ETC 2024 CONFERENCE
COMMUNICATING the GOOD NEWS

The 32 European & Asian nations of the strategic international ministry assets of Europe TC gathered in WARSAW, POLAND in May. We were excited to be in Poland with Tom Bremer, Europe Regional Director, Stephan Barendse, Dr Jerry Nance, Ron Brown, Phil Hills and some truly incredible leaders.

As government interference and the pressure to model therapeutic community and secular recovery principles rage, it is a continuing battle for Teen Challenge to maintain the principles of Christ-centered transformation at the heart of TC's success. Country reports and TC Talks (practical teachings on key issues from TC directors) were fantastic.

You shall receive
POWER

Isaiah 21:5 gives a significant command.
“Get up you officers, oil the shields.”
It was a command for Israel to rise up and prepare for the onslaught coming from Babylon. We face the same attacks from our culture in this day and we must be just as prepared to “oil the shield.”

Shields of that day were made of either several thicknesses of leather, or wood covered in leather. The shield demanded attention, because exposed to the elements, the leather tended to get dry and cracked. When the leather was cracked, the flaming arrows of the enemy could lodge in those cracks and the dried leather would burst into flame. This could not be solved on the battlefield, but by careful attention as you prepared for battle, by the generous application of oil rubbed thoroughly into the leather, keeping the shields supple.

There is no less danger in our day-to-day life. Ephesians 6 reminds us of our shield of faith as the enemy’s fiery darts of doubt, compromise, and death surround us. Babylon is still alive and while the attack may be subtle, the danger is just as real. Things once unthinkable now go unquestioned as sin and perversion are no longer recognized as dangers to be avoided but frequently celebrated as heroic.

This brings us to the oil, which is biblically a picture of the Holy Spirit and a reminder that today we need continuous doses of freshly anointed faith.

This week, as we move from Sunday’s Pentecost celebration, we remember the powerful infilling of the Holy Spirit which launched the church. The promise that Jesus gave to them, quoted in Acts 1:8, says
You will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses.
The Holy Spirit fell on that great Pentecost day and transformed men who once ran when tested, cowered behind walls and fear, or wandered in disappointment and disillusionment. They now stood boldly and declared the Good News of the King as 3,000 new believers confessed faith in the resurrected Jesus. (Acts 2:41) By Acts 4:4, another 5,000 became believers.

When we have the presence of Jesus, the power of God’s word, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we will see HIM at work. That is part of what being a witness is ... seeing God at work. The second part is telling what HE has done, not only in our victories, but in betrayal, our failure and even disappointments. AS we are continually filled with the Holy Spirits we WILL BE witnesses of HIS power and promise

In Ephesians 5:18, Paul reminds us, Do not be drunk with wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Literally -- continually "be being filled." Later, in Ephesians after, the instructions for the whole  armor of God, the apostle Paul closes in Eph 6:18 reminding us to Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayer and requests.

Have you ever thought ... I'm not smart enough ... I'm not strong enough ... I'm not good enough? In the end we conclude, "I am not enough." Well, even if you are not enough, when you have Jesus in your heart you have more than enough.

Every day we are bombarded with lies that try to convince us that we don't have what it takes to follow Jesus. Every time we mess up, insecurity reaches out to tell us that we will always be weak and will never have the freedom Jesus promised. Those are the fiery arrows of the enemy.

Has your shield grown brittle, cracked or dry? It is time to be be immersed-- baptized--in HIS SPIRIT? Let God's love work the oil of the Holy Spirit into the cracks in your shield, into your broken wounded heart. He loves you and has a tremendous plan. He can not only do more than you ask.
He WILL DO more than you CAN ASK OR IMAGINE.

JUNE 24 - JULY 1,2024
TC ALBANIA,
Orges Hysenaj

JULY 1-5, 2024
TC SLOVENIA,
Matjaz Horjak
tentatively
TC /MACEDONIA/ Balkans,
Jonatan Vlaisavljevi

SEPTEMBER 4 - 18, 2024
MISSION SOS
Lubumbashi, DRC Congo
Johannes Amritzer

SEPTEMBER 22 - 28, 2024
The Fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelisation
Seoul, S. Korea

OCTOBER 2024
Côte d'Ivoire
Dr. Emmanuel & Angela Ekezie
details pending

OCTOBER 25-NOVEMBER 15, 2024
GTC West Africa Sub-Regional Conference and Curriculum Training Oct 30 Nov 2
David Omih, Dr Jacobus Nomdoe

NOVEMBER 12-15, 2024
Peniel NIGERIA AG General Council

PENDING INVITATIONS

working on logistics now

Sudan, Lebanon, Haiti, Romania, Slovenia, & Belarus

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1) TC EUROPE

Please pray for our Teen Challenge staff, students Centers across Europe.

For the TC coffeehouse and centers in Ukraine that are still ministering despite the war that continues to rage.

For Teen Challenge Romania and other ministries as they cross the border to carry food and supplies into Ukraine.

For Teen Challenge Moldova as they complete their new building, Continuing violence in Azerbaijan and Armenia,

For Teen Challenge Lebanon as they prepare to open their men’s program

For Teen Challenge Soviet Georgia as they deal with restrictions imposed by new legislation that was recently passed Please pray for our Teen Challenge family around the world.

Soviet Georgia as the impact of the new law are being felt across ministries in that nation, and for Israel.

2) PRAYER for ISRAEL !

For those who continue to do ministry there at great risk. For the refugees, the children, the lost, and the hostages. Lord by your grace may you bring about victory for your people chosen and set aside for your purposes. May your promise to Abraham, come to pass in this hour

3) PRAYER for LIFE-and those who sacrifice.

Pray for Lauren Handy A pro-life activist found guilty of violating federal law for attempting to prevent late-term abortions of unborn babies at the D. C.-based Washington Surgi-Clinic facility has been sentenced to 5 years in prison. She and 9 other pro-life activists sang, prayed out loud, locked arms in front of the facility's staff entrance to "delay the murder of kids."

The group was charged last August by the Biden Justice Department with conspiracy to interfere with civil rights and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.

Before the ruling Handy released a statement saying she was "at peace with myself and my future."

"It has been close to 9 months since I was abruptly ripped from my community," she wrote. "This has led me to think long and hard about what to say about my sentencing today in federal court. Some drafts were angry and righteous while most were just a tear-stained longing for my loved ones back home. Yes, this time has been challenging but I refuse to be jaded. Why? Because life goes on… even in jail. So I might as well continue to love and cry and scream and dance. That is joy." 

4) FOR TC BURUNDI

For Teen Challenge Burundi (East Africa) as they complete the building of their training center and prepare for opening in late June. They still need beds, mattresses, furnishings and many other items as they prepare to open this new center. The construction of this facility has been nothing short of miraculous as Burgundy is one of the poorest countries in Africa and got a supernaturally provided roofing, bricks and even when the rains destroyed the structure when they could not get it roofed in the students have pulled together to rebuild those walls and stay on track.

5) Healing Prayer

Cathy & I appreciate your prayers as I continue to battle. I've recovered from my recent eye surgery. Some of you know I fell down the steps in Poland but my shoulder and knee are improving every day and we are excited to move forward on our upcoming missions. The enemy cannot stop us! We are trusting God for full recovery of my lungs. Doctors are still unable to identify a protocol to eradicate the parasites in my lungs, I will have my next CT Scan in July. They may not know, BUT GOD KNOWS.

So grateful that "Jehovah Has the Final Say!" By HIS STRIPES I AM HEALED!

6) Mission SOS Lubambashi Congo, DRC

7) VISION & WISDOM

Please pray for wisdom for our travel schedule through 2024.  Thanking God that He will lead, guide and order our steps to the places He wants us to be.

We appreciate those who pray for us. As you have seen from the schedule, we face an incredible challenge with the number of trips back to back this year. But the opportunities were so significant and ministry needs were so compelling that we really felt led to step out in faith. Please pray that the Lord will speak to the hearts of people who will help to sponsor these flights.

8) IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S WORD . . .

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” --- 1 Timothy 2:1-4 NASB