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Leadership Link
Putting hope within reach of every addict |
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November 2014
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Featured Region
Jim & Kathie Lowans
Regional Directors.
This month we will be featuring several reports and testimonies from the Asia-Pacific region.
See reports
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Teen Challenge is expanding in Asia-Pacific. This month we have several reports on Teen Challenge's progress in bringing hope to the addicted in this large part of the world.
May God bless you and your ministry.
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Every Day is Thanksgiving
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Jerry Nance
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By Jerry Nance PhD, President, Global Teen Challenge
As I write this letter, we in America are getting ready to celebrate our annual holiday known as Thanksgiving. While its origins began with the founding of America, the purpose was to set aside time to recognize and thank God for His blessings. I know many of you have similar days of thankfulness in your countries. However, for those of us who serve in the Teen Challenge ministry around the world, we know that every day is one in which we can give thanks.
Difficult days, trials and service can exhaust and discourage us. It is at those times we need to remind ourselves of God's blessings and faithfulness. Some of the things I am thankful for today include:
- Being able to witness God at work in lives transformed by the Gospel.
- The privilege of serving a mighty God in Teen Challenge, a ministry that is very precious to His heart.
- Knowing I am not alone. The Lord knows exactly where I am, He knows where you are, and we have brothers and sisters around the globe that are thinking of and praying for us.
- Provisions for our ministry.
As this issue of the Leadership Link makes it's way into your mailbox, my prayer is that you be filled with an awareness of the Lord's peace and presence in a powerful way. Both will give your joy a boost and fill your heart with thanksgiving!
Jerry Nance
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Upcoming Training Events & Conferences 
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GTC Expanding in the Asia-Pacific Region
This past year has seen a great expansion of Teen Challenge from the Pacific to SE Asia.
Myanmar
In Myanmar, land has been purchased in the northern city of Myitkyina to establish the first Teen Challenge men's center. Staff training has been completed, curriculum is being translated, and ground will be broken in about two months to build the first building.  | | TC Myanmar staff training |
 | | Leadership of Myanmar TC standing near the recently purchased land. |
Laos
Rev. Mark Berry established a Christian rehab center in Laos twelve years ago.Recently he contacted GTC, expressing desire to merge with TC. Following a recent visit to Laos, plans are now in the works to establish TC Laos with this center that has facilities to house over 40 students.
 | | Students from soon -to-be TC Laos |
 | | Jim Lowans with Mark Berry |
 | | New TC Korea director Dandy Jee, (right), along with Korean Pastor. |
South Korea In South Korea, under the direction of new director Dandy Jee, a target date of January 2016 has been set to see South Korea's first
residential center. On my recent visit we had strategic meetings with Dandy and several pastors and leaders who have a strong commitment and desire to see a center established.
Cambodia
Earlier this year Bunnavuth Rath was named the new Ex. Director of Teen Challenge Cambodia. The ministry continues to expand with a new land purchase to provide a permanent home for the women's/children's center that is now housed on rented property. Building designs are currrently being drawn, and building will begin in 2015.
At the men's center a new and larger piggery is being constructed.
 | | New TCC Ex. Director Bunna Rath (Vuth) and family |
 | | TC Cambodia Children |
Fiji
In Fiji, land has also been secured. Building designs have been drawn, and funds are being raised to see the start-up of TC Fiji early in 2015.
American Samoa and Western Samoa 
American Samoa has a radio station outreach as well as a drug prevention ministry in the schools and prisons.
Recently GTC Evangelism coordinators Bernie & Cathy Gillott traveled with a team from TC American Samoa to do outreach in schools, churches, and on the street in Western Samoa.
Bernie reports" We were overwhelmed by the welcome we received from the team there. Government leaders, churches, schools and even the Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God in Apia were part of strategic meetings."
There is a strong desire in Western Samoa to open a residential center. We will be assisting them in moving forward. Plans are in place for the next Asia/Pacific Regional Conference. It will be held in Melbourne, Australia, February 2-5, 2015.
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Mom, I want Shoes instead of Birthday presents!
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Malachi Krestel with shoes for Cambodia
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Earlier this year when Malachi Krestel was about to turn seven, he asked his mother if he could have his friends give him shoes instead of presents for his birthday. You see, Malachi is the grandson of Jim and Kathie Lowans and ever since Malachi was a child he has heard about and prayed for the children in Cambodia. So the invitations for his birthday party went out explaining this unusual request. Then on the day of his party, kids came in bringing shoes and sandals for the children in Cambodia. A few weeks later Malachi's grandfather "Papa Jim" delivered the shoes to the children in the Teen Challenge Cambodia women and children's center. Imagine the delight on the children's faces seeing all the shoes that they could pick from all because of the generosity of a boy named Malachi.  | | Children in Cambodia TC receiving the shoes |
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Japan - Testimony of Mankoto
 My name is Makoto Oikawa. I am 30 years old. I grew up in the poor part of Tokyo - I guess you could call it the "Ghetto of Tokyo"- by a single mother and older brother. My life was a life of tragedy. When I was six years old my mom got a new boyfriend who used to beat me up. My mother did everything for this man that I hated. One day this guy decided to leave my mom. She was devastated that he was dumping her for another woman. She went into a dark place and was not able to come back out. One day when I was 10, I returned from a trip with my grandparents to find the police in front of my house. I looked inside and saw my mother dead on the concrete floor. My older brother was crying, but I remember going numb, as though something just left me....
After that, I began to be bullied at school just because I was an orphan. At 13 I joined a gang and started to get into trouble. It started with a taste. In the desire to taste something of a family, we formed a gang. Wanting a taste of power, we went out into fights. Wanting a taste of luxury, we started selling drugs. But soon the taste was not enough. It had taken over my life and the lives of others. Our small gang began to be feared in the Shibuya area. Our fights became brutal. Our deals became so big that life became unbearable. Drug dealing was the norm, and selling it was seemingly all that I was doing. And my use of it was getting worse. Day in and day out, all I could do to keep up in my dealing was to do more drugs and to make more to sell more. A vicious cycle of a downward spiral to hell. At one time, in a deep daze, I thought, "Well, this is how I'm gonna die."
One day the police raided my house, I was thrown into jail, and because of the drugs they had to send me to the hospital for detox. Then, right from the hospital, my brother threw me into Teen Challenge. My first impression of the center was not good; all I could think of was to get out....but as I spent more time with the staff, I felt something I hadn't felt for a long time. It was a warm feeling - a feeling that was lost in the past. Then we had to go to church; it was my first time to visit one, and when I heard the gospel message and encountered the people there filled with love, something in my heart was stirred. I thought to myself, "Perhaps I can give this thing called Teen Challenge a try." I also immediately accepted Jesus as my Savior, and my life was changed. I felt peace and safety I've never felt before. And although I still have to deal with the deep hurt and pain in my life, I can honestly say that I am able to deal with it with Jesus by my side.
My search for a new place is now over. I am among the family of believers. My desire of the heart has meaning - to serve Christ. My life without a father has been met with the ultimate Father - our Father in heaven who is the Father of the fatherless.
After my one year in Okayama as a student, I am now in Okinawa doing my internship. My plan for the future is to minister to children who are struggling due to losing a parent, or even dealing with kids who experienced abuse. At this time, I'm part of the coffee ministry at church, and have been recruited as a Sunday School teacher. The Lord works in mysterious ways in opening doors where I will be trained for the future work that I believe the Lord will have me do.
Please remember Japan in your prayers. Teen Challenge Okinawa is in the streets to reach the lost; ministering to Okinawans, Japanese, and American military.
A Scripture dear to me is Psalms 119:71,72..."It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn Your decrees. The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold."
In His service,
Makoto Oikawa
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Upcoming Training Events & Conferences
Asia/Pacific Regional Conference
February 2 - 5, 2015
Melbourne, Australia
Prayer Summit February 9 - 11 Columbus, Georgia, USA Staff Training Schools Mexico Regional Staff Training School February 15 - March 28 Mexico City Russia National Staff Training Schools Feb. 16-20 Novokuznetsk February 23-27 Moscow
Training School Information Top of Page |
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 106 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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