Group Studies for New Life in Christ (GSNL) and the Personal Studies for New Life in Christ (PSNL) have been an integral part of the Teen Challenge discipleship ministry for many years. These studies work in partnership to help develop a well rounded program for student discipleship fundamentals. These studies were not designed to be a comprehensive study of the topics they cover, but rather, an introduction to allow the student to gain their spiritual footing.
They have a proven track record for helping Teen Challenge students around the world. They have also impacted family members of Teen Challenge students, students in similar ministries and they have been used in churches across the United States. One former Teen Challenge staff member who went on to pastor a church reports using the GSNL for his Wednesday night Bible study. “They loved it. They thought I was a genius!”, he reported.
Each of the 14 GSNL studies can be completed in 5 class sessions, except for How Can I Know I am a Christian which is designed for 10 class sessions. All the classes can be completed in 15-16 weeks. The length of a typical Teen Challenge induction program is 4 months. As a general rule most centers require students to complete the 14 GSNL studies before allowing them to move on from the induction phase to the training phase of the program. This is a good standard of practice that brings continuity to the Teen Challenge ministry.
The ideal schedule would allow one hour, five days per week for GSNL class and one hour, five days per week for GSNL study time, allowing students the opportunity to read the Student Manual and work on Study Guide assignments.
PSNL contracts are customized for each student, allowing the teacher to address the specific needs of each student. They also create excellent opportunity for the students to be authentic as staff interact on a personal basis with the students. PSNL contracts should begin during the induction phase and continue throughout the training phase of the program. In other words, students could use PSNL contracts the entire length of their stay in the program.
Initial contract address such topics as salvation and self-image. Other contracts can address specific issues such as a healthy family structure, depression, or anorexia. Later contracts can address issues that will help the student reconnect to society and become outward (ministry) focused. When PSNL studies are used as they were designed, I believe they are one of the most effective tools in the Teen Challenge tool box.
Ideally, a Teen Challenge schedule would allow 1½ to 2 hours of PSNL classroom time five days per week.
For Teen Challenge adolescent centers, working GSNL and PSNL into the schedule can be a challenge when trying to meet the requirements for the high-school student’s academics. One possible solution is that the PSNL and/or GSNL can serve as an elective class for the student. Record keeping and grading would, of course, be required. Students would then be able to count the GSNL or PSNL as an elective high school credit.
I believe that giving a student a personal copy of the curriculum is crucial for a many reasons. First, by investing in the student, it conveys that you value the student. Second, they will value the curriculum. Third, it models integrity and Christian values when photocopies of copyrighted materials are not distributed. Fourth, it gives the student a tool they can proudly resource again. I have had many graduates tell me how they have referred back to and studied the GSNL and PSNL curriculum after they graduated from Teen Challenge. They have also used them for devotions with their spouses and children.
