In early February, thirty church leaders attended Living Free training workshop in this capital city of the Republic of Georgia. Kevin Tyler led the training session and reports that participants received the materials with great interest and enthusiasm.

The training will equip churches to work more effectively with people struggling with life-controlling problems and will be the first step toward establishing Teen Challenge centers in the country.

Faculty Training Workshop Concludes

Nine prospective faculty members came to a Living Free faculty training workshop in Chattanooga, Tennessee, January 12-13, 2009. This workshop is required as part of the faculty certification process that qualifies persons to present the Living Free training to churches and ministries other than their own.

The participants included (pictured from left to right) Pastor Jerry Hightower, Rex Watt, Jack and Cala Coleman, Linda Abner, Laura Escobar, Pastor Doug Abner, Pastor Hector Escobar, and Christine Hensley-Robbins.

Missionary Kevin Tyler with Global Teen Challenge reports training 75 participants in Kazakhstan with the Russian language Living Free materials. About half the participants came from area churches and half from local Teen Challenge ministries.  According to Kevin, participants are enthusiastic about beginning the small groups. They also commented on the excellent quality of the Russian video translation. Other Central Asian Republics are also interested.

The fact that the Russian language version of the Living Free video training is now available for viewing on the Internet and the basic Russian group curriculum can be downloaded from anywhere in the world is making it possible for more countries to adopt the Living Free small groups.

Living Free Training was presented by Global Teen Challenge last November 4-8 to participants at the All Africa Leadership Training Institute hosted at Eden Christian Ministries in South Africa. Countries represented at the training were Zambia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Swaziland, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, and Tanzania.

First Annual International Kid’s Living Free Conference

The First Annual International Kid's Living Free Conference will be held in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Franklin Full Life Assembly of God.

The annual Living Free International Training Conference took place at Cohutta Springs from October 5-8. Each year God seems to do something a little different in the lives of the attendees. This year was no exception. The theme was "Transformed into His Likeness." God moved through speakers, small group leaders and individual ministry to minister to the participants and motivate many to expand their outreach to others. Comments included these:

"The transformation of our lives and lives of others is key to growing spiritually."…
"I was reminded-again-of the hope and future we have in Jesus Christ." …
"Let's not make it hard for new people to come to Christ." …
"[I learned] to rest and take more time to just be still." …
"Reminded of need of intimacy with God."

Participants were also introduced to J.C. Bulldog, the coach and teacher from the new childrens' Insight, Empowering Kids for Life curriculum. J.C. generated excitement and frivolity as he posed in photos with attendees and "supervised" a variety of contests.

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The new Living Free Video Training is now available. In addition to the updated training on DVD, the Coordinator's and Participant's Guides have been newly revised as well.

Features and benefits of the updated version include these:

• Shortened in length without eliminating any of the important principles. Now 8 sessions!


• Updated look and sound


• New testimonies added to many of the original ones


• English narration done by Ruth Graham, daughter of Billy Graham. Ruth has personally experienced life-controlling problems and has walked with each of her three children through their own challenges. Her heartfelt narration is both touching and inspiring. It helps the viewer understand that anyone can experience a life-controlling problem … and that the only help available is through Christ.


• Spanish narration done by Rev. Hector Escobar. In the original version, the Spanish translation of the narration was dubbed over the English. In the updated Spanish version, the narration is actually done in Spanish.


• Coordinator's Guide and Participant's Guide done in Living Free group format, providing an easier transition to leading Insight and other groups.