Is the Teen Challenge work program part of the discipleship process?

To this point in our discussion on the Teen Challenge discipleship model we have primarily looked at what we might consider the more “spiritual” aspects, prayer, chapel and the classroom. But our program involves several other key components. One of those is the work program.

The chapels and classroom are very important and lay the foundation to build on. However, we know that people don’t live in a classroom and without real life experience to implement the principles being taught in the chapels and classroom the students are not able to connect what they are learning to reality. That is why all of the other activities the students are involved in are so important. (I will talk about a few of the others in upcoming e-newsletters.) Students need to understand that what they are learning applies to all areas of their lives including their job.

Having biblical beliefs and conduct on the job is an important part of discipleship. In 2006 when I began this newsletter I wanted it to be for all staff members because we are all part of a discipleship team and the work supervisors are part of that team and must see themselves as such. If we are just working the students to get a job done or make money, we have missed something very important in the discipleship process and could be guilty of using if not abusing the students.

How can the work program be intentionally discipleship oriented? Here are a few thoughts to consider:

1. Implementation of goals set in the GSNL and PSNL classrooms. Students are required to set specific life-application goals. Almost all of these goals can usually be accomplished while at work. In fact, many will be work specific. The classroom meets the real world.
   • Occasionally ask a student to quote his scripture or character quality and briefly talk to him about his goals for each.
2. Evaluation and counsel of students with regards to character, conduct and competencies that are important for employment. What most Teen Challenge centers are able to provide is minimal in the area of jobs skills training although some Teen Challenge centers are able to provide actual job skills training. But foundational to job skills are work ethics and basic competencies. And we can all teach these. If these do not exist a student will have a hard time keeping a job even if he does have marketable skills. So therefore they should be stressed. Here are just a few traits to consider evaluating and counseling students on while they are on the job:
   • Response to authority
   • Cooperation; team work
   • Overall attitude toward the job
   • Listening to and following instructions
   • Quality of work; excellence; attention given to detail
   • On time and ready to work; punctuality
   • Personal appearance
   • Taking initiative
   • Carrying his/her fair share of the load
   • Not distracting other students while working (One work supervisor used to say, “If you can’t talk and work, don’t talk.”
   • Following of (or performance as) head student
3. Training. What better place for teaching students what the Bible has to say about work and work ethics than on the job?
   Here is an idea to consider. Highlight a scripture and/or a work related issue for discussion for the week. At the beginning of each work session take five minutes for discussion and training on the topic for that week. Towards the end of the work week have the students share their observations on the topic. A few ideas: integrity on the job, proper relations with the opposite sex on the job, excellence, resolving conflict, working as unto God, etc. (View the pdf mentioned above for more ideas.) With your staff, brainstorm 52 focus topics, one for each week of the year. Be strategic and prepare for each topic. Record each topic in every students discipleship record.
4. Work supervisors taking time for teachable moments. Patiently instruct students in how to do a certain task or in proper behavior.
5. Modeling: speech, work, team work, attitude, conflict resolution, etc. Students are learning a lot more by what you do than what you say. That is just the fact of it. If you are yelling at them, telling them to watch their attitude — oops! Won’t work. Apologizing when you do blow it is great role modeling. Modeling is most likely the most important thing you will do. The truth is you are modeling, no matter what you do. What are you modeling?

“On the job,” in the heat of the action, real life, on the spot discipleship moments are just as important as the classroom. The potential for the impact and initiation of change in students lives is just as likely to occur on the job as it is in the classroom, if proper training, time and patience are involved.

Maybe we can graduate more students like one graduate I had who applied for a construction job and when the foreman told him they didn’t need anyone the student told him that he would be such a good hard working employee that he could hire him and fire two of his current workers!

Hopefully they won’t be like the graduate I had who went to the hospital to apply for a job. He searched through the list of different departments to check which one he would have skills to work in. He later reported there was only one job that he could check on the whole list that he had skills for, “labor and delivery.” (If you don’t get it now you’ll get it later, if not ask someone.)

Think about it –

• Does each work supervisor see the importance of his role in the discipleship process?
• What is one thing you can do this week to improve the discipleship aspect of your work program?
• Develop a strategic plan for work program discipleship.