A Servant Leader

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chad Huisman, 15, of Kelloggsville Christian Reformed Church (Kentwood, Michigan), became the first Cadet in the 55-year history of the Calvinist Cadet Corps to earn the highest award that the organization has to offer a boy — the Servant Leader Award. In order to gain this award, a Cadet must progress through all the ranks from Recruit to Advanced Guide, earning at least eleven merit badges and six of the more difficult guide trails. Huisman earned more than 100 merit badges and 17 guide trails.

 

Huisman also participated in planning and conducting a regional Cadet Corps event, the Grand Rapids Council Cadet-O-Rama, where local clubs display projects and crafts they have worked on through the year. In addition, he worked with his Church's Sports Persons Club, setting up for dinners and cleaning up after meetings. Huisman says the experience taught him he was providing a valuable service — one that would be missed if no one stepped up to do it. Said Huisman, "God put us on this earth for a reason, and it is to help others, to give back to our community … Most of us would rather have someone else do the project, but if we all thought that, then nothing would ever get done." Huisman was given the award Sunday, October 14, at a ceremony at his church. The Servant Leader Award has been available since 2000, and we now have one servant leader. Congratulations, Chad. Keep leading the way.