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44th Annual Conference EUROPE TEEN CHALLENGE 2013
Keeping the Main Things the Main Things |
| Abandoned trains like this continental railway car were a birthplace of the ministry of Teen Challenge across Eastern Europe. From an oppressive totalitarian regime, alcohol and a home-made synthetic heroin called compote left a trail of death and destruction. As the "Cross and Switchblade" disarmed the "hammer and sickle," the power of Jesus set men free. Hopeless men and women, once convinced by their government that there was no God, met Jesus and found freedom- found hope. |
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Less than 100 yards from the conference, we prayed for addicts on trains and under the bridge, evidence that there is still much work left to be done. Behind the beauty of a stunning spring night in Prague, Czech Republic - the tragedy of human trafficking, prostitution, addiction, and death stalk the streets. |
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Leaders from 34 European Nations gathered in Prague, Czech Republic to celebrate the continuing miracles of Europe Teen Challenge. From Budapest, Hungary to Holland, Macedonia to Portugal, Slovakia to Istanbul they came, hearts prepared for a challenge and a word from GOD.
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| ETC has over 300 Centers in 34 countries. With over 8,500 beds -- 30 Prevention Programs & more than 75 Coffeehouse outreaches, they are a dynamic force in the war against drugs. New centers are being pioneered in Bulgaria, Greece, and Finland, with another invitation from Malta. The conference was hosted by Tom and Terri Bremer, directors of Europe Teen Challenge. Rev. Don Wilkerson, co-founder of Teen Challenge Brooklyn and pioneer of Global Teen Challenge, was the keynote speaker. Europe, once the cradle of evangelism to the world, now battles secular humanism and compromise both in the government and the church! |
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Brother Don stressed the "basics" of love, the power of God, prayer and fasting. They are central to the effectiveness of Teen Challenge. Hundreds of staff, students and leaders were challenged by the ministry in the Word and the12 other leaders that shared "wisdom pearls" for the necklace of ETC. Also ministering were Jim & Sis Blanchard and Dr. Jerry Nance President/CEO of Global Teen Challenge.
~ ~ CLICK HERE for a brief History of the BIRTH of TC in Eastern Europe. |
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Worship was powerful with a team of singers and musicians from
their church and Czech TC. They did a tremendous job.
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AT THE TOMB IN ISRAEL |
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On Easter Morning 2013, students of the Biet Hayshua Men's Center in Jerusalem visited the Garden Tomb. One student shared, "I did not find Jesus there, but I did find the same resurrection power that raised Him from the dead and set me free from drugs." |
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As a part of the European Union's Harm Prevention Program, the huge lobby of pharmaceutical companies continues to lead the way as they demand methadone maintenance for registered heroin users. It may be that hidden behind their so-called concerned safety for society is their focus on billions in profits, at the expense of the lives and freedom for the addicts and families who love them.
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Methadone, 6-dimethylamino-4,4-diphenyl-3-heptanone, is a synthetic opioid that is used as a hydrochloride to "manage" heroin addiction. It has uses and effects similar to those of morphine. Methadone generates billions in revenue worldwide, despite the fact that for decades independent studies have demonstrated that is more harmful than heroin. Methadone has been used to treat heroin addicts for nearly 50 years, yet we have surprisingly incomplete knowledge about possible harmful effects from prolonged use despite continuing evidence of its dangers. It does not reduce abuse, cross addiction nor provide any cure at the root of addiction. Women I have ministered to on the street, like Claudia, are left trapped in dependence, first by addiction, then the system designed to cure them. |
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Methadone Maintenance is inherently flawed because it is built on the slavery of addicted men and women. It is financially lucrative for pharmaceutical companies, but merely prolongs the nightmare of dependence without offering freedom or a future. The official government position is that methadone insures that heroin addicts will not abuse other drugs. The testimony of Teen Challenge students and those we work with on the streets is that methadone did not curb other drug use. Methadone users routinely abuse Valium to heighten or lengthen the methadone "high." |
The result is a lifetime of methadone dependence, billions in revenue for huge pharmaceuticals and a steady stream of "lobby money" for politicians. It is a scandal. In Poland, Teen Challenge graduates, drug free for over 15 months, have been denied housing unless they went back on methadone. The government says there is no cure for heroin addiction and they refuse the obvious evidence of the lives that Jesus has changed here in Teen Challenge.
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The National Day of Prayer on the Peninsula 2013 is Thursday, May 2 at
Todd Stadium, Newport News, from 6:00-8:30pm.
http://nationaldayofprayer.org/2013-theme-and-verse/
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There will also be a Peninsula Wide Fast every Wednesday in the month of April through May 1st in preparation for the NDoP on the Peninsula. We have over one hundred churches involved and we would love to have you on board. I am working with the combined mass choir, from different denominations, singing praises to the Lord. If you are interested in joining, the next practice is Saturday April 27 at 10 am at All Nations Church and Tues April 30
(853 Cloverleaf Lane, Newport News, VA 23601). |
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2013
INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULE |
April
Europe Teen Challenge Conference
Prague, Czech Republic
May 8-20
Ministry in India
Lucknow Teen Challenge
Pune Teen Challenge
July 2-6
Evangelism & outreach
Jimmy Jack and Gerald Mayhan
Santiago Teen Challenge
Santiago, Dominican Republic.
July 14-24
Construction/Evangelism
w/Calvary Church, Naperville
Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Oct 28-Nov 7
Construction/Evangelism
w/Calvary Church, Naperville
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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Because you give, we can go.
Thank you for prayerfully considering how you can send us in His name ... We do not receive a salary from
Global Teen Challenge. Your prayers and partnership keep us at the living edge.
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2013
STATESIDE SCHEDULE
Current services, how about YOU?
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HAVE YOU ASKED YOUR PASTOR ABOUT HOSTING US?
We would love to come to sing, minister a relevant word, and share what God
is doing around the world.
Can you help us?
Call us at 757 728-0347.
May 5, 2013
Churchland Assembly of God Portsmouth, VA
May 28,29, 2013
Brooklyn Teen Challenge
Brooklyn, NY
June 6, 7, 8, 2013
Teen Challenge Eastern Regional
Virginia Beach, VA
June 9, 2013
Back Bay Assembly of God
Virginia Beach, VA
June 16, 2013
Calvary Temple of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA 11am
June 23, 2013
CrossWalk Community Church
3 Campuses-Williamsburg, VA
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Please pray with us as we seek guidance to choose wisely with many pending invitations for 2013. We want to be where the Lord wants us, doing the work Global Teen Challenge needs to be done. |
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| PARTNER PRAYER FOCUS |
PARTNER
PRAYER
FOCUS
APRIL |
1) Please lift up European leaders as they return home across the continent from the ETC Conference, "Keeping the Main Things the Main Things" May God anoint them to communicate what they learned to staff and students and implement living edge truth for life transformation. With El Al and Lufthansa on strike, flights have been canceled across the region, presenting them a tremendous challenge to get home. My flights all look good.
2) Please pray for the move of God in Nigeria as we remember the hundreds of Christian victims of Nigeria's post-election violence in April 2011. The carnage in 12 sharia states of northern Nigeria destroyed over 700 churches, displaced thousands of Christians in 48 hours and is considered one of the worst attacks on Christendom in contemporary world history.
3) Pray for Iran and Soviet Georgia. The Center in Tbilisi is taking the forefront of ministering the good news and is now training Persian leaders with that vision to reach addicts in a "closed nation."
Recent UNODCP studies confirmed
- 7 million addicted in Iran
- 1 million child addicts
- One addict dies ever 60 seconds in Iran . . .
4)  Assemblies of God World Missions
BELIEVERS IN DANGER: Earlier today, believers in a restricted-access nation were interrogated for their work among the unreached. Please pray specifically that God will make a way for their safe release, and grant protection and strength to the many believers in the area.
5) Please pray for Puerto Rico Teen Challenge as they continue to engage recent administrative changes in the government. There are still tremendous hurdles before them. They have faced some government challenges with regard to certification and funding for the students that are mandated to them from prison. They are doing a powerful job to change lives and we pray that God will give them favor, knowing that the government is not their source, but God is.
6) SIBERIA:The prosecutor could not find any more witnesses against the two former Teen Challenge workers who are on trial. Today was the last court hearing where the prosecutor and our lawyers presented their cases to the judge. Our lawyers did an excellent job defending our brothers by proving that there was absolutely no evidence of any crime. They brought to the attention of the judge that there is an ulterior motive on the side of the prosecutor because he has previously tried to close the program four times which resulted in over 20 court decisions in favor of the TC program.
Still, The prosecutor asked the judge to sentence the brothers to 2 1/2 years. The judge said that on May 17 he will announce his verdict.
Because of the corrupt legal system, our lawyers feel that the judge will favor the prosecutor's side. Please pray for God to give the judge boldness to make an honest decision despite the corruption and pronounce the verdict - not guilty.
Thank you for your faithful prayers! We thank God for you.
Ilya and Janet
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Let's pray for the global advance of the gospel. Pray for workers for the Harvest ...Teen Challenge Centers in 94 countries need staff and we currently have invitations to start Teen Challenge in over 30 nations. They are crying out for help. They need the power of God to meet a pressing social need... but we know it has a SPIRITUAL ROOT.
We offer SPIRITUAL RESOURCES to meet PRACTICAL needs.
MATTHEW 9: 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” |
We are not salaried by Global Teen Challenge.
Your partnership provides the resources
we need
to keep our unfunded international commitments. Because you give, we can go.
We can answer their invitations to come when you invite us to come to your church. CLICK here to help
| If you believe in our ministry, help to keep us wheels up for miracles. Sow seed to launch us to the front lines. |
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