I love the word "INVICTUS"! It means "unconquerable spirit" and is used as the title to William Henley's powerful poem written in the 1800s. An amazing movie based on the true story of Nelson Mandela bears the name as well.

The nation of South Africa was racially divided in the wake of apartheid, when Mandela took over its presidency. However, it was not before he spent 27 years in a small prison cell as a result of his protest of racial inequality. Mandela's ability to internalize Henley's poem during those years, specifically the last two lines, "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul," enabled him not to abuse his new found position of power and authority but use it to unite a nation. In doing so, he became a living example of John 10:18 where Jesus says, "No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily."

As exemplified in the lives of Jesus and Mandela, it is in the willful laying down of our rights that we come to understand what ultimate power and authority truly looks like. Using the timeless movie, poem and Scripture, we communicate this core truth to our students in this issue of the Source. It's a huge paradigm shift from what today's youth and young adult culture are hearing. Come make the leap with us.

Lovingly,