Teen Challenge Kazakstan Almaty Sept 2002

Teen Challenge Kazakhstan (TCK)

Everything you have seen here has been built by God. When Jesus went to Jerusalem the crowd shouted Hosanna and the donkey thought ‘they really love me here’. I now realise ' I'm the donkey'. 

Doug, TCK Director

In my office, I have many invitations from students. It is exciting to see invitations sent by students for marriage. What is success percentage? It doesn’t matter! If just 1% success it is enough. Human life has no price. This is not just our work, but it is for the whole of Kazakhstan. Go to real lives and make leaders good quality. People who did not desire to go to school; they will go to university and get good profession. Our children will continue this work. When I think like this I cannot sleep'

Chanzi, Treasurer

TCK is first and foremost a spiritual work. It has grown out of the Teen Challenge movement started by David Wilkinson and developed internationally. TCK is an independent organisation, registered as a Humanitarian Fund in Kazakhstan

Doug described the general philosophy in terms of humility, obedience (respect) and Holiness. James 1:21 ‘in humility receive the word implanted which is able to save your soul’. Like many other Christian Drug programmes, TCK is founded on the Jesus’ Nazareth Manifesto (Luke 4:18-20). Setting the oppressed and captives free (Is 61:1) who are called: ‘Oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord (61: 3). But unlike many other rehabs TCK goes on to do the rest - ‘rebuild ancient ruins…. raise up former devastation… repair ruined cities’ (61:4) and ‘strangers will pastor …. and foreigners will be farmers’ (61:5); they will be ‘called priest of the Lord, Ministers of our God’ (61: 6) It is all there in TCK: Detox & Rehabilitation, counselling and discipleship, building and renovation work, foreign leadership, and church mission and ministry.

Doug shared a dream of steering a big ship. He had tried to avoid rocks and beached the ship. Later whilst driving the interpretation hit him - a revelation from God. ‘I have given you a ministry; your job is to steer it. You can’t control its size; you can’t avoid problems, just keep on course. The ship can go over rocks, so don’t avoid them.’ He added that on the beach when he looked up ‘it was a huge container ship some 9 stories high’

TCK has seen remarkable growth! It has grown exponentially over the past few years, so that now there are 9 different programmes serving some 200 recovering addicts. Men, Women and Children, Detox, Rehab and Vocational training, prison ministry, awareness a sports club and other prevention activities And even a School. In all there appear to be roughly 2000 direct beneficiaries and 150 staff. This growth is due to the political and economic environment in Kazakhstan, as well as the vision and drive of Doug and staff. And of course the ‘hand of God’.

It is well respected as the oldest Therapeutic Community (TC) in Kazakhstan. It is therefore positioned to exert great influence. Baroness Cox’s arrival was a great political coup d’etat in that it increased credibility, and demonstrated some political muscle. This appears to have had positive results so far.


I joined the programme in 1996 a drug addict for 15 years, thinking ‘what for am I living?’ One day, sister introduced me to programme. I felt so empty. I was told that in 1½ months, I would be free from drug addiction. I met others who said ‘we are free’. Trust God, trust us, you will change! God came into my heart. My life was empty and hopeless – useless, no joy. I felt I could never change, but now I am happy and have hope I have everything. I have found life and can see a future and have hope. I am so grateful to the programme, to these men.

 

Yerbo, Farm Manager 

I realized, through visiting, that TCK is not a subsidiary of TC-USA International, the MacDonalds of the Drug Rehab world. But TCK is much more autonomous. Although it does use the TC International materials, it is not dependent on the mother organisation. In fact is operating fairly independently. Not so much the MacDonald of the drug rehab world, more a Central Asian ‘Shashlik’

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I was able to attend the Graduation at the end of my visit - a moving affair, opened by children of New Beginnings School singing the National anthem. Kazak and Kyrgyz dancers also preceded the presentations of graduation certificates to various groups. The women’s rehab, refuge and workers. Boy’s and Men’s rehab and workers. TEFL teachers. And more Kazak songs - around 90 people receiving certificates Presided over by Doug with Baroness Cox as the chief guest, brought by Sam, an Iranian from Surrey. She was in Kazakhstan to make representation on behalf of Teen challenge to the President wife and the Mayor of Almaty concerning 3 buildings. Teen Challenge was fighting a court case over the 3 buildings.

Besides a Baroness, they were presented by a local councillor who has supported the programme, a member of the Drug Committee, The Assistant British Ambassador, a representative from British Council (for the TEFL). And I was representing CMS, Tearfund and ISSAC! Certificates were presented to all who were 2 years drug free and also staff who had been through an 18 months training course. It was the ‘piece de resistance’ and the support offered by Baroness Cox was very tangible and timely. Expressions of support have been made by the Kazakh government, for example for the orphans in the Beginnings School. The event was carefully orchestrated - but not ‘over the top’.

It was very helpful for me to get a fuller grasp of the extent of their programme and the high regard with which it is held. Local government was well represented by a man who genuinely supported and appreciated the work. (I spoke to him afterwards). 9 projects were presented - 9 parts of the overall programme in all I wondered if the 9 programmes corresponded to the ship ‘9 stories high’ in Doug’s vision.

I travelled back on KLM with Baroness Cox and Sam, not VIP, or business class, I was pleased to see, but economy class, full of normal, crowded humanity. Lord Longford called her a ‘Christian champion’. Andrew Boyd, in his biography, highlights

‘her concern for the oppressed, the repressed and the vulnerable – those least able to articulate their needs and their rights. Caroline Cox strives with a passion to be a voice for the voiceless, whether on the home front in the United Kingdom or abroad, speaking for the forgotten peoples in forgotten lands’.

Andrew Boyd ‘Baroness Cox: a Voice for the Voiceless’ 

Lion 1998 Pg 435

Addicts, street-kids and battered women in Almaty now consider her such a voice, their very own Baroness. They also have a couple on the ground in Doug & Anna.



From your own correspondent

Amati Sept 2002

A sermon in cloth Sri Lanka May 2002

 A Sermon in cloth

Visit to Emmanuel Memorial Church Maradana, Colombo 10

As part of the ‘Called for Peace Youth Conference’, 3 of the cell groups were attending the 8:30 communion service in order to understand more the Sri Lankan context.

Built in 1912 by a CMS missionary, the Emmanuel Memorial Church has a membership of 110 families and a healthy Sunday morning congregation of 150, plus 50 children. They are Tamil speaking from mainly poor and middle class. This is the congregation of Rev Prince Devanandan who had been such a leading light in our Youth conference.

Bits of the service were translated for our sakes. It felt so familiar even through they were singing in Tamil. The liturgy was the same. A large colourful banner hung behind the pulpit depicting the 'Journey of Faith’. This was produced by the congregation to mark their 90 years of existence. There are 5 references on the banner, which sketch out the direction they want to take, leading to their centenary.
‘Doing the will of God’ (Phil 2: 13)
‘Guarding the faith’ (2 Tim 4:7)
‘Repairing & building relationships’ (Gen 32: 4 & 20)
‘Building up Kingdom of God through evangelising and social service (Act 13 2& 3 Matt 25 31-46)
‘Being persistent in serving others’ (Gal 6:9)
It is a good vision. A whole sermon on cloth

We are asked to bring greetings. I found myself apologising for the Anglican Church - so British in its architecture - and the legacy we had left behind. That forced them all in stiff pews that restrained their own cultural norms and enthusiasm. The people are so warm and friendly. , so Sri Lankan. The church building, so British.

The service finished with children coming for a blessing during the last hymn. They burst out of the pews, joyfully breaking out of all traditions. Rev Prince explained that children are a symbol of the kingdom and a sign of hope for ‘the children of today are the church of tomorrow’. ‘Yes and No’, I thought. They are an integral part of the church of TODAY not just tomorrow. They help us to stop being so adult, so religious. Thank God for children, who do not conform to religious stereotypes – ‘Forbid them not, for such is the kingdom of heaven’

The opening ceremony at the Called for Peace Youth Conference held in Sri Lanka


With their National flags on display, delegates from India and Pakistan pose to celebrate the treaty between the Christian Youth of their Nations. This was a spontaneous event in response to a million soldiers on their national borders, paused on the brink of war, They covenanted to pray and ‘build the bonds of peace’, no matter what happened between their churches and nations. Their overlapping flags are another sermon in cloth – a sermon about the one who breaks down national walls.

from your own correspondent

May 2002

Accross the Lines, Israel-Palestine, Feb 2002

Our CMS delegation was in the Land of the Holy One at a very significant time, a relatively peaceful window of opportunity, before the current high level of violence flared up. We had entered the complexity of this part of what many call the ‘Muddle East’. We had observed, listened to the voices of those we met, heard heartbreaking stories, experienced at first hand what is often reported in black and white. And now we, in turn, report in black and white all that ‘we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked at and our hands have touched… this we proclaim’ (1 John 1: 1) We therefore concentrated on reporting rather than interpreting.

We never did cross the line completely. No-one can. Our partners are mainly Palestinian Christians, ‘Living Stones’ as they are so often called. Institutions we have related to for over 150 years. We did meet with the CMJ reps and also Messianic Believers, but we never did hear the voice of the Russian Emigrant, living in the newly build settlements. However we did meet a young Jewish Zionist, who was demonstrating against the Women in Black. His name was Sloma from Detroit and he was keen to shout out a number of ‘proof texts’ (such as Ezekiel 37:21-27, Ez 48:30, Zeph 8:19, Josh 1: 2-4, Gen 1:14, 12:3, 15:18, 16:12, 17:8, 17:21, 35:10.) With the Israeli flag on his shoulders, he was emphasising his perceived right to return to dwell on land given to Jacob. Expounded his theology of the land, he was possessed with a passion. He listed his grievances -

‘If you say anything against Arafat you will be killed. He is sending young children to the front line as suicide bombers. Theirs is a Muslim mind-set, illogical. They do not think like you and I’.

It is hard to engage with fundamentalism, such passionate believing. I tried to get him to look at scriptures other than the ones he was quoting so fervently - that emphasise justice and mercy and hospitality to the stranger in our midst. (e.g. Micah 6:6 Hosea 6:6) But its difficult to hear when you are shouting.

The Jerusalem Post carried an article on a peace activist, Eliyahu Charanamarit McLean  part of a group that meets facing the western wall every Friday at noon, praying for understanding, tolerance and reconciliation between Palestinians and Israelis. 

'People ask me: Are you right wing or left wing? I reply It takes two wings to fly .... and we can fly when we yearn and work together towards harmony and wholeness, when we speak from the heart and learn to respect each other's differences. Then true peace can come to all of us who are blessed and destined to share the Holy Land together'

CMS is committed to Peace Justice and Reconciliation in the Land of the Holy One. If we are indeed going to fly with this one, then we too need those 2 wings. We need to relate to Palestinian Arab Christians and Messianic Jewish Believers. We also need to emphasise the things that make for Peace, between the three Abrahamic religions. Especially in the City of Peace, where mosque synagogue and church seek to co-exist, as on the tile from the Armenian Pottery that has inspired us all.

from your own correspondent 
CMS Palestine-Israel Delegation February 2002

UPDATES 

for statement see the CMS web archives 

Church group prays through bombing   13/2/02

It takes two wings to fly   Jerusalem Post 

Jerusalem Peace Makers:  Eliyahu Charanamarit McLean