takes courage, and it takes daily strength.

The word of God says that we will be transformed when we meditate on the words in the Bible

as often as we can!

Convention 2021

What is the benefit of this?

More joy.

More adventure.

More purpose.

More is something we all want. 

Giving to Get

What if the only way to find more is to give Jesus all that you have?

You can discover the Treasure worth everything. 

Jesus has everything you need.

Matthew 6:21 says, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” 

How about you, do you know Jesus?

The Leader's Pledges by Dr. Jack Zorn

 

LEADERs"  PLEDGES

Dr. and Mrs. Zorn

By: Dr. Jack Zorn, Founder, Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes

The “Leader Pledges” are integral foundation stones for the entire program. Each pledge is one aspect of the total development of the student. Students are encouraged to memorize the pledges and scripture references and then, through careful exercise, apply the principles in their daily lives.

1. I am answerable to God and to society. (Matthew 22:21)
   Focus: To comprehend the relationship of the leader to his God and to people around him.
2. I will overcome pessimism and live a life of faith in God. (Philippians 4:13)
   Focus: To see the importance of living optimistically by faith in a neg­a­tive world.
3. I am fully responsible for my behavior. (Romans 14:12)
   Focus: To understand the necessity of accepting responsi­bility for attitudes and actions.
4. I am responsible for my agreements and obligations. (Matthew 7:12)
   Focus: To comprehend the importance of keeping one’s word.
5. I pursue honest work to meet my responsibilities. (1 Timothy 5:8)
   Focus: To understand the necessity of establishing proper work ethics.
6. I honor and obey my parents and respect persons in authority. (Ephesians 6:2)
   Focus: To believe the importance and func­tion of God’s design for authority.
7. I respect my body as the creation of God and use it for His glory. (1 Corinthians 6:20)
   Focus: To learn that we are not our own and that we should live to bring honor to the Creator.
8. I choose for my friends those who enjoy doing good. (1 Corinthians 15:33)
   Focus: To impress on the student’s mind the importance of choice and example in regard to friendship.
9. I lead in building character and in demonstrating integrity. (Philippians 2:22)
   Focus: To understand the need for being a leader in character building through demonstrating a life of integrity.
10. I lead in second-mile service to others. (Matthew 5:41)
    Focus: To understand the importance of doing all that is asked and can be expected of you and then some.
    

We can see that the comprehension and application of these ten principles in and through the lives of our young men and women will lead to a generation of well-equipped adults, who present a dynamic force of moral righteousness in our society. It is to this end that we train youth to become Godly leaders.

 

What Is L2L?

 

Lads to Leaders is the oldest and largest training program associated with the churches of Christ. 

 Founded in 1968 by Dr. Jack Zorn, this program allows participants of all ages 

to train to be better leaders for the glory of God.  A year-round, bible-based program to train people to be better leader/servants of Christ, L2L vows to leave no child or person behind.  

My 5th Grade Puppet Team won 2nd Place 
at the Convention

You can read all about L2L here, in an editorial article written by Greg Tidwell in the Gospel Advocate. Click on this link:  GOSPEL+ADVOCATE+ARTICLE+-+APRIL+2018.pdf (squarespace.com)

My buddies and me at Convention, age 11

Our group grew in numbers the next year, age 12

We have monthly meetings at our home congregation
to learn and prepare for the events

We do service projects  times a year to 
help those in need.

Contact L2L

5280 West Alabama Christian Drive
Montgomery, Alabama 36109

Office
Office: (334) 215-0251
Fax: (334) 215-0856
Email: l2l@lads2leaders.com

It Takes Courage to Trust

 Trust takes Courage 

When you feel discouraged, how do you get out of the dumps?

God doesn't leave us to figure out life on our own.  He calls us his children!  He calls himself the loving shepherd.  

John 10:15; 27-28 tells us that Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd, I know my own and my own know me...my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

Our Hope is in the Lord.

Lately, when I turn on the news, there are political upheaval and very upsetting events being shown around the world.  This is upsetting.  But when we remember that Jesus is Lord, it can bring our upset into perspective.  We can be our best version of ourselves when we know that everything, we do will bring glory to our God, if we are walking in his way.  

In John 20:28, Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" regarding Jesus.  Paul said that the gospel was simply this:  "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9.

Trusting is Best

The bible tells us that Jesus has the authority to reconcile all things to himself.  When Jesus died, he "disarmed the rulers and authorities, and put them to open shame, triumphing over them through his death and resurrection." Colossians 1:15. This helps me to trust God more!  Jesus has already defeated the powers of our enemies!