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Leadership Link
Putting hope within reach of every addict |
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January 2015
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Featured Region
 Doug and Kelley Samuelson live in Northern Asia and serve as the GTC Regional Directors for the region.
They have dedicated themselves to the long term vision of Global Teen Challenge for Northern Asia 
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 | | Jerry Nance |
Happy New Year! I'm sure you've recognized, as I have, that although we have entered a New Year, the issues we were facing at the end of 2014 have not magically disappeared. In fact, the first day I was back in my office was a really tough day. The typical financial challenges, personnel issues, breakdown in communication and illness issues were right there in front of me. As I have been reading in the book of Psalms this week, I read David's prayers to God for protection from his enemies. David so often asked God for help and every time God showed up and overwhelmingly met the need. David's prayers did not stop the enemy from coming back to repeat their threat on David and Israel. David had to stay on his knees and keep trusting the Lord for help. I find myself there so often, on my knees needing the Lord's help. God is faithful, He is merciful, and He is good to see us through every challenge and help us find a way through some of the most difficult times. I encourage you to do as David did, put your trust in the Lord this month and spend focused time in prayer for His intervention in your life and in ministry. I have decided to fast a day each week during 2015 as I continue my daily time in the Word and prayer. Waking at 5 in the morning gives me the time I need alone for a quiet time with the Lord. This is the most important part of my schedule each day as I recognize that I cannot lead this organization without the help of the Lord. Our Global office also has a focused prayer time every Wednesday morning for an hour before our offices open. We pray for each of you and for the new leaders in Teen Challenge. We pray for the new nations where Teen Challenge is being established. I can tell you that prayer makes the difference. On February 9-11 we will host our annual Prayer Summit commemorating the time of the year that David Wilkerson spent extra time in prayer and was called to "go help those boys." Teen Challenge was birthed from his prayer time and we each have responsibility to keep this key DNA element of Teen Challenge alive where we have influence. I will be in Perth, Western Australia during the Prayer Summit and will be joining via livestream during a worship service with their leadership and students. As you start this new year may I challenge you to rebuild the altar in your personal life? May I challenge you as a leader to build an altar in your center and keep prayer a priority in the center? May God's special blessing be on you and your ministry in 2015. Jerry Nance PhD, President, Global Teen Challenge
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TC in Northern Asia - How it works
report from Doug & Kelley Samuelson
 | | Doug & Kelley |
We are so excited to see the growth of Teen Challenge in Northern Asia, where we serve as the Global Teen Challenge Regional Directors. Although Christianity is seen as a tool of Western imperialism with potential to divide the region, the government has allowed a controlled version of Christianity by creating government approved churches and care must be taken to not draw attention to para-church type ministries, especially those that have not been approved by the government.
Because Teen Challenge is first and foremost an evangelism and discipleship program (which is not approved), we take measures to not draw attention to the ministry efforts that are moving forward throughout the region. The very name "Teen Challenge" has the connotation of an organization that would rise against the government - which is something that is quickly
 | | Doug with Church leaders |
dismantled. For that reason, we do not seek to promote the name "Teen Challenge", but rather equip leaders and pastors through training and materials.
I am pleased to report that in our meetings with the government approved church leaders, we have found that many are spirit-filled believers who answer only to the One who is higher than earthly governments, which often puts them at risk. These churches have provided a covering for Teen Challenge ministry.
 | | Small group meeting |
In one province, we started small groups that have multiplied many times, reaching dozens and dozens of people. The churches bring the ministry in under their government-approved statusand use Teen Challenge materials. As the small groups have grown and spread to other congregations (both the approved and "underground" churches), the value of the ministry in meeting the needs of those caught in addiction has resulted in financial, staff and prayer support. As more severe cases of addiction surface, the need for a residential center becomes evident, and the church and community leaders work together to provide for a residential ministry.
There are many challenges in our region, but we are seeing God move His plan forward through supernatural means. He is providing a way to bring hope to the hopeless through the very government that seeks to limit His message of hope to the people.
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Reports from around the region
We are excited to see fruit after three years of labor in Northern Asia. This spring a men's center
 | | Men in the residential program |
will open in a northeastern city where effective small groups have multiplied and reached out to dozens of individuals, while gaining the support of local churches who see the great need for this ministry. In preparation for the center opening, we have a team of nationals who are working to translate the ministry materials needed for a residential program. Relationships are blossoming and word is traveling throughout Northern Asia about the hope that is available to those individuals who are hopelessly trapped in addiction. In this region, we cannot overtly promote Teen Challenge because it would draw attention to ourselves and put the  | | Career training is a part of the program in Macau. |
local staff and participants at risk. Instead, promotion for ministry and the program materials comes through the "above ground" (government approved) and "below ground" church leaders and nationals who are passionate about the saving power of Jesus Christ. Despite the challenges we face in promoting Teen Challenge, God is linking indigenous ministries together in supernatural ways. Recently, one of our center leaders heard about a group of men starting a center in the southwest. In visiting, he found that these men had been miraculously delivered from addiction themselves and desired for others to also be freed from the chains of addiction through the blood of Jesus Christ. Having witnessed their undeniable transformation, the local community and churches are now in strong support and have provided building materials and workers to create a residential center. This spring there will be training for these leaders and others in the region.  | | Doug with Pastor of Nepalese Church in Hong Kong |
This past October, we visited with leaders at a large church in Hong Kong (that is comprised of several international congregations) regarding their desire to help the Nepalese population in their area. The church has a Nepalese congregation and many family members have great struggles with addiction. We are currently looking for an English speaking couple that are called to the city and would serve as leaders over this diverse region. There are 31 unreached people groups in our region of the world. Many of these people groups have significant need for drug and alcohol addiction resources. The location of our headquarters (in close proximity of a ministry/language  | | Unreached People groups |
training school) has allowed us to meet many couples and individuals who are called to these unreached people groups. Several have expressed interest in getting trained and equipped to use Teen Challenge as a means to reach these unreached groups with the Good News.
Please pray for us and Teen Challenge in Northern Asia as we seek to navigate the challenges and discern the Holy Spirit's direction in bringing His message of Hope to these people who desperately need to hear it!
Top of Page
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Teen Challenge's
"19 Days" Prayer Summit 2015
Feb. 9, 2015 7:00 pm EST through
Feb. 11, 2015 12 pm EST
Speakers:
Don Wilkerson
Jerry Nance will be
speaking from Australia
40 hours of continuous prayer
Every move of God begins with prayer. That could not be more obvious than the story of Teen Challenge when David Wilkerson asked, 'What would happen, Lord, if I sold that TV set and spent that time - praying?' Well, we know what happened. What would happen in our day. If we make prayer our
first priority in Teen Challenge?
Live streaming information and schedule coming soon.
Contact 19days@teenchallenge.cc for more information.
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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 Russia National Staff Training Schools Feb. 16-20 Novokuznetsk February 23-27 Moscow
Training School Information
ELP III Executive Leader Training
Columbus, Georgia USA |
 | | Survey |
Dear Teen Challenge friends,
Next week the Global Teen Challenge board and staff will be meeting in Turkey to review our strategic plan. The Bible tells us that there is wisdom in a multitude of counselors so our desire is to have as broad of input as possible as we enter into those meetings.
Please take a moment to fill out the attached survey. Your answers will be anonymous so please don't be afraid to share your true thoughts.
We also ask that you pray for Global Teen Challenge. Our vision is to "Put Hope within Reach of Every Addict and we're asking that God help us develop a strategic plan that captures His will.
Thank you!
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Announcement! Russian GSNC is completed
The (GSNC) Group Studies for New Christians 5th Edition (Newest Revision) has recently been translated into Russian.
This is an entirely new translation of the curriculum in the Russian language. It is now available for download on the iteenchallenge.org website.To request the complete set, email us at gtc@globaltc.org
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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 1100 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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