| A Word Of Encouragement Goes a Long Way |
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Your words of encouragement can make a world of difference to your sponsored student who is struggling to complete the 12 month program at Teen Challenge. Send a card on their birthday, Christmas or Easter and especially on their graduation day from Teen Challenge. To those who are already sponsors, have you thought about writing to your student? You don’t have to write a novel – just a few sincere words of encouragement might be the very thing that keeps that young person in the program. As it is written of Paul the Apostle: “…He gave constant encouragement, lifting their spirits and charging them with fresh hope.” (1Thess. 2:9)Sarah Masci sponsors seven students and is an active volunteer. She writes to every student every month and offers some advice on writing to your student: "At first, I thought Oh no! I have to write letters? I’m so bad at writing that stuff. It took me a while to get started, but I realized that this is ministry. It’s not just here’s some money you take care of it, but now I have a portion in this. And what a blessing that portion is." "I write to let them [the students] know that somebody who doesn’t know them cares and prays for them. I just really want to be that person that’s speaking from the heart, from the experiences that I have. Be honest. Be authentic. Encourage them." Letters impact students: “I keep a bag in my drawer of all the letters and cards I’ve received. It’s because of you guys [sponsors] that we’re all standing here.” Mitch “I have a shoebox of letters from sponsors, it won’t even close – from people who don’t even know me.” Josh “The cards that come in from sponsors, and this person doesn’t even know me, but they love me because they know God can save.” Keegan “Thank my heavenly Father for finding me, for the sponsors that He has spoken to [who wrote me] that came at just the perfect time.” Terry Fay Rowe, award-winning author and long-time Teen Challenge sponsor was surprised to learn at a recent graduation that she could write to her student. “I was inspired tonight. I heard about people writing notes and letters so I’m going to have to go out and be more diligent about that.” To write to your student, send a letter to your student in care of the Teen Challenge centre they're at. Click here for a list of Teen Challenge locations. Watch for details coming soon to send letters via the Internet. |
