Marissa Brooks
  • IECE
  • Class of 2015
  • Louisville, KY

Marissa Brooks of Louisville Initiated Into Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society In Education, at Campbellsville University

2012 Oct 9

Students in Campbellsville University's School of Education learned about Christian servant leadership as they were inducted into Alpha Epsilon Omicron chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education Oct. 7 at Ransdell Chapel.

Marissa Brooks of Louisville, Ky., elementary education, was initiated into Campbellsville University's chapter of Kappa Delta Pi. Brooks' photo may be found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/campbellsvilleedu/8071320932/in/photostream/

Dr. Ted Taylor, professor of Christian studies, director of Leadership/Character Development Institute and lead professor of the sports ministry program, a member of KDP as is his wife and daughter, said the mission of KDP is close to CU's mission of preparing Christian servant leaders. He spoke of characteristics of Christ that the initiates should emulate.

He said they should live a life of passion. "Jesus was passionate," Taylor said. "He knew who he was, and he wouldn't give up."

He said the students should have heart and humility. He said servant leaders are humble and ego is another word for "edges God out."

He urged the students to always put others before themselves and to live a life of service not status.

He quoted Luke 14:8-10, which says: "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

He told the students they will have to start at lower levels in their careers and must "pay your dues."

Taylor pointed out that Jesus prayed for the man holding the hammer who was placing nails in his hands at the crucifixion. "Jesus knew Judas betrayed him, but he still washed his feet," he said.

He quoted Mother Teresa who said, "We can do no great things; only small things with great love" and Albert Schweitzer who said, "The purpose of human life is to serve and show compassion and the will to help others."

Taylor, who has been a pastor and professor for 40 years, gave the servant leadership lessons he has learned:

Servant leadership can be taught and learned but in order to be absorbed, it must be practiced; put people first ... if we lose sight of people, we lose sight of the very purpose of servant leadership;

Servant leadership builds leaders for the next generation, and this happens when we invest into the lives of others; when we add value to people's lives, it usually means we get our hands dirty;

Serving others creates a culture that will live on through succeeding generations; servant leaders focus on the journey and those who will join them on the journey; the journey with people is as important as the destination;

Servant leadership looks for ways to build up people's lives; servant leadership flips the world's model of leadership upside down, and servant leaders produce servant leaders.

Campbellsville University is a Kentucky-based Christian university with over 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate programs, 17 master's degrees and five postgraduate areas. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.