Hi again. Well, I did not reach my goal of blogging for a few days in a row! Just don't know where time is going and every day seems to speed by. Crazy. In the last week we have been zipping up and down the motorway in Scotland meeting people and presenting the Sefton Village report and vision. I wanted to bring a constant stream of blogs about all different things, but it seems as if I am just giving a weekly report! Anyway, here's what's been going on. 
* Last Friday was a busy day. Mary's mum & dad were here and we had a great time. I was invited by my brother Paul to take the chapel service at the Teen Challenge Rehab Centre in Sunnybrae. Paul works there and is doing an incredible ministry. I am so proud of him. A good friend of mine called Kenny Ross also work there and I was so blessed by what he is also doing. I was instantly amazed at the sheer beauty of the place. They have built 3 new bungalows for the guys in rehab and the gardens are spectacular. I saw the handiwork of Paul everywhere! He is responsible for training the guys for work. I took the chapel service and shared my story with them as well as the vision of Sefton. Really felt the presence of God. One guy was really touched by the Lord and I had the honour of leading him to Christ. I ended up praying for everyone in the room. Definitely a God-moment!
In the afternoon I came home and whisked Mary and the kids to the Birthday of a lovely little girl called Shannon. She is the daughter of my best friend Mark (Ben) Ritchie and she has become very friendly with oor Lydia!
At night, we spoke and shared at the Fraserburgh AoG's kids club - GLO! What a joy to see around 200 kids enjoying a great night where Jesus is the centre. Lisa Ruth, the local Children's pastor is doing an amazing work there. * On Saturday we drove down to the Central Belt to a tiny village called Fauldhouse, where our ex-agents and good friends Keith & Anne Pointon stay. What a journey ... fog as thick as treacle. Glad to get there.
Sunday was a busy but great day. We had arranged to meet Matthew and Claire Kerr with their beautiful daughter Madeline. The picture of them was taken by Lydia!! They are from Shetland and they came with us on our travels on the Sunday. We went to Livingston AoG, led by Pastor Peter Cochrane. Tell you what, I love the people there. They have always been behind us in so many ways. Had a great service and felt the presence of God.
Went back to Keith & Anne's for a bite to eat and drove in mid-afternoon to our friends Thomas & Grace Lewis in Paisley. Guess what, more food! They went with us to East Gate Church (AoG) in Elderslie, Glasow, led by Arthur & Linda O'Malley (above). Their building is an old church that Arthur and the team have completely renovated. It is the most beautiful church building I have ever seen. Had a great service there and people really touched by what God is doing in the Philippines. We were so blessed! * Monday - did some practical admin stuff at Norman & Gillian's house. Spent rest of day with the Kerr family. Went to amazing soft play area in Livingston. Great place - parents sit down and eat, drink & talk ... and the kids run around silly. Met close friends Davis & Jenny Thomson at night and went to theirs for dinner.
* Tuesday - said goodbye to Kerrs and spent morning & most of afternoon with Steve and Molly Ritchie from Musselburgh. Had great time catching up. They are going to Sefton to cover for us in November and they have helped us so much. Spent rest of day with Keith & Anne.
* Wednesday - MEDICALS!!!!! Spent most of day at Care for Mission in Musselburgh. All four of us had medicals an wee Lydia & Josiah did great getting their injections for their blood tests. Mary doing well but the Doctor told me some news that I was not expecting ... I'm overweight! What a shock (not)! Seriously, I know I have to shed a stone or five! Aaagggh!
After medicals went for a lovely meal at a local Brewers Fare. Diet starts tomorrow! The last Supper was great. Drove back up to Fraserburgh, waiting an hour at Forth Road Bridge!!! Patience mark.
Tonight, went to Powerhouse Kids Club at the Elim Church. My brother David is the leader of Powerhouse and is doing an incredible ministry - not only on a Friday night, but he is pouring his life into so many young people's lives. So proud of David and I know that there are great days ahead for him.So here we are, back in Fraserburgh. Guess what? Tomorrow morning we are driving down to the Central Belt again... feel like a long distance driver! On Sunday morning we are at All Nations in Edinburgh and in the evening we are at the Bridge Centre, Musselburgh. Never mind, we have a wee holiday next week with the Ritchie clan, so it should be great.
Will be back soon .. take care!
7 comments:
Bonifay, FL (West FL Teen Challenge Boys Ranch) regularly has volunteers, typically retirees who come and help out around the place living in RVs on site.
Here's a first hand account.
http://billanddolly.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/florida-bound/
Karly Cordaloni,
http://teenchallengecult.blogspot.com/
This is a biased anti-TC website which censors positive feedback for the organization.
User comments that are favorable to TC are deleted.
This is a proven fact.
My son has been enrolled at Teen Challenge Bonifay since June 2006. It has been a rewarding and life changing experience for him. He had a two-week Christmas visit and a two-week "re-entry" visit back home with family. His reactions to situations and demeaner are entirely different than when he first enrolled and he is returning to the son we knew and loved as a child.
The ranch is regularly monitored by county agencies and suprise inspections are frequently carried out without incident. This is a military style camp with firm strict rules, but my son has flourished with the consistency and discipline with love.
I could not see sending my son to a facility that would use drugs to control him nor could I see the benefit of a psychobable facility to rationalize his behaviour.
This is just what he needed to get his head screwed on straight. There is a proper amount of discipline blended with classroom, bible study and mentorship. As students progress through the program and show improvement they are given the opportunity to lead and mentor the newer students.
Its not a facility with ex-military drill instructors harrassing the boys 24/7. Its Christian men held to high standards of integrity and peers of the boys who have demonstrated a level of trust and accountability. There are also a number of ladies in teaching and facilitating roles.
Further, the students are kept busy with regular chores and exercise. This is a working farm and they do supply some of their own food items. Its a good way to give a young man some responsibility and have him gain self-worth through accomplishment.
There is also free time for swimming or fishing in the lake, playing board games, chess, table tennis, weight lifting, horse riding, reading, etc. My son is teaching himself to play the accoustic guitar.
The students are rewarded for acheiving school goals with field trips. My son has gone deep-sea fishing on a coulple of occasions, for example. During the yearly rodeo, in town, a large number of the boys are allowed to attend. There are opportunities for community service and missions trips both in the states and outside the U.S.A. as well.
Yes, the phone calls are monitored via speaker-phone. I haven't seen the need to discuss anything that couldn't be overheard by a dorm full of boys and I've never been cut off.
My son is in the best shape emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually that he has ever been.
All in all, its a great program.
For those trying to make a decision about sending a loved one to Teen Challenge, voluntarily entering the program, or entering under court order.
Resource clearing house and place for testimonials both favorable and not.
http://vocalizeinprint.blogspot.com/2007/07/teen-challenge-experiences.html
I would like to point out that the above four posts by 'anonymous' and the post by "Not of This World' are all being posted by the same exact same person. How do I know this? Because I have seen the exact same posts in the exact same order on many websites that mention Teen Challenge.
Teen Challenge may help some to recovery but please remember the teens who have been scared by this program or lack of one.
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