Developing an
Awesome
TLT Program
Carl Rodriguez
Chesapeake Conference of SDA
Barna, George. 1995. Generation Next: What you need to
know about today’s youth
“after studying patterns of faith for years, our research
leads to a similar prognosis: if children are not reached
with the gospel by age 13, the chances of their accepting
the gospel after that point are greatly reduced.” – pg. 30.
“In fact, if we stretch the age frame to 8 through 13 years of age, that
six-year stretch of time defines when roughly half of all Americans
made their decisions to become true Christians. In other words, by the
time students enter high school, the odds of accepting Christ as Savior
are radically reduced.” -- Pg. 79
Barna, George. 1995. Generation Next: What
you need to know about today’s youth
“If a person is ever going to become a
Christian, the chances are great that he or
she will do so before reaching the age of
18. About three-quarters of all people who
have consciously, intentionally, and
personally chosen to embrace Jesus Christ
as their Savior did so before their 18th
birthday.” – pg. 77
De Vries, M. 1994. Family-based youth
ministry
“Most young people who disaffiliate with the church
do so by the time they have become sixteen years
old. Research confirms that those youth who drop
out of the church do so not when they go for college,
as is often assumed, but while they are still in high
school.” – pg. 24
The crisis is that we are not leading teenagers to
mature Christian Adulthood.” – pg. 26
De Vries, M. 1994. Family-based youth
ministry
“When young people grow up to be reactive
Christians adults, they are constantly waiting for
someone or something to attract them, to involve
them, to impress them, A reactive Christian puts
the responsibility for his spiritual life on someone
else.” – pg. 27
Spiritual
Reactive Approach
Entertainment
The Seesaw or Fast Track Approach
Discipleship is not for wimps
A weakness - the Fast Track Approach
The accession of members who have not been
renewed in heart and reformed in life is a source of
weakness to the church.
This fact is often ignored. Some ministers and
churches are so desirous of securing an increase of
numbers that they do not bear faithful testimony
against unchristian habits and practices.
Discipleship is not for wimps
A weakness - the Fast Track Approach
Those who accept the truth are not taught
that they cannot safely be worldlings in
conduct while they are Christians in name.
{Ev 319.3}
The Discipleship Funnel Approach
The Funnel of Disciple-ship
Come Level – they come for the fun, girls, friends
Grow level - they tolerate spiritual things as they have fun
Disciple Level – take the initiative for their spiritual growth
Develop Level - willing to help other people grow
Multiplier Level – become leaders to help others come
The Non-Neutral Environment
Approach
Pros and Cons of NNE's
• Pros • Cons
• You don’t know the results • You can go too far.
• Youth like to mix things up
• Youth are energized
• You can inspire others
"Young people come alive when there's
a change from what is predictable.
In fact, you don’t create NNE's for
young people, they will create non-
neutral environments for you."
Case & Cisneros
Breakout Time
Explain why the
discipleship and NNE
approaches are important
for TLT ministry.
God Positioning System (GPS)
Your role as a leader
Eph. 4:11-16
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles,
some to be prophets, some to be
evangelists, and some to be pastors and
teachers,
Introduction to the Essentials
God Positioning System (GPS)
Your role as a leader
Eph. 4:11-16
12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so
that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all
reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the
Son of God and become mature, attaining to the
whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Introduction to the Essentials
TLT Essential I – Help our TLT’s find their Gifts
Youthful talent, well organized and well trained, is
needed in our churches. The youth will do something
with their overflowing energies. Unless these energies
are directed into right channels, they will be used by
the youth in a way that will hurt their own spirituality,
and prove an injury to those with whom they
associate.-- Gospel Workers, p. 211. {ChS 30.4}
TLT Essential I – Help our TLT’s find their Gifts
God's Plan in a Diversity of Gifts.--In all the Lord's
arrangements, there is nothing more beautiful than His plan
of giving to men and women a diversity of gifts. The church
is His garden, adorned with a variety of trees, plants, and
flowers. He does not expect the hyssop to assume the
proportions of the cedar, nor the olive to reach the height of
the stately palm. Many have received but a limited religious
and intellectual training, but God has a work for this class to
do if they will labor in humility, trusting in Him. --Letter 122,
1902. {Ev. 98.3}
TLT Essential II – TLT’s are to Go
Matthew 28:18-20 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to
me.19 Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with
you always, to the very end of the age.” (NIV)
TLT Essential II – TLT’s are to Go
We have an army of youth today who can do much if they are
properly directed and encouraged. We want our children to believe
the truth. We want them to be blessed of God. We want them to
act a part in well-organized plans for helping other youth.
Let all be so trained that they may rightly represent the truth, giving
reason of the hope that is within them, and honoring God in any
branch of the work where they are qualified to labor – EGW (GC
Bulletin, ?Vol. 5, no. 2, pg. 24 [Jan. 29, 30, 1893])
TLT Essential III
TLT’s Need Mentors and Discipleship
The youth need more than a casual notice, more than an
occasional word of encouragement. They need
painstaking, prayerful, careful labor. He only whose
heart is filled with love and sympathy will be able to
reach those youth who are apparently careless and
indifferent. Not all can be helped in the same way. God
deals with each according to his temperament and
character, and we must co-operate with Him.
TLT Essential III
TLT’s Need Mentors and Discipleship
Often those whom we pass by with indifference, because
we judge them from outward appearance, have in them
the best material for workers, and will repay all the
efforts bestowed on them. There must be more study
given to the problem of how to deal with the youth, more
earnest prayer for wisdom that is needed in dealing with
minds. --EGW (Gospel Workers, p. 208, paragraph 1)
Break Out
Why are 3 TLT
Essentials important?
1- Helping them find their gifts
2- Teaching them to Go
3- Find superb mentors and
people who understand
discipleship
The Yearly Programs for TLT’s
1) September & March Training – for certification
2) I Tell – learning new areas for Mission & Service
3) I Serve – Helping during the Adventurer Family Weekend
4) I Splash – Fun event for those who serve
(Hershey Park of Neito-ville)
I-Tell I-Serve
I-Splash I-Train
The Whole Group Discussion Time
Why are the 4 - I’s Important
In a TLT Program
1) I-Tell
2) I-Serve
3) I-Splash
4) I-Train
Summary
1- We looked at 3 approaches to TLT Ministry
2- We looked at the 3 Essentials for TLT Ministry
3- We looked at the 4 – I’s for TLT Ministry
Now Go make your TLT Ministry Awesome!
