Monthly Archives: February 2016

Leaders develop leaders

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It takes a leader to develop a leader – leaders learn best from other leaders. Emerging leaders want to be around leaders who have battle scars; who have actually been in the game and have a few blood stains on their uniforms. For emerging leaders to be seasoned, wise, and effective leaders, they need proximity to, and interaction with veteran leaders.

How do we do this?

  1. In Jesus’ day, it was common for leaders-in-training to simply follow the veteran leader around. They would walk together, talk together, eat their meals together, sleep in neighboring tents – they spent months and years living life with Jesus. The Scene_from_passion_of_the_christdisciples internalize the vision and values of the veteran leader in ways that served them the rest of their lives.  Although this sounds simple and time-sensitive, it was effective then, and can be effective now – there is no substitute for personal investment. Those of us who are more seasoned in leadership should order our lives in such a way that we can carve out time to invest in Gen-next.
  2. Mentor and coach small groups of young leaders. Mentoring and coaching curriculum like Start Right Mentoring are available to help in any situation. It is the responsibility of veterans to provide the necessary opportunities so the next generation of leaders will be trained and ready to meet the challenges of the future.

What is the best catalyst for a leader’s growth?

Make him or her lead something. After Jesus identified and invested in his disciples, the moment came when He said “Pack your bags, it’s show time!” It’s make-it or break-it time! It’s swim or sink time. He didn’t minimize the challenge; He sent them out like sheep among wolves. This is the real deal. The stakes are high, the possibility of failure is real and I’m not going to protect you from all risks. You’ve got to step out and go lead! We must hand emerging leaders an important kingdom baton, not a little make-believe job or a low-stakes challenge. Something that will make them feel believed in, valued, and held in high esteem. Something that will make them fall on their knees and cry out for God’s help; something that will demand the best they have to offer. Leaders live for high-stakes challenges; kingdom goals that make them gasp and gulp.

What am I advocating for?

High stakes leadership and Kingdom challenges. Provide opportunities, stand by our emerging leaders, cheer them on, help them solve problems, pray for them and coach them to higher effectiveness. Help them find their niche and reach their full potential. Whatever challenges Teen Challenge face in the years ahead, I hope we can face them with confidence knowing that we were wise enough to invest in Gen-next.

Article by: Andree Aiken, ELP Leader/Coach

Excerpts from the book Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels

ELP Highlight – Feb 2016

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Name: Zac GarmonZach Garmon

Age: 28

Teen Challenge Center: Teen Challenge Middle Georgia

My testimony in brief: I first came to Teen Challenge Christmas Eve 2013 weighing 127 lbs and had been out of control for a long time. After being sober for about 30 days I figured I already knew God and now that my withdrawals were over I’d be ok—so I left. Just two days later I was in a coma from a heroin overdose and also had a minor stroke 11 days later. I got out of the hospital and never slowed down, and after 6 months and 3 more overdoses and thoughts of suicide, God brought me back to Teen Challenge.

Now I am up to 200 lbs, very happy and I have a boldness I’ve never had and also I’m able to give back to the ministry God used to bring me back to him.

The purpose and calling God has given me: My purpose and God’s calling has been to use my compassion and be an open ear for those who struggle the way I have, and to help wherever I am needed.

ELP’s impact on my leadership: ELP has helped my leadership by helping me realize who I am in God’s kingdom and how he wants to use me.

 

 

Level II – Feb 2016

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Welcome

This month we welcome Rhome Smith and Sean Soltero (Central FL Men’s) to the Level II!. Both leaders are graduates of Teen Challenge and TCIMI. Welcome guys! The Lord will grow your leadership and ask you to come up higher. Looking forward to walk this journey with you.

Core Courses

We are studying the course Practical Christianity and our text: Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald.

The values of our Western culture inclines us to believe that the busy, publicly-active person in ministry is also the most spiritual.  This course will guide you through practical spiritual disciplines which will assist in facing the daily challenges of being a disciple of Christ.  Topics include: prayer, journaling, and being a good steward of time and resources.  This course will help you draw attention to the difference between “knowing truth” and “living truth.” Print and fill-in your study guide as you go through the chapters. This will be graded at the end of the course.

Your first post will be up on the forum Monday, February 15th. You’ll make an initial post and respond to someone’s post.

Rep’s Link – Feb 2016

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Level I Adult

We continue with our course Boundaries and our text: Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud. By now your students should be half way in the book. Remember there is no test for this course. You’ll assess their Study Guide and involvement at weekly meetings.

 

Level I Adolescent

Our course for the Adolescent track is Discover your God-given Purpose and the text: Chazown by Craig Groeschel. The Hebrew word “Chazown” (pronounced “khaw-ZONE”) means dream, vision or revelation. Craig Groeschel believes that your very own Chazown is hiding just under the surface of your life in three often overlooked areas: your core values, your spiritual gifts, and your past experiences. Pursue your Chazown and simultaneously improve five critical aspects of your life – your relationship with God, your relationships with people, your finances, your health and fitness, and your vocational life. You were born with your own Chazown. Do you know what it 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.

 

The Arena

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Why do so many of us enjoy the games?  We love sports and the contest.  We devour the excitement we see in the arena and, even beyond, into the crowd.  The roar of the football playersspectators is deafening; the anticipation is so heavy, it can nearly be touched.

The individuals in the arena cannot hide.  On the contrary, they can only be seen- in many cases by millions.  The pressure they feel is enormous- pressure from coaches, teammates, sponsors, fans, the media and even family.  The arena is really more like a pressure cooker.  There is often no mercy for mistakes, difficult days or even injuries or health problems.  It’s do or die.  Succeed or fail.  At least that is what our culture says.  People are finicky- one day you’re a champion and the next, you’re a loser.

There is a different way to look at the arena though.  I like Theodore Roosevelt’s description, “The Man in the Arena.”  See if you can relate.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

You are men and women of the arena.  Your audience of One sees your striving and deeds, your enthusiasm and your devotion to a worthy cause.  He is proud of you and so am I.

I Corinthians 15:57-58

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

Article by: Brice Maddock – COO, Teen Challenge Southeast