FIRST STEP, AN INSPIRING NEW BOOK BY DON WILKERSON
- A "first step" challenge for those struggling with bondages in their life.
- Presents hope for those with life-controlling problems; and the families and loved ones trying to help them.
- A resource for churches and pastor's ministering to the addicted and those in denial to such problems.
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MOVING ON
This month we would like to acknowledge the students who have
advanced from phase one to phase two of the Teen Challenge program; Mackenson,
Teodoro, Earnest and Ann.
The first and second phases are designed to build a basic understanding the Bible, scriptures and doctrine. Each phase is completed in about 4 to 6 months. The first phase is comprised of a 14 book curriculum which includes books like How Can I Know I Am a Christian, Anger and Personal Rights and How to Study the Bible and this phase is mostly about spiritual growth, deliverance and healing. It’s really about bringing the student to a higher understanding of the scriptures and how to apply them to their lives. This phase is usually held in a classroom-learning environment. The passing of a final exam is required before the student advances to the second phase of the program. The second phase involves more group interaction and presents a deeper study into the Word by studying the lives of Paul, Timothy, and other disciples.
Students are faced with challenges each and every day while learning how to apply the Word of God to their lives here at Brooklyn Teen Challenge, but I wanted to know what they learned and what was most exciting about completing phase one of the programs.
Mackenson said knowing that the Lord is keeping him and helping him move along day by day has helped him to put his full trust in the Lord and that all his comfort and strength comes from Jesus. Teodoro went on to say that the most exciting part of completing phase one is his change of perspective. He now sees everything around him differently. The anxiety that he had experienced is gone and now he feels at peace. He has learned to recognize what he was doing wrong and how the little actions made a big difference in his life. He’s also learning to have patience and wait on the Lord.
Congratulations to Mackenson, Teodoro, Earnest and Ann!
The first and second phases are designed to build a basic understanding the Bible, scriptures and doctrine. Each phase is completed in about 4 to 6 months. The first phase is comprised of a 14 book curriculum which includes books like How Can I Know I Am a Christian, Anger and Personal Rights and How to Study the Bible and this phase is mostly about spiritual growth, deliverance and healing. It’s really about bringing the student to a higher understanding of the scriptures and how to apply them to their lives. This phase is usually held in a classroom-learning environment. The passing of a final exam is required before the student advances to the second phase of the program. The second phase involves more group interaction and presents a deeper study into the Word by studying the lives of Paul, Timothy, and other disciples.
Students are faced with challenges each and every day while learning how to apply the Word of God to their lives here at Brooklyn Teen Challenge, but I wanted to know what they learned and what was most exciting about completing phase one of the programs.
Mackenson said knowing that the Lord is keeping him and helping him move along day by day has helped him to put his full trust in the Lord and that all his comfort and strength comes from Jesus. Teodoro went on to say that the most exciting part of completing phase one is his change of perspective. He now sees everything around him differently. The anxiety that he had experienced is gone and now he feels at peace. He has learned to recognize what he was doing wrong and how the little actions made a big difference in his life. He’s also learning to have patience and wait on the Lord.
Congratulations to Mackenson, Teodoro, Earnest and Ann!
THE PERFECT EVANGELISM TOOL
Brooklyn Teen Challenge’s (BTC) efforts of evangelism continued in May with Prayer Stations. We feel it is important to reach the community around us through practical evangelism. With the help of James Sloven, we dove into a new area of ministry. Prayer Stations are taking BTC to the streets with a sign, a table, and a team. We talk with people one-on-one about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, making prayer available to those who would otherwise overlook traditional forms of evangelism. It is a non-threatening form of evangelism that gives people an option to stop and receive prayer for whatever their needs may be. We are training up our Teen Challenge Ministry Institute (TCMI-our ministry training school) students, student leaders, and staff members to hit the streets and make the love of Christ accessible to the general population who, perhaps would never go to a church.
The prayer team goes out two days a week for about an hour and a half. Aaron, a third semester TCMI student, has been involved with the prayer station for about six months now. He sees this as an opportunity to help people. “Everybody has somebody they can talk to. Even if it’s just one person that comes up, it’s all worth it. It’s exciting to see people transformed when they walk away.” The team may not see the fruit of what they do, but they know people are touched and transformed by them being out there. Aaron says that TCMI has changed his style of evangelism by helping to break down the Word of God and learn what the Bible really means. This helps him explain to the people where they are at in their life from a biblical context. TCMI has also taught him to have patience in knowing when to speak and when not to. He says this is important, because sometimes we try to be more than God wants us to be. Aaron thinks that meeting people’s needs is an important part of evangelism, because no one will listen to him if they don’t think he cares about their needs.
“Prayer is talking to God, so it’s all God out there. All kinds of people come up to the table and ask for prayer. This confirms that the prayer stations are supposed to be out there.” Aaron observes that many Jewish people come over to the table. He sees little kids come right up to the stand and ask for prayer. They say, “I’m lying, I’m stealing, I’m cursing.” It’s amazing that these young kids come toward us out of their own free will. One afternoon a man came up to ask for prayer, and two weeks later he came up again and commented, “whose idea is this anyway? This is a great idea! You guys gotta’ keep doing what you’re doing!” He told them his prayer from two weeks ago was answered. A young woman came up to one of our students looking very lost. After our student listened to her pain, she received Christ into her life! Mariah, another TCMI student said, “it was such a joy to see her heart open, weep tears and accept the love of God that she so desperately needed.”
Prayer stations give people hope. It’s the perfect evangelism tool. You don’t have to do anything but just be present. The prayer stations don’t promote anything. People just come up to them, they ask questions, receive prayer, and some get saved! While out there, each student seems to move from evangelist to counselor to pastor. All of the students involved with the prayer stations have a passion and a zeal, but they also have an understanding of God’s word. The students are able to be themselves. People see that and are drawn to them. The team continues to spread the good news through this perfect evangelism tool.
The prayer team goes out two days a week for about an hour and a half. Aaron, a third semester TCMI student, has been involved with the prayer station for about six months now. He sees this as an opportunity to help people. “Everybody has somebody they can talk to. Even if it’s just one person that comes up, it’s all worth it. It’s exciting to see people transformed when they walk away.” The team may not see the fruit of what they do, but they know people are touched and transformed by them being out there. Aaron says that TCMI has changed his style of evangelism by helping to break down the Word of God and learn what the Bible really means. This helps him explain to the people where they are at in their life from a biblical context. TCMI has also taught him to have patience in knowing when to speak and when not to. He says this is important, because sometimes we try to be more than God wants us to be. Aaron thinks that meeting people’s needs is an important part of evangelism, because no one will listen to him if they don’t think he cares about their needs.
“Prayer is talking to God, so it’s all God out there. All kinds of people come up to the table and ask for prayer. This confirms that the prayer stations are supposed to be out there.” Aaron observes that many Jewish people come over to the table. He sees little kids come right up to the stand and ask for prayer. They say, “I’m lying, I’m stealing, I’m cursing.” It’s amazing that these young kids come toward us out of their own free will. One afternoon a man came up to ask for prayer, and two weeks later he came up again and commented, “whose idea is this anyway? This is a great idea! You guys gotta’ keep doing what you’re doing!” He told them his prayer from two weeks ago was answered. A young woman came up to one of our students looking very lost. After our student listened to her pain, she received Christ into her life! Mariah, another TCMI student said, “it was such a joy to see her heart open, weep tears and accept the love of God that she so desperately needed.”
Prayer stations give people hope. It’s the perfect evangelism tool. You don’t have to do anything but just be present. The prayer stations don’t promote anything. People just come up to them, they ask questions, receive prayer, and some get saved! While out there, each student seems to move from evangelist to counselor to pastor. All of the students involved with the prayer stations have a passion and a zeal, but they also have an understanding of God’s word. The students are able to be themselves. People see that and are drawn to them. The team continues to spread the good news through this perfect evangelism tool.
