As a leader of Teen Challenge centers in the Southeast Region of the United States and also being involved with growing leaders around the world I once again want to challenge you to Raising Up Sons and Daughters to follow you.
I was reading in 1 Samuel recently and saw something I had never seen before. When we as parents think of raising sons and daughters, we always first reflect on our own kids and then on to those we are raising up from within the Teen Challenge family. I noticed in 1 Samuel 1:3 the story of Eli the priest who had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas.
In verse 9 we see Hannah entering the temple, weeping and praying for God to answer her prayer for a child, a son. God answers her prayer by giving her Samuel, who Hannah gives to the Lord under Eli's mentorship in the temple.
In 1 Samuel 2:12 we read, "now the sons of Eli were scoundrels, who had no respect for the Lord or for their duties as priest." They were treating the Lord's offering with contempt and they were known for seducing young women (1 Samuel 2:22-25). They didn't listen to their father when he spoke to them about their behavior.
Eli was a father who somehow did not raise up his sons in a way that they honored the Lord with their lives. Eli failed to discipline his sons and hold them responsible for their actions, he in fact enabled them.
We read in I Samuel 4 how God judged both Eli and his sons.
In these same chapters we see Samuel hearing from God and being raised in the temple along with Eli's sons. God speaks to Samuel and God uses him. "Samuel grew in wisdom, stature and in favor with God and man." (1 Samuel 2:26)
When Samuel became the spiritual leader of Israel he issued this challenge: "If you turn back to the Lord with all your heart, then rid yourself of foreign gods, I will forgive you and protect you." (1 Samuel 7:3) The people listened to Samuel and they fasted and confessed their sins. God responded by giving Israel peace (verse 13). The Philistines stopped invading Israel.
Samuel was a model of spiritual leadership and he became a prominent judge in Israel. He was a role model to all and over his life he traveled across the nation bringing fair judgments on cases of dispute. He was loved and respected by all.
When Samuel was getting old, he built an altar to the Lord, and passed his leadership on to his sons, Joel and Abijah, to be judges.
"But his sons did not follow his ways." (1 Samuel 8:3) They were known for dishonest gain, bribes, perverted justice, and other sins.
The people said, "your sons are not like you." (1 Samuel 8:5) Samuel's sons were rejected by the people as his successors. The people of Israel would not honor Samuel's decision to pass on his leadership and authority to his sons.
Here's my point - we see two prominent leaders that were selected and appointed by God who failed as leaders of their own sons. Each of them were used by God, and were accomplished leaders in their own right, but neither had success in raising their sons.
The people saw it, they knew it-so where was the disconnect for Eli and Samuel?
Was it culture?
Was it because they were too busy?
Were they consumed with their work and didn't have time for their sons?
We don't know, but what we do know is that their sons did not follow God and that they did not succeed them in leadership.
We also have David, a man after God's own heart, who raised a son named Absolom. David's own son tried to kill him and take over his throne.
We must ask ourselves some hard questions as leaders of our own sons and daughters, and also for those who are following us.
We have the perfect role model in Jesus, when it comes to raising disciples-sons and daughters.
He did 3 key things that set the tone for 3 years of mentoring.
- He gathered the disciples to himself
- He anointed them with power
- He sent them out
Jerry Nance
Training was provided to more than 50 staff and volunteers from the 7 Teen Challenge centers in Australia. The training focused on the core
addiction. 
