“I can’t do this!” A student told me this when he came into my office crying one day. He came to with tears rolling down his face to tell me he was leaving. I looked at him and in a happy voice said, “Great! I am glad that you have finally come to that realization.” He looked at me startled. We ALL must come to the place in our lives where we realize that in our own strength we can not overcome sin and live a holy life. We can’t be good enough. I can’t save myself. It is not within my reach; not within my capabilities. “I can’t do this!” That is where God is, at the end of myself.

I believe John 15:1-17 admonishes us that we must remain in that same state of mind and heart even as a tenured staff member: without Him, I can’t do this. It requires His life flowing in and through us.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”     – John 15:5

The theme for this year’s Teen Challenge National Conference is: Connect to God. It is critical that to be effective in ministry we, as staff members, must be connected to the vine. In the months leading up to the National Conference some newsletters will focus on our personal connection to God, our spiritual life and health. Out of our abiding in Him, true ministry will flow. “….apart from me you can do nothing,” but in Him….!