Heartlight ministries

Heartlight Ministries is a non-profit Christian-based [http://www.heartlightministries.org boarding school] and therapeutic program for troubled teens located about two hours by car east of Dallas in the Piney Woods region of East Texas.

Background

Heartlight was founded in 1989 by Mark and Jan Gregston to help adolescents (ages 13-18) and their families work through difficult situations. It is a 9-12 month Level-based program designed to bring about a turnaround in the thinking and actions of the teenager and to create a closer bond and relationship with parents and family. Heartlight is a co-ed, year-round program for 50 residents, supervised by over 40 staff on a convert|100|acre|km2|sing=on campus near Hallsville, Texas.

Philosophy

Heartlight's philosophy is encapsulated in the statement "An atmosphere of relationships creates an arena for change." All components of the Heartlight program are designed to create an environment of personal relationships and also to provide involvement of the staff in the lives of the residents and their families. Through activities, counseling, teaching, personal relationships, and the involvement of parents in the process of working with a teenager, Heartlight's program is designed to bring about a turnaround in the lives of teens who are struggling.

As a matter of process, each resident meets weekly with a designated staff counselor who is responsible for the emotional care of approximately 10-15 students. Counselors also lead group sessions and counseling sessions with the student each week. They are involved in the lives of the young people counseled, as well as with the parents, becoming the "point of contact" for each family. Parents are phoned after individual counseling sessions to provide an update and to discuss important issues. Counselors also meet with the parents during on-site retreats and family weekends.

The Founders

Mark and Jan Gregston began their work with teens 30 years ago, when Mark was a youth minister at First Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Their involvement with "Young Life" moved them to open their home to work with those who were struggling through crisis family problems. During the 1980s, while living at "Kanakuk Kamp" in Branson, Missouri, Mark helped start a residential program there. In 1989, Mark and Jan moved with their two children to Hallsville, Texas, where they started Heartlight Ministries in a large house on 100 donated acres. Since then buildings have been added including several log-house style resident homes and a large conference and counseling center.

External links

* [http://www.heartlightministries.org Heartlight Boarding School]
* [http://www.heartlightradio.org Heartlight Radio Program]
* [http://www.markgregston.com Parenting Today's Teens Blog]
* [http://www.parentingtodaysteens.org Parenting Today's Teens Radio]
* [http://www.christian-boarding-school.com Christian Boarding Schools]
* [http://www.boarding-schools-best-boarding-school.com Boarding Schools]

Personal references

Dr. Gary and Norma Smalley "Author, Speaker, President, The Smalley Relationship Center (Branson, Missouri)"

Joe White "President Kanakuk Kamps (Branson, Missouri)"

Steven Curtis Chapman"Singer, Songwriter, Author (Nashville, Tennessee)"
* [http://www.praisestore.com/kevin-leman/ Dr. Kevin Leman] "Author and Psychologist, Co-Host of Reality Talks Television Program (Tucson, Arizona)"

Dr. Randy Carlson"Author and Host of Parent Talk, President, Family Life Communications (Tucson, Arizona)"

Bob Lepine "Author and Co-Host of Family Life Today (Little Rock, Arkansas)"

Randy Sims"President, World View Academy (New Braunfels, Texas)"

Paul Overstreet"Country Music Songwriter and Performer (Nashville, Tennessee)"

William R. Yinger"Former National Chairman, Young Life"

Eric Peterson"YouthFront Ministries (Kansas City, Kansas)"

Pete and JoDee Herschend"Vice-Chairman, Silver Dollar City (Branson, Missouri)"

Steve Largent "Former Seattle Seahawks Football Player and Former U.S. Congressman"

Billy Sprague"Singer, Songwriter, Author (Nashville, Tennessee)"

Professional organizations

Heartlight is licensed with the State of Texas and is affiliated with these professional organizations:
* [http://www.ecfa.org/MemberProfile.aspx?ID=12160 Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability]
* [http://www.aacc.net American Association of Christian Counselors]
* [http://www.nae.net National Association of Evangelicals]
* [http://www.stewardship.org Christian Stewardship Association]
* [http://www.cmaonline.org Christian Management Association]