BRIEF BACKGROUND
Families, Churches, Communities, and Nations have their Teenagers/Youths universally. Teachers, parents, and guardians often claim they are building a brighter future for the present day Teenagers/Youths. In spite of this claim, most leaders, parents, and guardians in many generations have never understood their Teenagers/Youths. Tensions of diverse dimensions have existed between them, often resulting in chaotic and heart-rending consequences. Too many adults, therefore, Teenagers/Youths remain their greatest source of a headache. Some leaders, parents, and guardians adopted a laissez-faire attitude towards their Teenagers/Youths and inevitably watched them destroy their future through unfettered freedom or liberty. Others adopted an absolute autocratic, iron-handed discipline and eventually “lost their Teenagers/ Youths”. I dare say that only a very few number of our Teenagers/Youths in Ghana, Africa, and the entire world have passed on successfully into adulthood. A large number of them have embraced attitudes and habits such as smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, immoral sexual activities, burglary and armed robbery resulting into teenage pregnancy, imprisonment, STDs such as HIV/AIDS, madness, and premature death. These and many others have deprived our Teenagers/Youths of their God-given peace, joy, purpose, and fulfillment in life. The way out is to heed the biblical injunction to “train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it -PROVERBS 22:6. This is the challenge God is leading us to meet. MOTTO
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you -ISAIAH 60:1
SLOGAN
Christ in you, the hope of glory -Colossians 1:27
VISION
Honor God by Developing MINDS for Excellence. VALUES
Acceptance of others and ourselves, commitment to the gospel, listening to God and doing his will, servant-hearted (to reflect Jesus Christ), Teamwork, dwelling together in unity and allowing God to refine us (Transparent). BASIS OF OUR FAITH
We believe in the Holy Scriptures. The following along with other Christian principles, doctrine, and practice shall be the basis of our faith.
1. One God eternally existent in three co-equal persons. Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
2. The divine inspiration and entire trustworthiness of the Bible and it's supreme and final authority in all matters of the faith and conduct.
3. The sovereignty of God in creation, revelation, redemption and final judgment.
4. The deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Virgin birth, his sinless life, his mediatory work and his personal return.
5. The indwelling and work of the Holy Spirit in the believer for holy living with an endowment of power for service following baptism in the Holy Spirit.
6. Justification by faith in Jesus Christ, regeneration and sanctification by the Holy Spirit through the work of God, the eternal security of the saved and eternal punishment of the lost.
7. The will and purpose of God for the church (which is the body of Christ) and believers in the Lord Jesus Christ is to preach, baptize, teach, disciple and build up into self-propagating or multiplying local congregations (church) in every nation with signs confirming the word of God. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The CMI comprise of the Executive Director, Board of Directors and coordinators.
1. The Board of Trustees manages, supervises and controls the affairs of CMI. The Board also provides technical advice and guidance on policy formulation and the general functioning of the organization.
2. The coordinators see to the effective functioning of the Teen/Youth programs in the various villages, towns, and cities both in Ghana, Africa, and the entire world. They are responsible to the Board of Trustees. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ben Bright Fit is the Executive Director of CMI. He holds Master of Science in Education at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, USA and Bachelor of Education at the University of Education, Winneba. He had a diploma in theology from Globeserve College of Missions (GCOM) and a certificate in leadership from Leadership Education for African Pastors (LEAP). He is trained in missions by Life Challenge Africa (LCA) Nairobi Kenya, International School of Missions (ISOM), and Moving Mountains, Development Associates Int’l (MMDAI). He was the immediate past President of Special Education Students’ Association (SESA). He has spoken at various leadership summit organized by CMI and has attended a number of conferences on leadership and children with special needs to enhance his leadership skills. He was awarded scholarship by University College Capital in Copenhagen, Denmark where he had six months studies on children with special needs. MISSION STATEMENT
Working with churches, schools, communities, television and radio stations CMI is committed to:
1. Reach Teenagers/Youths in Ghana, Africa, and the entire world with the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ.
2. Help and establish converts in the Christian faith through Bible studies and prayers so that they will grow in Christ and become more like him.
3. Guide Teenagers/Youths to identify, develop and maximize their purpose in life, grow to reach their maximum potential and sow seeds that will benefit others.
4. Expose Teenagers/Youths to modern careers, training profiles so that they will find their feet in the job market.
5. Provide Teenagers/Youths the opportunities for academic excellence.
6. Assist Teenagers/Youths to acquire skills that will enable them to earn a living.
7. Meet the immediate health needs of Teenagers/Youths. GOSPEL PRESENTATION
We embark in promoting the usage of audio scriptures in local languages, distribution of Christian literature, evangelism and crusades to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. CHRISTIAN CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
Through Camps, workshops, and conferences the Ministry embarks in motivating Teenagers to meet God daily through expository lessons from the Bible on the character of Jesus Christ, personal Bible studies, and prayers so that they will come to personal faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, grow in Christian maturity and become more like him.
3. LEADERSHIP SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
Under this program, we train Teenagers/Youths through motivational seminars by developing their God-given potentials as well as a sense of responsibility, for effective service in their churches, schools, communities and the entire world.
4. CAREER GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING
Under this program we expose and guide the Teenagers/Youths through workshops to modern career, training profiles, various temperamental traits and the areas of study or disciplines that normally go with such traits so that they will make an informed decision in their areas of difficulties and find their feet in the job market.
5. VOCATIONAL TRAINING
Here Teenagers/Youths who will like to take vocation as their career will be trained in various skills such as batik, tie, and dye, bead making, dress making just to mention a few so as to enable them to earn a living.
6. EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
Over here we will work with school authorities to:
a. Promote Literacy development. Equip teachers with evidence-based teaching strategies needed to teach students. Guide parents and guardians to cope with the demands of nurturing and educating children. Assist brilliant but needy students. Supply educational materials.
7. HEALTH CARE SERVICES
In this outfit, counseling services will be provided to Teenagers/Youths on health related issues by medical professionals and specialist. NEEDS
Since CMI is non-profit making organization we depend only on the provisions of God through special people like you who care and delight in God to partner with us to Develop Teenagers/youths for excellence. We humbly appeal to you for your donations and supports in the followings:
1. Office equipments.
2. Subsidy to support the activities of CMI.
3. Educational materials.
4. Bibles visuals, Jesus films, computers, projectors, microphones, megaphones, audio scriptures in local languages and any other relevant teaching and learning materials that enhance our work. FUTURE PLAN
We trust God to build Teen/Youth Empowerment Centers all over Ghana, Africa and the entire world that will help develop young people for excellence, promote Literacy and Advocate for Persons with a disability. Basically, we look to a complete and well-equipped center that will meet all-around challenges and needs of our Teenagers/Youths and People with special needs. YOU CAN PARTNER WITH CMI IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
1. You can pray with and for us.
2. You can donate in cash and in kind.
3. You can volunteer to work with us.
4. You can affiliate with us. OUR PRAYER FOR YOU
We pray that you will be fruitful in every area of your life as you partner with us in this movement of reaching Teenagers/Youths in servant hood for Jesus Christ. CONTACT
Challenge MINDS International (CMI)
C/O University of Education, Winneba
Department of Special Education
Post Office Box 25
Winneba – Central Region
Ghana – West Africa
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
Facebook:
facebook.com/challengingmindsint
Phone Lines: +1 618 541 0446
+233 24 673 0989
+233 50 969 5584
+233 24 087 4257
