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Leadership Link
Our Big Dream: To put hope within reach of every addict |
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November 2013
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Featured Region
This month we will be featuring several reports and testimonies from the Asia-Pacific region.
Countries with centers: Singapore, Cambodia, Japan, Australia
Countries with outreaches: South Korea, American Samoa |
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Upcoming Training Events & Conferences
Greece: Intro to TC Curriculum & Addiction
December 3-8
Athens, Greece
Asia-Pacific Regional Conference
January 27 - 30, 2014
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Myanmar Staff Training Seminar
Ongoing Regional and National Schools
Mexico Regional Staff Training School
February 3 - March 14
Mexico City
Russia National Staff Training Schools
Feb. 17-21
Novokuznetsk
February 24-28
Moscow
Brazil National Staff Training School
February 24-28
Sao Paulo
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As you may know, we here in America have just celebrated a season of Thanksgiving --- looking at the year behind us and at God's blessings on the ministry of Global Teen Challenge.
This month we want to thank God for the growth on Teen Challenge ministries in the Asia Pacific region. We hope you rejoice with us as you read the testimonies of changed lives. Will you join with us in special prayer for God's wisdom, guidance and favor in this region as we are working to
put hope within reach of every addict?
May God bless you and your ministry.
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Pray for Favor with God and Man
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Jerry Nance
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By Jerry Nance PhD,
President, Global Teen Challenge
Over the last months I have been sharing with you principles that God has taught me over the last 23 years in leadership in Teen Challenge. These simple principles have become lifelong principles that continue to make sense as I continue in a leadership role. I recognize that times change, needs change, and our leadership team changes, but some principles in leadership are true over time no matter how many parts and people of the organization change.
This is an excerpt from my book, From Dream to Reality.
In 1991 I was faced with leadership challenges that I never could have imagined when I accepted the role of Executive Director of Teen Challenge of Florida. In my finite mind the challenges that loomed were as huge as the giants Joshua and Caleb encountered when spying out Canaan. Every waking moment was taken up by one difficulty after another. Genuinely seeking God for answers, I went to the Bible every day where a God taught me usable principles. One of the principles he taught me was regarding God's favor.
In first Samuel 2:26 the Bible says, "Samuel grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man." He not only grew in wisdom and stature as he matured, but he also grew in favor with God, and he grew in favor with man. The principle of favor became an important one in his life, as he was well received and respected as the prophet of God.
The Book of Psalms teaches us that David prayed God would give him favor with God and man. Why do you think he prayed that way? Do you think David realized the value of God's favor as well as the favor of man?
And we also find in Luke 2:52,
"Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man."
The Bible speaks clearly on the subject of the importance of God's favor, and man's favor.
As I was reading these verses one day in my devotions and following up the references from Samuel to Jesus, the Holy Spirit quickened my heart and said to me that I should begin to pray for favor with God and man.
I realized that I needed favor with God, but to lead Teen Challenge effectively, I also needed favor with Man. I needed God to bring me into relationship with men and women who would love God, love their family but also love Teen Challenge. I began to pray this way every day. I began to read the word and look for more scriptures regarding God's favor and how to have God's favor on my life.
I found in Psalm 5:12 the Bible says, "For you, oh Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor you will surround him as with a shield." Then in Psalm 30:5 it says, "His favor is for life," and in verse six, "Now in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved." Then in verse seven, "Lord, by your favor you have made my mountain stand strong." In Proverbs 11:27 it says, "He who earnestly seeks good, finds favor."
These, and many other scriptures, show us that if we will seek God, and seek the good of others, we will find the favor of God. He desires to help each of us succeed in the dream He has given for our lives. The road may be difficult, but that is not the point. His favor is with us no matter what our circumstances may bring. He loves us and wants to fellowship with us. God's favor surrounds us and protects us like a shield. His provision is there for us, and His will is to bless us, as we are faithful to do what He has called us to do.
Click here to Read Entire Article
Jerry Nance
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New Opportunities in Asia-Pacific
By Jim Lowans, GTC Regional Director for Asia-Pacific  | | Jim & Kathie Lowans |
The opportunity for new TC centers opening in the Asia/Pacific region has exploded over the past year. The following countries have on-the-ground preparation taking place to open centers:
Indonesia
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Myanmar
Three of these countries have identified potential directors who are planning to attend our Asia/Pacific training conference in January.
In February we will be traveling to Myanmar to provide GTC Leadership training to a group of pastors and lay people who are excited about the prospect of a TC opening in their Country.
Pray for God's direction and provision as we move forward to develop these new ministries.
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News from Singapore Teen Challenge
Vincent Chan is welcomed as new Exec. Director in the following article by Glenn Lim, Secretary of the board of TC Singapore.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Management of Teen Challenge, we are
 | | Vincent Chan |
delighted to welcome Vincent Chan on board in his new appointment of the Executive Director of Teen Challenge Singapore!
Vincent is not new to the ministry of Teen Challenge, having formerly worked alongside with the halfway houses for a number of years in Singapore. His journey with ex-offenders started in the USA when he served as a volunteer counselor in a prison ministry during his university days. Back in Singapore he continued with the Prisons Fellowship in Singapore, and stayed on as a Board member for a few years. He also served in leadership positions at SCORE (Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises). He has also served with the prisons outreach ministry in his church during its pioneering stage. Throughout this journey, his passion to see the transformation of prisoners and ex offenders grew even stronger.
Vincent also comes with a wealth of corporate experience. He has worked with MNCs in management consultancy, strategic leadership, organizational development and marketing. He has led corporate teams to clinch major project deals successfully, and even won awards for the social enterprises he has helped established. Through his influence and connections, he has encouraged many organizations to be actively involved in the community.
We are excited to have Vincent helm the ministry during this new season. Working together with the Board and Management, he will help steer Teen Challenge Singapore to greater heights.
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Testimony from Singapore Teen Challenge
My FAITH, HOPE & LOVE
My name is Fabian Sebastian and I was exposed to the vices of
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Fabian Sebastian
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smoking , drugs and alcohol at the age of 14, where it was all
ignited with a spark of curiosity. The friends I mixed with had a
bad reputation in the neighborhood that I lived in. My parents were expatriate workers, therefore they were frequently living abroad and I have to stay with my grandmother in Singapore due to the National Service regulations. My grandmother was concerned with the company of friends that I was mixing with and had tried many ways to discourage me from hanging out with them but I ignored her advices.
Nonetheless, I tried out drugs and started to drink frequently. My first prison sentence was at the age of 40. To sum it all up, I have been to prison for a total of 7 times, with fighting and drug offenses; of which I've been involved in Corrective Training under maximum security for 6 years
Amidst the difficulties faced during my imprisonment, I fondly remembered the hope and love extended by the prison volunteers who faithfully came to minister to me. I remembered requesting to be part of the Christian prison volunteer program, as I wanted to get back to God, knowing that I can find refuge and strength in Him. Being part of the prison volunteer program, I would get to own a bible and be given the Daily Bread to read in my cell. During this period, I drew strength through God's word , one of the verses that hold dear to my heart is from 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, it says 'Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God'. I became attached to this verse, amazed at how God gives us comfort and hope even when we do not deserve it.
Upon my release from prison, I joined the DARE Centre programme at Teen Challenge Singapore for a year and grew stronger in the Lord. The staff at Teen Challenge continued to encourage me and guided me towards my walk to complete victory . Today, I am no longer a resident but as a staff serving and helping others who seek help and intervention in DARE Centre . I thank God for His guidance and protection, and for all those who have sowed their time and efforts into my life. Amen!
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| Hannah's testimony from Australia
Hannah is 24 years old, the second eldest of four daughters. She grew up going to church, Sunday school and youth groups. After completing high school and a diploma of nursing, Hannah enrolled in a nursing degree. All seemed well, but inwardly she was struggling with her dependency on alcohol.
Since a young age, Hannah suffered from lack of self-confidence - an inner war of inequality, failure, and self-loathing.
"I've always been a very deep thinker. I over-analyse everything, I'm extremely sensitive, and if I'm not careful, I have a short temper that can tend to get me into strife. This is almost completely opposite from the personalities of my three sisters; don't get me wrong - they are my best friends, but within the family I felt like I was the outcast."
Being bullied at school and feeling like an outcast with her friends and family, at 18 years old Hannah packed her bags and headed to the Gold Coast. In the next three years she experimented with drugs and alcohol and worked as a bartender in a strip club. The two significant relationships that she sustained with men during this time were mentally and physically abusive. This added to her feelings of helplessness in an environment that caused her to feel bitter and broken. Hannah says it was then that she resorted to alcohol to help ease the pain.
"I needed something to mask the pain and get rid of the bad memories, so I chose to use alcohol. The trigger for drinking became blurred, binges became longer and then sobriety between each binge became shorter. Sometimes my binges would last over seven days; consisting of a minimal diet, copious amounts of alcohol, vomiting and numerous hospital admissions including IV fluids and medication to help with alcohol withdrawal."
After losing her license due to a DUI and having a blood alcohol limit which put her in the top 10 readings for women in Queensland, Hannah hit rock bottom and found herself looking desperately for help. After speaking with a worker at Teen Challenge, Hannah began her journey of recovery at our New Life Women's Centre in Toowoomba. Since being at the Centre, Hannah is learning forgiveness.
"For all the years I spent in misery I have now come to an understanding that all I needed was [God's] forgiveness and guidance. I feel lighter, I feel kinder, and I feel like I am in a position to start a new life."
Hannah now has hope for her future and is ready to fulfil her full potential.
"I feel as though I am getting to know myself, not all over again, but for the first time. I was broken and exhausted, but through Teen Challenge I have found God and amazing friends that will make sure all my pieces are put back together, and I am sure that I will become all that God intended me to be."
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Joshua's testimony, Queensland Austrailia
My name is Joshua. I am 23 years old and have completed both the New Hope
 | | Josh at Graduation |
House and New Life Centre programs at Teen Challenge. Before the program, my life was full of indecisiveness and misdirection. I was born in Victoria and lived in Canada for six years with my Dad before moving back to Australia. I grew up in a Catholic household where I was constantly bullied. I did quite well at school and achieved an OP 2 which I thought would make my parents proud. I joined the Royal Australian Navy, not because it was what I wanted to do, but more because I wanted my step-father to be proud of me.
I began drinking and gambling heavily once I was qualified and gained my own independence. My partner Belinda was also quite a heavy party person and this seemed to help me with my self esteem and social issues. While I was in the Navy, Belinda became ill and finally passed away from heart complications. I thought I had nothing left and her death nearly resulted in mine when I became suicidal. My life was spiraling out of control at a rapid rate. I could no longer be an effective member of the Navy, and I was discharged. After that, I could not hold down any type of permanent job as a result of my psychological instability. I drank and gambled more than I ever had previously. I lost a lot of trust in the people that loved me, and they in turn lost their ability to trust me because I was stealing from them. My life had truly hit the iceberg and I was sinking very quickly.
I came to New Hope House a broken young man filled with regret. With the help of the caseworkers and the team there I started to become a more confident person, and they introduced me to a concept that I had not been familiar with in a long time: God. But not just any God, one who wanted to have a relationship with me, love me, and care for me. I finished the program at New Hope House and went to the New Life Centre in Toowoomba, and the
 | | New Life Centre |
spiritual and emotional teachings that I learned during the program were like nothing I had ever heard. My anger and anxiety ruled over my life to the point where it was affecting me physiologically and causing heart issues, and I thought that I could never get that under control. I learned techniques which helped me to keep my anger under control, and prevent my anxiety from peaking on a regular basis. I was a mess before I entered the program. Now I am able to identify different situations as they arise, and make rational decisions.
It was such a remarkable thing to hear that God places us on a path for a reason and has a plan for us. This really helped with my anxiety, and has given me the peace that I need to conduct my business on a daily basis. I can see that God made a path for me so that I could go to Teen Challenge and get the help I needed to be the confident man that God has a plan for. I am just so grateful that God has a plan and a purpose for me, and it is not so that I can squander it with alcohol and bad decisions. God has transformed me inside and out, and I can now be at peace.
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Dave Batty now serving as Teen Challenge Missionary
I wanted you to be aware that Dave and Patty Batty have transitioned out of their positions at Global Teen Challenge and are pursuing ministry elsewhere.
The Battys have made a real contribution to Global TC over the past six years. Their gifts and talents will be missed and we know God will use them in their next assignment. We truly appreciate their contribution to bringing us to where we are today.
Following is a note from Dave and Patty regarding their future plans-Jerry Nance
Patty and I are entering into a new phase of ministry with Teen Challenge where I will be serving as a Teen Challenge missionary. Patty and I consider it a real honor to have worked with Global Teen Challenge over the past 6 years. In this new ministry position, I will be serving under the covering of Teen Challenge USA.
Our plans are to serve Teen Challenge ministries both in the USA and around the world. I will be devoting a major part of my time to writing and training, focusing on these priorities:
1. Training of Teen Challenge leaders in the USA and globally
2. Developing staff training materials: Understanding steps to relapse, Confronting conflict in a caring way, 10 part series on Discipleship, and more.
3. Developing curriculum which can be used to disciple new Christians: Renewing your mind (Advanced Studies for New Christians), Solving problems in ways that honor God, and more.
4. Writing projects related to Teen Challenge, which could include: the DNA of Teen Challenge, the history of Teen Challenge, testimonies of transformed lives, and more.
5. Consulting for Teen Challenge ministries.
Regarding future ministry, I will be traveling to Russia in February 2014 to conduct two weeks of training for young leaders of Teen Challenge ministries. Additional travel is under consideration to Brazil in the fall of 2014.
Our plans are to continue to live in Phenix City, AL (near Columbus, GA). In this new ministry capacity I will be serving as an Assemblies of God missionary with Teen Challenge.
In the next few weeks, I will be launching a new website to provide additional information on our ministry. We deeply appreciate your prayers as we enter this new time of ministry. We look forward with great anticipation to the opportunities God is putting before us.
Dave Batty
3215 Thornberry Circle
Phenix City, AL 36867
dbatty@gmail.com
Dave Cell: 706-536-5813
Patty Cell: 706-536-9010
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About Global Teen Challenge
The mission of Global Teen Challenge is to assist in the development and implementation of Teen Challenge programs around the world. Today there are more than 1,000 Teen Challenge programs in 94 countries of the world. It is our desire to provide the best and latest tools available in helping individuals with life controlling addictions. According to the United Nations, more than 200 million people worldwide struggle with drug abuse. Drug users are getting younger and their use is becoming more frequent. Alcohol and drug addictions are plaguing our nations, our cities and invading our homes. We are committed to doing everything we can to reach people around the globe with life controlling problems. For more information on Global Teen Challenge, visit our website at www.GlobalTC.org |
| Contact Information:
Global Teen Challenge
P.O. Box 511
Columbus, Georgia 31902-0511 USA
706-576-6555
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