TEEN CBS - Jesus With Skin On
WELCOME to the world of Teen CBS, an amazing opportunity the Lord has given us. Teenagers are hungry for the truth, and that truth is found in the Word of God. The purpose of Teen CBS is to make even the most unlikely teen feel at home in Bible study. We hope to teach them to be self feeders of God's Word so they will not fall for the false teachers that surround them each day. These false teachers come in every imaginable form, from the internet, popular magazines, school, and their peers.
Teens want to know the right path to take and the decisions they make in the next few years will affect the rest of their lives. They want an intimate relationship with Jesus but they need some direction. What an encouragement for teens from Christian homes to have someone come alongside them and reinforce what their parents have repeatedly said to them. If their families are not believers, they need an adult mentor to guide them in understanding the Word.
Six years ago Teen CBS began in Midland, Texas with a brave group of 18 high school students. Now we have approximately 200 teens and 35 leaders. This class will study Revelation , using CBS Condensed curriculum. As this school year begins, Teen CBS classes will start in St. Louis, Missouri; Tampa, Florida; Austin, Texas; San Marcos, Texas; Roswell, New Mexico; and Littleton, Colorado. In addition, groups from Walburg, Texas (a small farming community near Austin); Greenville, North Carolina; Decatur, Alabama; Corsicana, Texas; Bellville, Texas; and Overland Park, Kansas will attend leadership training this fall. Many prayer groups are in the process of meeting weekly and praying that God will raise up leaders so that they can start a class in their area. To these faithful prayer warriors we say, "don't lose heart, persevere!"
We are a Bible study and as we read the Bible we know that the strongholds of sin in our lives are slowly conquered, the blinders fall from our eyes, and our ears are opened so that we hear and understand the Truth. It is a life adventure that is new every morning. The sooner this walk with Jesus begins the better. Teen CBS (TCBS) wants to be Jesus with skin on.
I'd like to offer you a peek into the workings of this new and exciting member of the CBS family where we "present the gospel, and when necessary, we use words." TCBS hopes to hug teens for Jesus through their five senses and through each component of their lives.
Welcome hugs - touch. All are greeted at the door with smiles, hugs, and pats on the back. Greeters are a vital role in getting out the gospel, as they display the loving warmth teens need to come to a relationship with Jesus. This is contagious and the kids tell me that they often recognize someone from TCBS because they give you a big smile - Jesus with skin on.
Food hugs - smell and taste. As they come in the door they are greeted with the smell of cookies baking. (Perhaps all classes should adopt this policy!) There is dinner for those who come from athletics, drivers education, or who are simply tired of fast food dinners. Our kitchen leaders, female and male, we call Betty Crockers. The menu might include turkey and dressing, along with green beans and mashed potatoes, or it may be meatloaf, tacos, hot dogs or burgers. There might be homemade cheesecake baked by my ATD, Bill. The kids who love to visit in the kitchen come early for the best selections and good conversation. It sounds like a lot of trouble but it ministers in an incredible way. It says "I love you," and it is done in the name of Jesus. There is something about breaking bread together that bonds us. Food is a major hug.
Music hugs - sound. As the kids grab their food and find a place to sit on a chair or on the floor, the praise and worship band is playing and several songs begin the opening. Our music man is Russ, who is also a Core Leader. He is in his 20s and knows how to teach the teens to focus on Jesus through music. Teens play the guitar, sing, or play keyboard, using whatever talents they possess. Praising God with song is another area of teaching. It fills their minds with God's message to counteract the world's messages. Our theme song is, "I cast all my cares upon you. I lay all of my burdens down at your feet and anytime I don't know what to do I will cast all my cares upon You."
Prize hugs - sight . We give away a few prizes, from Snickers to CD's, drawing from the names of the kids who have completed their lesson. Their names are put it in a basket to draw out at prize time. It is a positive reinforcement to get their homework done, without pointing the finger and saying "you should do your lesson." Anyway, how many prizes do we get to win in our lives? How awesome to be eligible for a prize and to get to know Jesus by reading His Word. We know that our real prize is a relationship with Christ. With Him in our lives, we are all winners, now and in eternity.
Testimony hugs - spirit. A devotional is given by a leader or a teen (after January seniors give their testimonies). This year our theme will be Your Ministry ...to your parents, teachers, or strangers...your ministry of encouragement, or prayer, or service. The point is everyone has a ministry, teen and adult alike. God has a plan for our lives that begins today, not when high school is over, when we get a new job, have enough money, or when we meet our perfect "soul mate."
The talk hugs - mind and heart. I, or my Associate Teaching Director (ATD), Bill Branson give a ten-minute talk (not lecture). This talk can be part of a drama or whatever props we can use to help them to remember the main point of the passage. For example, when I spoke about temptations, I told them the temptation I struggle with is gossip. I had several teens walk in with an ice chest, and as I spoke, they took out a cow's tongue I had purchased at the grocery store. They began to try to hit people with it. The point was that when we gossip we are really beating people up with our tongue. The audience got the message and no one slept through it! I explained that you do not want to play around with temptations because they lead to sin when they are not addressed. Temptations must be nailed to the cross. I had my helpers nail the cow tongue to a 7-foot-tall wooden cross. They then leaned it in the center back of the stage where the rest of the night focused. I believe they will remember that illustration. It is a way to present thetruth of the Bible and to "entertain" which means to hold their mind.
Isn't that what TV does? Hold the mind? Teaching Directors (TDs) need to hold the mind of their audience.
All of what is thus far mentioned takes place in about 40 minutes. Then we're off for more hugs.
Small group hugs - fellowship. This seems to be everyone's favorite time (well, after the food perhaps!). The groups are gender specific, girls with girls and guys with guys. They love their leaders, who are adults from college age on up to grandparents like myself. The questions are discussed and the group members become the best of friends. Ages are varied so freshmen and seniors get to hear each others answers and thoughts.
Phone call hugs - caring. The Core Leader's phone calls provide encouragement, showing that "someone cares about me and my walk with God, besides my Mom and Dad."
I hope you have enjoyed your glimpse into the world of Teen CBS. All the things I have mentioned are for the purpose of training teens in the Word of God. We give them the Good News in the world of bad news.
Take the time some day to check out what is out there for teens to read. Look through some popular teen magazines. The cover looks so cute, but as you read the articles it will make you sad and angry, and like the shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, it will bring you to your knees. Only Jesus can take care of this mess.
As I began I will end. Teenagers are hungry for the Truth. Jesus said, "I am the Truth." We want to bring Him to them through the study of His Word.
Please pray for the existing Teen CBS classes, and the ones that are brand new and about to start. Pray that they will be strong, and that the teens who attend will come face-to-face with Jesus Christ and His claim on their lives. Pray that they grow in their Christian walk through the study of His Word.
Would you be willing to join a group, or even start a group, to pray for a Teen CBS in your area? Would you be willing to step out and be a part of such an endeavor? Maybe God is calling you to be a Core Leader, a Teaching Director, or Coordinator for Teen CBS. If that isn't up your alley, how about being a greeter, helping in the kitchen or with the music? Is God calling you? Are you listening? Will you be obedient to His call? If not you, then who? If not now, when?
Janice Henry
TD, Midland, TX Teen CBS
National Director, Teen CBS