My name is Terrance Nelson. I am twenty-six years old, and I completed the Teen Challenge program in January of 2011. February of 2011 is when I began my internship. During my program and internship I've been stretched. From the internship being extended from six months to one year and adding TCMI. At first I was nervous, but determined. I am a firm believer that God is a God of completeion. No matter what changes occur He desires that we complete what He has started. I'm proud to say that I have made it the full year and through all the TCMI classes.
My favorite class has been the Lead Like Jesus course. It taught me a lot about stopping and reevaluating my motives and techniques of leading. I admit for the beginning of my internship I was on a power trip and all about control. Through the course of the year I've stopped myself and reminded myself to not control like Terrance, but to lead like Jesus. That is what He has called us interns and staff members to do.
Going throught the internship program, it is possible to lose sight and passion for the calling on our lives. The Wild Goose Chase, couldn't had come at a better time. This book revamped my chase for more of Him. It was a challenge to slow down throughout the day and seek opportunities that the Holy Spirit wanted to use me in. We get so caught up at times, in the business of the day that we forget to look for the fulfillment in the day, which is being used by God. The Bible says, "...Live a life worthy of your calling." That means that we have to slow down and remember to "pick up the phone and answer the call."
As being an intern at the Spokane Men's Center, I got a great pleasure to not only be discipled in leadership, but also in armor bearing. God's Armor Bearer was a very powerful piece of material that showed me the importance of protecting our leaders. It's easy to feel like we are expendable, but this class taught me that we are a weapon in Teen Challenge. Not only are we used for the offensive tactics, but the defensive. We are called to make the burdens of our leaders as light as possible, not to be burdens. A tip for present and future interns: if your leader is putting more time and effort into your program than his job, there's a problem, and the problem is not them. Interns, we got to start supporting those who support us. There is no, "not my job" mentality in Teen Challenge. There is only total team.
Finally, the last book came at great time in my life. Boy Meets Girl is a blessing with no disguise. At about the same time the book came in, I began to court a wonderful young woman that God has put into my life. It was as if God was saying, "Terrance honor me and watch how I honor you." I am now understanding and being guided into a pure and disciplined relationship.
Thanks be to God and Teen Challenge for the guidance and leadership I have experienced in this last year. If there's anything I could leave with those who are reading this it would be this:
"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free."Ephesians 6:5-8
Thank you for everything, Teen Challenge Pacific Northwest and Teen Challenge Ministry Institute,
-Terrance D. Nelson