Name: Lauren Schiller

Age: 30

TC Center: Currently serving at Pensacola Women’s Center; 2014 graduate from Davie Women’s Home

Brief Testimony: For several years I was bound by a deep addiction to opiates that was putting me in and out of jail, destroying all of my relationships, and quickly taking my will to live. As I journeyed through the Teen Challenge program, the Lord gently began dealing with my heart. He gave me vision, purpose, and hope – things I have never experienced before. My life today is simply a product of the redemptive love and power of Jesus. Nothing more, nothing less.

What do I enjoy most about my role: Having the opportunity to watch women who were once broken and hopeless develop a confidence in the gifting God has placed within them. Being able to teach them, from personal experience, how to bring that gift into full fruition. And the fulfillment they receive is always rewarding to witness.

Why do I feel leadership and training are valuable: We never “arrive” anywhere, so it is important to always remain intentional in motivating ourselves to learn and grow. Working in the ministry of Teen Challenge, it is important to make sure we have people in our lives who are continuously challenging us to reach our full potential in Christ. So in turn, we can lead by example and help equip those who are coming up behind us to fulfill the position we currently hold.

Name: Sydney Winder

Age: 23

Hometown: Albuquerque, NM

Teen Challenge Center: Pensacola Women’s Center

Brief Testimony: I grew up in a broken home and had to grow up fast. I hung out with the wrong crowd and fell in love at a young age. I became addicted to heroin at 17 and by the time I was 20 I was a full-blown IV heroin user. A few months after my boyfriend died, I got arrested and made the decision to turn my life around. I have been in Teen Challenge for 11 months now and my life is completely changed. It’s not about sobriety anymore, it’s about eternity.

Vision/Calling God has given you: God has placed a desire in my heart to help other girls ou tof addiction and into a new life. A life that they can be happy with, where God is the main focus.

How has ELP impacted you? ELP has really helped me to see my strengths and talents, and also showing me how to channel them in the right direction.

By: Bryan Sampson

When you think of your own personal growth and development what areas come to mind? Is it more courage in your leadership, better academic discipline, or maybe better organizational skills? While these are all great areas to develop, one area that is just as imperative, that rarely gets discussed, is being a better teammate. We don’t see team greatness as an individual issue, but one for the group. This is a common and dangerous error.

The truth is that great teams begin with great individuals (Witt, 2018). There is no greater team than that of the 12 disciples. What made them such a great team? Each one of them were submitted under their master. They all had one common goal, fulfill what Jesus commanded “Go and make disciples” (Matt. 28:19). They all knew that their personal relationship with Jesus, abiding in Him was where they would get the power to accomplish what Jesus commanded (John 15:5), but also that Jesus brought them together to work as a team to develop a larger team, which we call the “body” (1 Cor. 12:12-31).

And so it is with us. If we want to be a part of greatness, to have the greatest impact, it will start with taking a look in the mirror and focusing on our personal relationship with Jesus, abiding in His presence and becoming great yourself. The team you are a part of will not become great because of a new leader, new staff, or better students. It will become great as soon as soon as you strive to be a great team member and when you believe that personal greatness is not intended for personal gain, but for the benefit of the body and God’s kingdom. Buying into the idea of team, not individualism, to care more about team cohesion than autonomy is essential if we are to put hope within reach of every addict and to glorify God through our lives and ministry.

I challenge you today to examine yourself. Are you more concerned with your own individual performance and success than that of your teams? Is it a challenge for you to help out other departments because you want to make sure your area is succeeding? Do you feel division between departments or team members? Let’s pray for our eyes to be opened to the revelation that Jesus died for the Church, to make a team that operates as one body, that can impact this world with His truth and His love. To do it solo is to be outside God’s will and design. Let’s pray for greater team unity and cohesion as we labor together with one heart, one mind, and one spirit.

“God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. I appeal to you, brothers and sister, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no division among you and you may be united in mind and conviction” (1 Cor. 1:9-10).

Works Cited

Witt, L. (2018). High Impact Teams. Grand Rapids: Baker Books.