Teen Challenge focus – South Australia.

I have written a number of articles on Teen Challenge and Teen Challenge in Australian in particular. In my last post on the subject I indicated that I would follow up with an analysis of the South Australian Branch.

Please note: Branch in an Evangelical or Pentecostal sense is not the same as that under stood by the rest of the populace.

Branch(Standard): A division of a business or other organization.

Branch(Pentecostal): A division of a business or organisation when there is an advantage to be found, a separate entity when negative legal, financial or media action occurs.

Where to begin – site design?

I don’t like being overly critical of web site design.  I myself have tried my hand at low cost design, however,  the difference in the quality between Teen Challenge QLD and SA is measured in kilometres. 

One looks sleek and professional the other looks like someone cobbled it together in their spare time.  As a result Teen Challenge QLD(TCQ) looks monied up, Teen challenge SA(TCSA) looks very grass roots Christian.

But design aside its not just the look of TCSA that lets it down its the content and it is here we get an indication of the sinister heart that TCQ may hide behind its sleek  veneer.

You see Teen Challenge SA  is wacky, dominionist, christianity and gosh darned proud of it too!

The following is taken from an article written by the now deceased Pastor Morrie Thompson, entitled Wake up Australia (my emphasis in bold).

[We need to] Get serious about the ever growing drug problem. Stiffer penalties for dealers and enforced rehabilitation programs for users. Drug preventative education must start at an early age. Zero drug use can be achieved. Other countries have done it, why can’t we?
· Teach parenting skills to students in primary and high school.
· Teach the value of virginity and monogamous relationships.
· Teach morals, values and ethics.
· Demand a high standard from our public officers and politicians.
· Base all law, education, and judgments on Christian precepts.
This country will never prosper until we realize that we must return to our Christian heritage.  [source]

Funny how Pentecostals never quite define what these precepts are, or if the do they turn out be actually based on either Greek or Germanic thinking.

What they mean to say is make laws favouring christianity (but not all christianity, just ours).

I tell you nothing scares me more than a fascist Christian state.  Germany was one of those in the 1940’s and we all know how that ended.

On the subject of Branches and links between AoG(Assemblies of God) and TC

A letter from the new Director to the Executive of the AOG in South Australia is enlightening and should probably be read in its entirety for the full effect.  Having to read through the multiple references to scripture and "being informed by the god/bible" made my eyes bleed but…YMMV. 

it is crucial for Teen Challenge to continue to be able to work with AOG Churches in South Australia knowing that we are in step with the mission and vision of the leaders of the AOG State Executive.

and further down the letter

As (members)of Southside I feel it is right for me with a clear conscience to submit to you that I put forward to you my name for the “Director” position of Teen Challenge as Constitutionally it is implied in Teen Challenges constitution that the “Director” be a worshipping member of the AOG Church. Therefore, I have a peace in my heart to pursue your blessing for this appointment.

More of this collegial fellowship crap, no link, my a..theist backside!

What are their aims?

Teen Challenge SA aims:

a) seeing the two raven trailers feeding the poor on the road at least six days of the week empowering people from all churches in developing their God given gifts in evangelism.

 
b) Growing the effectiveness of the Teen hope youth suicide prevention lines of Teen Challenge to a point where it becomes well known throughout the community that Teen Challenge is a place that can help young people in any situation where all other avenues have either given up or not responded effectively to youth in crisis.

c) Empowering the newsletter to be a source of encouragement for lay people and ministers throughout SA as well as continuing to assist the profile of Teen Challenge

d) Develop further the use of media outreach to enhance the mission of Teen Challenge and the wider church

e) To assist Morrie in this important time to strengthen the foundations of the Teen Challenge Chapel for future growth and longevity.

f) Most importantly, develop the rehabilitation work of teen Challenge.

Noble no doubt and nothing really untoward.  Mind you why you can’t just help people for the sake of helping is beyond me.

The devil, however is in the detail?

It does get interesting when we get further into the directors plans. 

The raven trailers are to  :

ii. promote the Teen Challenge logo to the public
iii. develop a statistical set of data which can be used to attract funding from the state and federal governments

The Suicide Hotline is seen to:

..promote the Teen Challenge ministry to the general public

..can be a useful source of data information for funding submissions

 

Media ministry will be used to:

To promote the Teen Challenge ministry to the general public and to all levels of Government

There is then a concerted push from the new director to target government funding and the emphasis of the program is not on putting the person first but on making sure they don’t kill themselves, abuse drugs, so that they can become good Christians.

I suppose nothing in this world is free.

Next a look into the Services TC SA provides.

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