Monthly Archives: January 2016

The Value of Coaching – One ED’s Experience

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As John Maxwell says “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” This truth can have significant  impact on a  person; empowering them as person and a leader, and at times overwhelming them. In my life and leadership I have found myself at both ends of that pendulum at one time or another, struggling to navigate my way through challenges associated with life’s success and the hard times that life provides. Recently I have been working with a friend who I not only respect but has been working in the field of consulting and coaching to professionals, leaders and pastors and in doing so discovered a key to success, I am not alone! The question is how do I take advantage of the resource of people God has given me? What does that look like?

For me this process is to summed up in this quote by Zuse and Skiffington:    

“Coaching is a conversation, a dialogue, whereby the coach and the individual interact in a dynamic exchange to achieve goals, enhance performance and move the individual forward to greater success.”

To do this Scott and I meet weekly at a consistent time and place a focused effort  addressing the issues that we are coming together to address. Whether the topics are business or personal this meeting is a safe place that I can be transparent and honest and expect honest feedback and guidance. We work on strategic planning, goal developing peoplesetting and organizational development. We cover staffing issues, budget concerns, upline struggles as well as failures and success. This is not a class or webinar this is another person helping me process through my real world circumstances. Not a boss or subordinate but a partner who is helping me find the best answer to the needs of my life and business realities. A coach to challenge and encourage me to be and do my absolute best in every situation. A coach is not a player on my team he is a person who is on my side and wants me to win because our lives and values are aligned through intentional choices and commitment to one another.

The writer of Proverbs tells us that “Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory.”:… Together we win!

Article by: David Kincaid, Executive Director – Middle GA TC

ELP Rep’s Link – Jan 2016

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Welcome

Happy New Year everyone!!! We welcome new Rep’s Chris Massieu (Southwest FL Men’s), Lynne Shewman (Pensacola W) and Elizabeth Price (Columbus W)! Thank you for committing to raise up the next generation of leaders in Teen Challenge.

Level I Adult

Our new course is Boundaries and our text: Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud. This course is designed to help the participant learn how to have proper boundaries in their lives.  Having clear boundaries is essential to a healthy, balanced lifestyle.  A boundary is a personal property line that marks those things for which we are responsible.  Boundaries define who we are and are not. Remember this is a 2-month course.

 

Level I Adolescent

Our course for the Adolescent track is Servant Leadership and our text: Help! I’m a Student Leader by Doug Fields. This book serves to help student leaders embrace the opportunity that, as a student, you can also be a leader. This book introduces servant-leadership, talks about the heart of a servant, gives practical tips on the attitudes and actions of a servant-leader, and provides guidance to your unique leadership role – not just in Teen Challenge but in every area of your world in which you have influence.

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.

 

Level II Link – Jan 2016

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Congratulations!

Congratulations to Todd Adams (Pen M) for completing Level II!

Core Courses

Our core course this month is Conflict Management and our text: The Peacemaker by Ken Sande. This is a practical primer on how obedience to God’s Word can change deadlock into restoration in families, churches, workplaces, neighborhoods and even prisons. So often we see those who are not on “speaking terms” with other members of a family or avoid coming in contact with certain members of the church because of some problem that happened years ago. This study opens one’s mind and soul to the way of life Jesus lived and taught. There is a way to live peacefully with others without having to compromise the goals Christ has set for His followers, or members of His body.

Remember to print and fill-in the workbook as you go through the course. Your first post will be up on the forum Monday, January 18th. You’ll make an initial post and respond to someone’s post.

 

ELP Highlight – Jan 2016

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Name: Michael T. Spivey20151220_202308-1

Age:   37 years old

Hometown: Born and raised in Macclenny, FL

Teen Challenge Center:   On staff with TC Jacksonville Men’s Center 2 years.

Which Center/What Year did you Graduate: I graduated Jacksonville Men’ Center August 2013 and was hired March 2014. I will complete ELP Level II in a few months.

My Testimony in Brief: I didn’t want for material things but had no real life skills due to my parents own addictions and bad life skills. I used alcohol and pot at age 15, cocaine at age 16, ecstasy and LSD at age 20, pills and crack from age 24 to 30 and pills and meth age 30 to 33. I was busted by DEA for manufacturing meth in 2012 and soon after entered Teen Challenge where God transformed my life.

The Purpose and Calling God has Given Me: My purpose and calling is to teach relationship skills based on the Word of God; having Agape love that goes where it isn’t deserved and doesn’t have expectations when it isn’t received. Destroying the work of the devil; namely division.

The ELP’s Impact on My Leadership:  ELP has given me the tools and desire to achieve this by learning about influence, selflessness and serving others. It has also brought out giftings and dreams that I didn’t know I had.

 

 

Make A New Ending

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We have a picture on our wall at home.  It is a hand-stitched bird, seemingly without a care Everydayopptomakenewendingin the world, sitting on a branch. This quote is stitched beside it, “Every day is an opportunity to make a new ending.”  The quote puzzled me at first.  Isn’t the focus usually “new beginnings?”

I saw a show the other day called Undercover Boss.  The Chief Development Officer of the Subway chain, Don Fertman, was the episode’s “boss in disguise.”  Mr. Fertman was raised by an alcoholic father and chose that life for himself as a teenager, using both alcohol and drugs.  When he was 19, he was involved in a promotional tour for Subway with his rock band, The Crayons.  Shortly after, he began working an office position for Subway but lost his job due to his addictions.  He decided to get help, and after he did, he went back to Subway asking for his previous job. Amazingly, he was hired again and has been there for the last 30 years.  He had a chance to “make a new ending” for his life. Do you think people will remember Don Fertman, for his beginnings, as a drug addict and alcoholic who couldn’t keep a job?  No.  Don Fertman will be remembered as a devoted husband and father and the CDO of a successful company with over 41,000 locations worldwide.

Changes. What changes do you want to make in your life?  What strategy for change do you have so, at the end of the day, you know you made the most of that day’s opportunities?  In all strategies, we need to know our enemy.  I would like to suggest to you the three biggest enemies of change:

  1. Fear. “The fears you don’t own will own you.” -Author Unknown

If the changes that you know you need to make are being blocked because of fear, it’s time to take God at His Word.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

  1. Failure. “The only failure in life is the failure to try.” -Chuck Swindoll

Maybe someone significant in your life has called you a failure or looked at you as such.  Maybe you tried something and were sorely disappointed at the outcome. It is time that you believe what God says about you and put the roadblock of failure behind you.

Be determined and confident. Do not be afraid of them. Your God, the Lord himself, will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Dt. 31:6

  1. Forgetting. “If we forget the past, we have no faith for the future.”

Forgetting can be a hindrance to change too. Author, Lori Stewart, in her article, The Problem of Forgetting, explains that forgetting what God has done for you, can lead to unbelief, rebellion, participating in foolish behavior and even angering God.

Praise the Lord, I tell myself, and never forget the good things He does for me. Ps. 102:3

What can combat these three enemies of change?  One word- faith.  It is sometimes hard, in the world that we live in, to keep our faith- when people we love are not healed, when people we care about fall back into addictions, when we are faced with broken promises and disappointment from people that we admire.  Jesus said, in I John 5:4, there is a faith that could overcome ALL of that, For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world– our faith.

We can be victorious to make the needed changes in the coming year.  One day at a time, we need to say “no” to thoughts of fear and failure and “yes” to remembering all that God has done for us. He does give us an opportunity each and every day to make a new ending!

Book of the month: You Haven’t Taught Until They Have Learned: John Wooden’s Teaching Principles and Practices

Article by: Brice Maddock – COO, Teen Challenge of the Southeast Region