Level II – Aug 2015

Congratulations

Congratulations to Todd Adams and Laurie Lusink for moving on to your electives!

Core Courses

Our next Core Course is Values in Leadership and our text: People First by Jack Lannom. Lannom uses Leadership as an acrostic to describe a systematic way we can “develop world-class leaders and pass on an enduring legacy.” Lannom says “As I began to compare and contrast strong, growing organizations with those that consistently struggle, it didn’t take long to realize that a company is only as strong as its leadership.” The first principle of leadership is logos meaning knowledge; leaders know what they believe and why they believe it and from this knowledge they promote the idea of truth in all things, wisdom in all things and excellence in all things.

This course is a 3-month course and will be shipped from our office. Your first post will be up on the forum on Monday, August 17th. You’ll make an initial post and then respond to someone’s post.

 

ELP Rep’s Link – Aug 2015

Welcome

This month we welcome three new Rep’s to the ELP – Jeremy & Christina Kupsch (Reps at Southwest Florida Men’s & Women’s homes) and Chris McKinney (Rep at Pen M). Jeremy graduated Teen Challenge Milwaukee, WI in 2010 and soon after moved to Ft. Myers to do an internship and work there. Christy graduated Davie  in 2010 and graduated ELC in 2013. Both Jeremy and Christy were on staff at ELC for several years before recently joining the team at Southwest Florida. Chris McKinney graduated Pensacola in 2012 and ELP Level I in 2013 and has been on staff at Pensacola since. Let’s welcome Jeremy, Christy & Chris who have answered the call to raise up the next generation of leaders in TC!

Level I Adult

This month we are starting a new course Armor Bearer and our text: God’s Armor Bearer by Terry Nance. Support the vision of your leader and God will help you accomplish your vision in due season. The study of this book and workbook will give understanding in just how to accomplish God’s plan as an armor bearer doing God’s will. The writer of the book served as an armor bearer to his pastor some twenty-five years with meekness and joy and he performed with precision and peace.

Level I Adolescent

Our course for the Adolescent track is Discover Your God-given Purpose and our text: Chazown  by Craig Groeschel. Pronounced “Khaw-ZONE” from the Hebrew meaning a dream, revelation, or vision. Practical, surprising, visually fresh, and biblically sound, the Chazown experience helps you clearly understand what you’ve always suspected: You’re not an accident. You have been created and put on earth for a unique and important purpose and God intends for you to live it with passion and fulfillment for His glory. Do you know what your Chazown is?

Monthly Book Orders and Grades

Southeast region Rep’s can go to Google Drive and search for ELP Monthly Order Form and Grade Sheet Edited. Look for your center’s name in the tabs at the bottom and fill in your information. No need to save or email the spreadsheet (Google Drive saves it and we can access the info from my Drive). If you place an initial order on the form and update the order later (i.e. add 2 more books) after we have ordered your books, please send to me at andree.aiken@teenchallenge.cc. All new applications must be in by the 10th of the month for students starting the 15th.

ELP Highlight – Aug 2015

Name: Joyce A. DavisJoyce TC AZ

Role: Kitchen Coordinator

Center: Tucson Teen Challenge, Men’s Induction Center

I was approached by my dear friend and co-worker Patrice Bloom to participate in the ELP Program for the Tucson Teen Challenge Men’s Induction Center.  Without telling Patrice, I thought, “No way will I participate in a program that requires hours and hours of study.  I am too busy and way too old to take on anything else.”

After speaking at length with Patrice, she explained why it would be beneficial for me to complete this course of study.  Well, needless to say, when I realized that completing the program would allow me to have a better understanding of our students and another way for me to serve in a “Servant Leadership” position.  That was the pivotal point for me.  I love our students as God instructs – without rhyme or reason – I love them and want to assist students and/or staff in any way possible.

I want to be the best “representative” for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as well as for Teen Challenge.  Completing the ELP Program gave me additional tools, information and Biblical knowledge to be a better Leader for Teen Challenge.  The program also put me in a better position to “step up to the plate” for Jesus Christ.  I now think about how I can help in any situation.  I have always been a “team player, leader & doer”.  But after completing the ELP Program I have taken the job of “team player, leader & doer” to a whole new level.

I am very thankful that Patrice thought enough of me to allow me this opportunity.

 

 

 

Passing on the culture: Presence & Relationship

At our recent ELP Summit Dustin and Janel Nance shared how we, as the bridge generation, pass on a culture of presence and relationship. “We have to look at the past to remember that we are a part of a legacy.” David Wilkerson built a good foundation for TC by going to those boys, partnering with churches, fundraising, recruiting and training specialists and providing a home of hope for those boys. Teen Challenge has to be about Lamb Chop evangelism; real meat and substance; teaching our

I was working hard and wearing the ELP DNA shirt and gave Timmy a huge! thought you’d want to see me passing on DNA to our future leaders!

I was working hard and wearing the ELP DNA shirt and gave Timmy a hug! Thought you’d want to see me passing on DNA to our future leaders! ~ Dustin Nance

students to nurture a real love for Christ and a love for others. At ELC, Dustin and Janel creates a culture of relationship and living life with students. The decision to live in community meant they would live a transparent life before the students knowing the students would grow and they themselves would grow. “At the core of raising up sons and daughters is love. We love our students and we like them. They are our spiritual sons and daughters and they know that we love them even when it gets messy. We allow people to see the imperfect person we are, who love and who say “yes” to Jesus, and we teach them to hear the voice of God for themselves and to say “yes.” We want to raise up sons and daughters who are dependent on the Lord not dependent on us. Raising sons and daughters is not setting up policies for every infraction, it’s living life with people. The devil is not scared of dry bones (people following rules); he’s scared when there is life in them (people led by the spirit).

Characteristics of our Pioneer

Some of the characteristics of our pioneers are:

  1. They recognized that they were not owners but stewards of the vision. Prayer was all they had. Frank Reynolds said one of his greatest fears was that “we would think we know how to do it.” Because we don’t know how to do it, we are totally dependent on the Holy Spirit. He is the only one who can draw people to Christ.
  2. They did not put in human mechanisms to fix a spiritual problem. Jesus is the Program. What makes Teen Challenge different from other programs? It is the Jesus Factor. Jesus is the only one who can fill the deep void that our students feel. “We use God’s mighty weapons to capture rebels and bring them back to God and change them into men whose hearts’ desire is obedience to Christ” 2 Cor 10:5 (TLB).
  3. Stop screaming from the bleachers and get in the game. David Wilkerson
    photo 5 (1)

    Claude Mooneyhan (GTC) and Dustin Nance working with emerging leaders to build a section of the bridge at our Summit.

    started the first Teen Challenge in New York, Mike and Kay Zello did evangelism on the streets, Frank Reynolds started The Farm in Rehrersburg, Dave Batty developed the first curriculum. They all had skin in the game and they went to work. They were exemplary leaders who modeled servant leadership and raised up sons and daughters.

  4. Don’t lose the vision of reaching others. David never lost the vision to go and save those boys.  Keep in mind the vision ahead “to put hope within reach of every addict” and work hard at it. Ministry is a heavy load and we as the bridge generation have a responsibility to be strong, to be a people of integrity and to believe God for the miracles.

Excerpts from ELP Summit 2015 “The Bridge, Passing on the Culture: Presence & Relationship” by Dustin & Janel Nance.

 

From the Rep’s Corner – Aug 2015

Here is a testimony of how coaching has helped one of our students.

Amber – 18 years oldstudentsponorship-17
“Coaching has absolutely changed my life! I believe that every Teen Challenge should have a coaching program. It isn’t easy by any means because of the effort and work you must put forth, but it is extremely beneficial. It challenges me to really dig deep into my relationship with God and depend on Him for the next step in my life. It helps me to see that the decisions I make now affect my future. Coaching is amazing and I love the fact that I get something new out of it every time. God has totally blessed me with this experience and opportunity.”
How has coaching helped you move forward in the program?
It’s helped me to address the things that I struggle with currently and that could be a struggle in the future. It’s helped me to grow. It’s made me more confident. Rather than focusing on the past, it’s focusing on who I can become in Christ. It pushes me to do things I never thought I could do, like lead others.
How has it prepared you as a leader?
It’s helped me to be a more gentle leader and to reach out to others in ways I was reached out to that helped me.
What makes coaching different than advising?
You focus on the future rather than the past. I am growing in areas that benefit the here and now and my future.
What’s been most helpful in coaching?
Being able to focus on one thing in a session rather than a million things. I am pushed to search things out for myself rather than feeding off other’s relationship with God. It’s helped me to dig deep in my relationship with God.