The OLX journey has begun! From orientation week to retreats, classes, seminars, service opportunities, and Small Business Units (SBUs), students are stepping into a new season of growth, community, and discovery. The year is just getting underway, but already they are finding their rhythm, forming deep friendships, and experiencing what it means to live life together at OneLifeX.
Foundations of the Year
At the start of the program, students spend intentional time setting a strong foundation. They engage in team-building activities, get to know their classmates, and begin to explore tools like the Five Voices assessment and the Enneagram. With the help of guest speakers, these tools help students understand their strengths, leadership styles, and the ways they relate to others.
Alongside the learning comes plenty of space for rest, play, and worship. Whether through outdoor adventures, beach time, or quiet moments of solitude, students are invited to encounter God’s presence in creation and reflect on the new season He has called them into.
Growing in Community and Leadership
As students begin settling into their OLX rhythms, several ongoing practices shape their experience:
- PDL Partners (Prayer, Discipleship, Life) – Each student is paired with a peer for intentional conversations, accountability, and prayer throughout the year.
- Small Business Units (SBUs) – With the guidance of business coaches, students learn collaboration and leadership by launching a business and planning a summer camp.
- Student Leadership Roles – Each week, one student steps into the role of President of the Week (POW), supported by a Vice President of the Week (VPOW). These leaders help guide meetings, welcome speakers, and model servant leadership for their peers.
- Quads – PDL pairs also connect with two adult leaders who come alongside them to encourage, challenge, and equip them in their faith and leadership journey.
Through these rhythms, students are both stretched and supported—learning what it means to lead, serve, and grow in community.
A Season of New Beginnings
One of the most meaningful moments early in the journey is gathering to watch the sunrise, a powerful reminder that God is present in every new beginning. The steady rhythm of the waves, the light breaking over the horizon, and the quiet stillness of the morning reflect His constancy and creativity.
As G.K. Chesterton once wrote:
“It is possible that God says every morning, ‘Do it again’ to the sun; and every evening, ‘Do it again’ to the moon. It may not be an automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that He makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them.”
In the same way, we believe God is intimately involved in shaping each OLX student’s story this year. He delights in new beginnings and will be faithful to sustain them through every challenge and every joy.