In the late 1960’s, Jack Zorn began working with the young boys in his Montgomery, Alabama congregation. His goal was to develop their leadership skills. Under the name Lads 2 Leaders, the program spread to nearby Churches of Christ.
Annual Easter weekend conventions, usually held in Nashville, Tennessee, attracted participants from many states. Eventually, registration at the convention grew to include about 3,500 youth participants. Recognizing that more groups would participate if the convention were closer to their homes, an effort was made to establish a Southwest Region of Lads 2 Leaders. A regional convention was held in Houston, Texas during the Easter weekend of 1988. Over 700 youth attended.
Following the 1988 convention, it became obvious to the group from the southwest region that the geographical complications of coordinating two conventions through two boards of widely dispersed members were hindering the basic goal of both groups. The decision to form Leadership Training for Christ was finalized in October 1988.
Since its origin, LTC has focused on making the annual convention an opportunity to challenge young people to develop in an increasing number of leadership areas. New events have been added to the basic convention recipe. Others, like Bible Bowl, have been dramatically revised.
LTC conventions were held in Dallas in 1990, 1991, and 1992 and held in Fort Worth in 1993 and 1994. By 1994, the LTC convention had grown to include over 3,700 participants. The convention was returned to Dallas in 1995.
In 1993, transplants from Texas, Ernie and Vivia Simmons, worked to form the Western Region for LTC, covering west Texas, New Mexico, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California.
In 1996, a new Midwest Region was established in Kokomo, Indiana. The Dallas Region (North Texas LTC) was further divided into new regions with additional conventions began to be held in Houston, Texas (Central Texas LTC) and Tulsa, Oklahoma (Great Plains LTC).
In 1997, the Phoenix Western Region became identified as the Southwestern Region when an additional convention location in Santa Clara, California was established.
In 1999, the North Texas Convention divided into two separate events now both being held in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.
In 2001, a new LTC was organized in Kansas City, called The Heart of America LTC. In that same year the Southeastern LTC held a convention in Mobile, AL.
In 2004, the LTC Eastern Region was founded with a convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. LTC Northwest was established in Richland, Washington.
In 2019, over 10,000 youth participated in the conventions held in the ten regions of LTC.
As noted, LTCSW had its beginning in 1993. Ernie and Vivia Simmons, who had moved to the Phoenix valley from North Texas, were instrumental in the founding of LTCSW and served for many years as its inspiration and driving force.
The first LTCSW convention was held in Phoenix, Arizona on Easter weekend 1993 at the Crescent Hotel. A total of 327 youth participants attended the first convention, entered in 10 pre-convention events and 10 convention events. In the following years, the convention grew to include as many as 438 participants from all over the southwestern United States and beyond. The convention was hosted at a few different hotel and resort properties in the Phoenix metropolitan area before coming to the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort, in Tucson, in 2013.
The COVID pandemic resulted in cancellations of the 2020 and 2021 conventions, with a return to the Starr Pass in Tucson in 2022.
In 2023, the LTCSW convention moves to Scottsdale, Arizona, and the DoubleTree Paradise Valley Resort.
1993-1996
2001-present
1996-2000
20th Anniversary
Annual Themes for LTCSW
| YEAR | THEME | BIBLE BOWL |
| 2025 | The One | Gospel of Luke |
| 2024 | Sanctuary | Life of Moses |
| 2023 | Kingdom Come | Matthew |
| 2022 | The Promise | Genesis |
| 2021 | No Convention | No Convention |
| 2020 | Rescued | 2 Samuel |
| 2019 | No Greater Love | John |
| 2018 | King of My Life | 1 Samuel |
| 2017 | Make Him Known | Acts |
| 2016 | Refuge | Joshua, Judges & Ruth |
| 2015 | Give It Up | Luke |
| 2014 | Called Out | Life of Moses |
| 2013 | The Extra Mile | Matthew |
| 2012 | Journey of Faith | Genesis |
| 2011 | Coming Soon | Revelation |
| 2010 | The Rock | 2 Samuel |
| 2009 | Light – Life – Word | John |
| 2008 | Here I Am | 1 Samuel |
| 2007 | Unstoppable | Acts |
| 2006 | Take the Lead | Joshua, Judges & Ruth |
| 2005 | Lost and Found | Luke |
| 2004 | Stand Firm | Life of Moses |
| 2003 | Go | Matthew |
| 2002 | In the Image of God | Genesis |
| 2001 | He Shall Reign Forever and Ever | Revelation |
| 2000 | Open Our Eyes | 2 Kings |
| 1999 | With God and Man | Luke |
| 1998 | Chosen By the Lord | 2 Samuel |
| 1997 | I Am Not Ashamed | Romans |
| 1996 | Be Strong and Courageous | Joshua, Judges & Ruth |
| 1995 | Life In His Name | John |
| 1994 | We Believe | Genesis |
| 1993 | Be At Peace | Mark |