TEENS FOR CHRIST ®

TEENS FOR CHRIST
®
&
“Turning teenagers into fully committed followers of Jesus Christ”
OCTOBER 2014
THE MARROW AND METTLE OF THE MINISTRY
From TFC President, Buck Sutton
I
A unique event is taking place THIS SATURDAY ,
WHEN: This Saturday, Oct. 4, 7:30am
October 4th: it’s the first-ever “BattleRun”! Unlike
your average 5k or fun run, this race is military-style
Where: Heritage Park, Shawnee
and obstacle-filled; better yet, it is designed to raise
Who: You! And anyone you can invite!
money for mission work around the world - TFC
Cost: $25 adults; $15 youth
national and international! Each participant can
choose which branch of the ministry he or she would
like to run for!
BattleRun is being conducted on the Rotary Riverwalk, beginning
at Heritage Park to Fort Amanda Road and will loop back - a 3.4 mile paved
course. There are five obstacles and a few surprise challenges and activities
planned throughout the course. You can observe others negotiating the
obstacles or join in on the challenge (each obstacle completed earns
additional money for your mission); this is also a run/walk event. People of
all ages and levels of athleticism can participate!
Registration opens at 7:30am this Saturday
morning at Heritage Park - don’t miss it!
f our core values are said to serve as
the foundation for our ministry, then it
could also be said that these two would
be the cornerstone of that foundation. A
cornerstone is that piece which is laid
first and therefore gives reference for not
only the rest of the foundation but, ultimately, for the entire building. I’d like to
single out and define these two: Christ-centeredness and
God’s glory.
It might seem obvious that a Christian ministry would
be “Christ-centered”; it’s in the name, it should come
with the territory. But being a Christ-centered ministry is
so much more than just our name. Christ is the heart, the
core, the DNA; He is the reason we live and serve, so it
only makes sense that everything our ministry seeks to do
would point to Him.
When I say “everything,” I really mean it.
We not only want to introduce Jesus to teens as their
Savior, but as someone worthy of their life’s worship. He
is worthy to be served with our whole hearts and minds;
He is who we strive to be like, to think like, and to love
like. So if it’s a TFC chapter meeting, the focus is Christ.
If it’s Boot Camp, the theme is Christ. If it’s our
Converge conference, the emphasis is Christ. If it’s a
prayer meeting, a retreat,
one of our internships,
our high school ministry
team, our Harvest
Banquet - it must all
come back to Christ!
We take our responsibility for the ministry
God has given us very seriously. To shift any of the
focus away from Christ, for any
reason, would not only be disobedient our calling, but
would be a great disservice to the countless teens the
Lord has allowed us to reach. Most of all, I believe we
would lose power and credibility; a spiritually watereddown ministry is no different than any secular
organization out there. Christ is what sets us apart from
the world. Christ is
the one who has the
power to
transform lives.
This easily brings
me to our next value: EVANGELISM & DISCIPLESHIP
“God’s glory”.
GOD’S WORD
God does not share
his glory with anyone,
PRAYER
and rightfully so.
EVERY ORGANIZATION IS
KNOWN FOR SOMETHING.
WE WANT TO BE KNOWN
BY THESE CORE VALUES.
TEENS FOR CHRIST
CORE VALUES:
CHRIST-CENTEREDNESS
GOD’S GLORY
Continued on page 2
Continued from page 1
When we recognize who God is
(insofar as our minds can
comprehend), we have no choice
but to give the credit where it is
due. We cannot claim the growth,
conversions, and miracles we have
witnessed as a result of ourselves
and our own work! Only God can
move those mountains - and when
He does, we want to take every
opportunity to praise and proclaim
Him!
Without the Lord’s favor, power,
and provision, our efforts will fall
flat. Could a ministry reaching just 30 teens each week in Lima, Ohio 15 years ago
grow to where it is today without Him? It’s out of the question! We couldn’t take the FOR NO ONE CAN LAY ANY
credit, even if we tried. But that’s not to say our staff doesn’t recognize the danger
FOUNDATION OTHER THAN
which lies in the temptation to take credit for TFC’s successes. As humans, we
have to fight hard for authentic humility;
THE ONE ALREADY LAID,
upholding a Christ-centered focus and culture of servanthood goes against the grain
WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST.
of our nature and our
culture. The reality of who we
1 CORINTHIANS 3:11
are and who God is must be
kept in front of our ministry passionately and intentionally.
In my position, I view keeping our core values right at our
core as my utmost priority and responsibility. They must be
engrained in each of us serving in TFC, from the top down. I
don’t mean “engrained” in a legalistic sense - I mean it in an
identity sense. It’s who we are. It’s what we live. And
ultimately, it will be what we leave behind for generations to
follow. I firmly believe the success of TFC will not be found
in the sheer numbers, rather it will be found in the fruit it
bears, both now and years into the future.
Being grounded in God’s Word, disciplined in Prayer,
driven to Evangelize and Disciple, focused on Christ, and doing it all for the Glory of God - that’s what we’re here to do. I believe that is how
BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM teenagers will be turned into fully committed followers of Jesus Christ and I believe they will go on to impact the whole world for Him!
AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS,
I hope that our four-part series on the core values of TFC this year has helped
you
to see a little bit more of who we are and what we are doing. I also hope that
AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL in some
way, it has spurred you on in your own faith.
BE GIVEN TO YOU AS WELL.
Thank you for your prayers and support. The Lord has blessed us with a continuously growing network of
MATTHEW 6:33
godly people with the same
heart for teens as ours. In spite
of that supportive network, we are constantly begging the Lord to
send us more laborers for his work, nationally and internationally.
We are following his lead on expansion - and the fields are filled
with the harvest! We need more men and women who are willing
to partner with us as staff, volunteers, interns, financial supporters, prayer warriors, and mentors. Consider if that may be you!
To Him be the glory! 
AND HE IS NOT SERVED
BY HUMAN HANDS AS
IF HE NEEDED ANYTHING.
RATHER, HE HIMSELF
GIVES EVERYONE LIFE
AND BREATH AND
EVERYTHING ELSE.
ACTS 17:25
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UPCOMING EVENTS
OCTOBER
4th - Battle Run 5k, Heritage Park in Lima,
7:30 am registration (more info on page 4!)
12th - Ministry Team at Delphos Trinity UM,
211 E. Third St., Delphos, 10:30am service
26th - Ministry Team at Westminster UM,
6650 Faulkner Rd., 10:30am service
NOVEMBER
13th, 14th, and 15th - Harvest of Blessings Banquet, 6:30pm each night, hosted
by TFC at Grace Community Church 4359 Allentown Rd.- mark your calendars
now!
30th - Ministry Team at County Line
Church of the Brethren, 4227 N. Hardin
Rd., 10:30am service
Local Senior High Chapters
* Allen East Sr...Mon., 7pm
9520 Harrod Rd., Harrod
* Bath Sr….Tues., 7pm
1097 Fett Ave., Lima
* Bluffton Sr. High...Thurs., 7pm
8905 Columbus Grove Rd., Bluffton
* Delphos Sr….Tues., 7pm
901 Wildcat Lane., Delphos
* Elida Sr….Mon., 7pm
1550 Elida Rd., Lima
* JDC...Fri., 6:30pm
* Lima Sr….Thurs., 7pm
1550 Elida Rd., Lima
* Perry Sr….Mon., 7pm
801 Bellefontaine Ave., Lima
* Shawnee Sr….Tues., 7pm
4455 Shawnee Rd., Lima
* Spencerville Sr….Tues., 7pm
105 N. Mulberry St., Spencerville
* St. Marys Sr….Mon., 7pm
16493 St. Marys Rd., St. Marys
* Wapak Sr….Thurs., 7pm
16210 Buckland River Rd., Wapak
Local Junior High Chapters
* Allen East Jr...Mon., 7pm
9520 Harrod Rd., Harrod
* Bath Jr….Mon., 7pm
1097 Fett Ave., Lima
* Elida Jr….Mon., 7pm
2264 N. Cable Rd., Lima
* Northland...Thurs., 6:30pm
1698 N. Main St., Lima
* Shawnee Jr….Tues., 7pm
501 Honeysuckle Bd., Lima
* Spencerville Jr….Tues., 7pm
215 W. 4th St., Spencerville
* Wapak Jr….Thurs., 7pm
1100 Defiance St., Wapak
* St. Marys Jr….Thurs., 7pm
15804 Lambert Rd., St Marys
Questions about chapters?
Call our office!
419-224-8336
Another successful TFC Golf Outing is in the books! This annual
event raises thousands of dollars for ministry work going on right
here in our backyards and overseas as well. Every dollar counts
toward reaching nearly 240,000 teenagers, each week, with the Gospel!
Whether you played, sponsored, or donated, THANK YOU! Your
support makes it possible for the work to continue and grow! We are
already looking forward to next year. Special thanks to Floyd, Drue,
Wendy, and Luke at Bluffton Golf Club.
AFLAC Insurance - Jim Conrad
Ameriprise Financial - Doug Sutton
Arby’s, Elida Road Lima
Auntie Anne’s Pretzels
AXA Financial Services - Jon K. Doan
B’s Mowing, Lawncare, & Landscaping
Begonia Computers Sevices, LLC
Bluffton Golf Club
Cappie Sportswear
Cinnabon
Dan Sutton - Insurance & Tax Savings
East of Chicago Pizza
Elida Machine & Tool
Fat Cat Diner
Fat Jack’s Pizza
Frank’s Car Wash
Bruce & Teresa Fuhrman
Golden Coral
H.I. Properties, LLC
Halker Drywall and Plastering, Inc.
Hartsock Realty
The Hen Shack
Holmes Improvements, LLC
International Tank Service
Kenny’s Auto Wrecking
Lima Tank Wash, Inc.
Lock 16, Cable Rd. Lima
Miller Brothers Tire Service
The Neighborhood Relief Thrift Store
Northmoor Golf
Proforma - Add-A-Line
Quick As A Wink
R. Keith & Connie Callahan
R.L. Ditto & Associates
Spencer’s Custom Flooring
Spartan Nash
Texas Roadhouse
Tom Ahl Family Dealerships, Lima & Findlay
WTGN Christian Radio
West Central Ohio Podiatry
Westgate Lanes
Westwood Barber
Yogurt UR Weigh
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