Are Teen Troubles Sucking All
the Joy Out of Your Home?

Is your teenager’s disrespectful behavior and anger getting out of control?  Are his or her grades falling?  Is your teen sneaking out at night, in trouble with the law, or experimenting with drugs? Are you at a loss for what to do? 

That’s what the Families in Crisis Conference is all about.  In one weekend, you’ll gain insights and confidence for managing and turning around challenging behaviors in your teenager. In 3 days you’ll discover how to paint a new beginning in your home, build upon the rules and the respect your family members deserve from your teen. 

We can help reestablish peace in your home through teaching you the skills and tactics we’ve learned ourselves from over 30 years of dealing daily with struggling teenagers.    

October 23-25 is the final retreat in 2008!

You’ll learn what may be causing your teenager to spiral downward, and how to stop this freefall to disaster. You’ll also learn how to intervene and deal with specific situations and capably provide the appropriate response to intense arguing, anger, defiance, and rebellion.

Most of all, you’ll come away with a more complete understanding of your family dynamics, and gain a renewed sense of purpose, energy and confidence to deal with your teenager.

Mark Gregston, author, national radio host and the founder and director of Heartlight, a residential counseling center for struggling teens, is your teacher and guide for the retreat.  For over 30 years Mark has worked with teenagers and their parents, turning around crisis family situations and helping thousands of teens get back on track in life.

The Venue… The retreat will be held October 23-25 in the beautiful Heartlight Conference Center, on the 100-acre wooded Heartlight campus located near Longview, Texas, about 2 hours east of Dallas.  Several regional airports are available to serve those coming from longer distances.

How to Register…

BY PHONE: Call 903-668-2173 for more information, to receive a brochure in the mail, or to register. 

REGISTER ONLINE: See the online brochure and register online at http://www.familycrisisconference.com.

Hurry…Word’s Getting Around!

Mark’s last Dealing With Today’s Teens seminar was attended by over 2,000 people!  This more intimate Families In Crisis seminar will fill up fast, since only 100 participants will be seated for this event.  So get your registration in early.

There is nothing worse than living with a teen spinning out of control, and no worse feeling than the hopelessness parents experience in the process. It is difficult to know what to do and how to react when your teen daily reaches new lows in disobedience, dishonesty, and disrespect, and chooses every wrong thing.

Your teen is caught in “The Spin Cycle,” and he or she needs you to intervene. The downward spiral can have tremendous destructive potential with lifelong consequences, or even bring a young life to a quick end. When teens spin out of control, they need a responsible adult to respond, not react, even if they do everything they can to keep you out of it.

If you’re caught in that cycle with your teen, then act now. Register for the Families in Crisis Conference.

Learn more here:  http://www.familycrisisconference.com

Presented live by Heartlight teen experts, including Mark and Jan Gregston, this intimate and memorable conference will provide you with the tools and tactics you need to improve behavior and look past heated emotions to focus on healing.

Most of all, you’ll come away with a more complete understanding of the steps you need to take to influence real change in your home. You’ll gain a renewed sense of purpose, energy and confidence to deal with your teenager.

What Others Are Saying…

“Just a note to say thanks for the great weekend. We got to get away from the stress and come back with some hope which was in short supply. Be sure and tell Taylor and Katie a Big thanks for sharing their stories. We were quite touched by that. I hope God uses them in the lives of other troubled teens in some mentoring capacity as it is much needed.”- Seminar Participant

“All is well so far and I wanted to let you know that we have started to implement the plan and ideas we learned from Heartlight into our household. So far so good and I am amazed at the response from our children. We definitely have a long way to go with our daughter, but I am confident the guidance we received from Heartlight will help in the process of helping our daughter to make better choices. We have already learned to stick to our guns and it seems to be paying off. I will keep you posted and thank you so very much for all that Mark, Jan and all of you at Heartlight gave to me during a wonderful and enlightening weekend. God Bless.” - Seminar Participant

“Words can’t fully express how much this past weekend meant to us. We are full of hope that our family and our daughter really can change. We learned so much. It confirmed to us the strategies we had already put into place, and it gave us more pieces to the puzzle. It was encouraging to meet other struggling families. Thanks to you all! - Seminar Participant

“We appreciated the genuine and honest approach Mark presented in parenting teens in today’s culture. The weekend conferennce gave us a sense of renewed hope to face the challenges ahead and to trust in the Lord to change our boys’ hearts towards Him. We both recognized that it was us as a couple that first needed to change and as we shared this with our sons one of them said, “Hey, I like this conference. Maybe you should go again!” Thanks for everything - it was a real help for us in many ways. It was a huge blessing. - Seminar Participant

“I had such a wonderful time. The conference was cozy and not sterile like many arena type conferences, and I really felt like everyone there genuinely cared about our situations and really wanted to help us. The two biggest things I got out of the seminar is one: stop lecturing. I am a big information person and I love to learn new things so when I talk with my older kids I always tell them why something isn’t good for them or why people do what they do. Just wanting them to know the why’s of things. Never intending to be bossy, but just wanting to relay information. Having you tell us to always ask questions was huge. I was never taught that. I went home that night and took the kids out to dinner and only asked questions and I probably heard more out of my two teens mouths that night than the last two years put together. I have had continued conversations with them since and it really works. I am amazed and so grateful. The second thing was Marks phrase, ‘You can’t do anything to make me love you more, and you can’t do anything to make me love you less.’ Part of my frustration as a mom was how much I love my kids, try to teach them responsibility, respect and to live and I tell them all every day if not twice how much I love them. Then, they go and act like you don’t. It is so emotionally hurtful. I loved learning how they view things, why they do and that I need to reinforce that point so they feel safe to tell us anything. I have said that every day to them since I got back and I am stunned at what they have come forth with that they were withholding before. I can’t thank you all enough. We have been through so much trial and pain as a family and I know we have a long road ahead of us, but you have given us hope for the future and I feel much better equipped as a mom now that I have tools to work with. I never got them from my parents and want my kids to be able to do things differently from the get go when they have children. Thanks for the loving atmosphere and the warm welcome. I have already recommended you up and down to others. We can’t thank you enough and will keep you updated.” - Seminar Participant

“Mark’s ministry overflows with biblical wisdom and practical insights gained over 3 decades of helping other parents like us. His impact on my own family has been measurable and lasting. Implement his insights and God’s blessing will be increasingly yours and your children’s.” - Dr. James MacDonald, Walk in the Word, Senior Pastor, Harvest Bible Church, Chicago

“Mark Gregston is relevent and effective in a painful world for teens. He is making a real difference.” - Jon Rivers, KLOVE Morning Co-host, Host of 20 the Countdown Magazine

Is your teenager spinning out of control? Has everything you’ve tried only made things worse? You’re not alone! This is common in many families today. That’s why weve developed this quarterly seminar for parents, in which you’ll learn everything we’ve learned from 30 years of working with struggling teens. Come get the skills you need to deal with your teenager and return sanity to your home.

Learn more here:  http://www.familycrisisconference.com

You are invited to our Annual Fundraising Dinner and Auction on April 19th, at the Dallas Westin City Center.  

This is our one big event of the year as far as coming together to raise funds specifically for the Heartlight residential program.  We do so through a Silent and Live Auction, as well as through sponsorships of tables at the event. MORE OF THIS ARTICLE >>>

A LIFE-CHANGING JOB OPPORTUNITY

Heartlight Ministries, a residential counseling center in the beautiful Piney Woods Region of East Texas, is seeking dedicated and committed single Christian men and women who will pour their lives into building relationships with our teenage residents. Our staff make an incredible difference in the life of teenagers through life-on-life relationships. MORE OF THIS ARTICLE >>>

It is Christmas Eve and we just received an unsolicited letter from a recent Heartlight graduate…a girl Mark once dubbed, “The angriest child I have ever met.” We can’t think of a better Christmas gift and wanted to share it with you as well!  With all our love, Jan and Mark

Hi Jan & Mark:

First, I know I didn’t really thank you guys a lot when I left, it was so unreal - that graduation dinner. Coming to Texas and being looked after by everyone, the talks with the counselors, and especially Susan and you made me finally feel the love and attention that I shut out for so long. MORE OF THIS ARTICLE >>>

In addition to the current 1-hour weekly radio program Voice of Heartlight, Mark Gregston has just recorded the first two months of the new short-feature daily radio program, Parenting Today’s Teens. Several major radio networks have already agreed to carry the program, free of charge, since the content is unique and needed for parents today. Dr. Randy Carlson of the national radio program Parent Talk is also providing free studio and engineering time to record the new program.

Jon Rivers, host of 20 The Countdown Magazine and morning program host for K-Love Radio, says this about the program, “Mark Gregston has one of the most powerful teen ministries in existence. His Parenting Today’s Teens radio program is relevant and effective in a painful world for teens. He is making a real difference.”

The goal of the Parenting Today’s Teens radio program is to provide tools, insights and encouragement to parents of teens and pre-teens. The program will also direct the listener to other helpful resources and training developed by Heartlight on various teen parenting issues. MORE OF THIS ARTICLE >>>

Michael Martin Murphey returns to East Texas for a second time this year to benefit Heartlight by putting on a “Cowboy Christmas” concert and silent auction this Saturday, December 8, at the beautiful new S.E. Belcher, Jr. Chapel and Performance Center of LeTourneau University. We wish everyone could join us for the evening, and perhaps some of you were fortunate enough to buy tickets, but the concert was sold out some time ago.  We’d love to have you join us the next time “Murph” is in town. MORE OF THIS ARTICLE >>>

Dear Friends,

I’m excited to make our latest newsletter available to you via electronic means. Sending it this way saves postage and printing costs, allowing more funds to be applied toward helping parents and teenagers in crisis.

It also gives me the chance to share with you how God is using Heartlight to change the lives of hurting kids and keep you updated on a more regular basis.

For many families, Heartlight is their last resort in a never-ending cycle of pain and confusion. On their behalf, we thank you for helping underwrite some of the costs to give kids and parents physical, emotional, and spiritual support in their time of need.  MORE OF THIS ARTICLE >>>

Over the years Heartlight has become one of the finest residential Christian counseling centers of its kind, with an added national outreach to families that includes publishing, radio, internet and live and recorded seminars.

Heartlight is firmly attached to its mission – helping families with teens who struggle. Some of the new opportunities for Heartlight include the development of the Heartlight Radio program, growing weekly, with new networks and stations adding Heartlight to their air-time schedule every week.

Mark Gregston’s new book, When Your Teen is Struggling, released in January, was chosen as a premier Harvest House publication and is now already scheduled for a second printing.  Mark has started work on his second book, The Many Faces of Rebellion. MORE OF THIS ARTICLE >>>

The launch of Heartlight Radio this past fall has been an exciting development in our ministry. The radio broadcast hit the airwaves in September with a weekly program dedicated to bringing help and hope to parents. And its outreach is expanding rapidly! By April 2007, Heartlight Radio will be on more than 700 stations across the United States, sharing its message of real hope and practical help with thousands of listeners. With moderator Wayne Shepherd and host Mark Gregston, the hourlong program weaves interviews of special guests with true stories from residents of Heartlight. Parents can also participate by calling in with questions or concerns pertaining to their teens. MORE OF THIS ARTICLE >>>

“When Your Teen Is Struggling shares Gregston’s observations and experience working with disturbed teens, using personal stories and case histories to encourage readers not to lose faith when the situation looks dire. He helps them see the bigger picture when dealing with adolescents who seem to be drowning in life’s undertow. He encourages readers to persist and gives them skills to throw these teens a lifeline. Using biblical and practical insight, he speaks directly to problems that confront both parents and teens.”
—Aspiring Retail

Mark just finished writing another book entitled A Look at Adoption…from the Other Side sharing his reflections about parenting adopted kids, his love for the adoption process, and his advice to help families deal with issues surrounding adoption. He shares his insight gained from having more than 600 “adopted kids” live with him throughout the last 30 years. A strong supporter of adoption, Mark encourages future parents to consider all “sides” of adoption, in hopes of bettering everyone involved in the process. The book is slated to be released in a few months. MORE OF THIS ARTICLE >>>