Stations…

Synergy Stations are regional hubs where youth and young adult leaders connect to see God’s kingdom come within young people in their region. Although a uniqueness of expression is encouraged within each station, stations should agree on certain core values and on a shared DNA. The dynamics which we desire to see within each synergy is encapsulated by the following four words…

Advance:

We believe that, as with TCN stations, Synergy stations are a God-given strategy to bring youth and young adult leaders into fellowship for the purpose of greater kingdom impact on a regional level.

Synergy’s goal is to create exponential Kingdom impact. Two individuals may each be able to defeat a thousand, yet in synergy the same two can defeat ten thousand. Such exponential growth is what the concept of synergy is all about. Individually, each leader is able to create a specific impact for God’s Kingdom. When we join together in a united purpose, our efforts are multiplied and we see exponential Kingdom impact.

We’re not just together because we like each other or have things in common. We are forged together by a powerful and all-consuming passion for Christ and the advance of His Kingdom. We’re committed to see one another grow in experiencing, expressing and extending God’s kingdom! We’re committed to see an ever progressing upward focus (knowing God), inward focus (growing in covenant relationships), and outward focus (external influence).

Take note, however, that Synergy stations should not become a young leader’s primary place of input and accountability. The highest level of accountability and input should always be found in the young leader’s relationship with his/her senior pastor. We commit to encourage and help facilitate this primary connection to ensure that the baton is passed from fathers to sons with a double portion of spirit impartation.

The role of Synergy is to come alongside young leaders with the purpose of empowering and inspiring them to reach and disciple our generation for the King! This is the very thing we hold each other accountable for – to see His Kingdom in our day!

We want to see young leaders progress within the stations and as a result of this momentum see great Kingdom advancement through their ministries. We want to seek God together for strategies to reach the young people of our respective regions. Once sufficient trust levels are established we want to see a kind of cross-pollination that would further advance God’s Kingdom.

Belonging:

Young people are desperate to belong. As a result of this desperate longing, many find their sense of (false) identity in strange or unhelpful people and places. We can never separate people’s identity from the ‘family’ where they feel they belong; whether that family is their biological family, their sports team, or their skateboard crowd.

Synergy aims to help give a sense of corporate Kingdom identity to young people through creating a place of belonging. Part of my identity is determined by my family’s name which is printed in my I.D. As young people connect to the larger Synergy Family, may they feel a sense of belonging to something larger than themselves! May they discover their identity as sons and daughters of the King!

Synergy Stations play a crucial role in facilitating this sense of belonging. It is here where a platform should be created for acceptance and support. It is here where young leaders should experience a real sense of belonging to a Kingdom family that is larger than themselves and their own ministries.

Connect:

A key aspect to the advancement of God’s kingdom is found in biblical fellowship among leaders. Such fellowship cultivates covenant connections which release a supernatural synergy to advance God’s Kingdom in our generation.

The depth of relationships in a station will directly affect the level of input and impartation we are able to give and receive. Superficial contact and casual fellowship won’t be sufficient to experience, express, and extend God’s Kingdom consistently in our midst!

As we connect we must remain conscious of the objective to grow deep godly relationships which often set the stage for God’s Kingdom to be experienced, expressed, and extended. Covenant relationships do not form over night! Relationships that are expected to last a lifetime often take a lifetime to build.

There are two inseparable themes in the Bible: Kingdom and Covenant. God’s Kingdom can only be fully experienced, expressed and extended within the context of growing covenant relationships. The vision will not go much further than what we’d allow our friendships to go. It is crucial that we build relationships with the vision of the Kingdom; as well as the value of covenant in mind.

One of the main aims of Synergy Stations is to create a sense of purposeful connections! Covenant relationships go far beyond a mere sense of belonging! They are set on a course to fulfil destiny together!

In order to form such covenant relationships all leaders should:

Develop a clear understanding and ownership of the Synergy mandate!

Our mandate is a combination of our vision and mission statements. Our vision is: To see His Kingdom in our generation! Our mission is: To revive young people in their walk with God; to restore among them the value of being active members of a local church; to rebuild the Kingdom in our day!

Our mandate is therefore to encourage the raising of strong youth and young adult ministries within local churches where young people can discover God, discover church, and discover their part in advancing God’s Kingdom.

2. Develop a clear understanding of and embrace Synergy’s values and doctrines!

No network can stay together if they are doctrinally apart. No covenant can survive if we value complete opposites. Core values ensure that we run the same race and aim for the same prize.

A copy of Synergy’s core values is posted on the website. It is crucial that before any leader joins Synergy, he/she first studies and prays through these core values. The doctrines we hold are mainly communicated during the various modules of our winter schools (i.e. Leadershift, and Master Builders). These values and doctrine regulate our lifestyle and guide our decision making. We’d like to emphasise the importance of seeing all Synergy Leaders, as well as leaders within their youth and young adult groups, complete these modules.

Two cannot walk together unless they can agree on principles that would govern the journey. An important part of the agreement needed for joining Synergy is that a leader would embrace these core values. As Synergy’s values and doctrine are young-people-specific, we strongly recommend that each Synergy leader also acquaint himself or herself with the TCN values as presented on the website (www.tcn.co.za).

3. Develop a realistic relational expectation and take dual ownership for it!

Synergy’s heart is to serve your church and ministry in whatever capacity we can. However, keep in mind that there are no full-time leaders designated to Synergy. Every Station Leader serves Synergy in a voluntary, part-time capacity. These leaders carry substantial responsibilities in their local churches.

It is vital that we honour each other in this regard! For instance, we are unable to provide speakers and/or worship leaders from a central source for every youth camp, but we can serve at regional camps or conferences. Synergy’s team of volunteers also do their best to streamline our systems of communication so that you can have quick and free access to communication and information. Most of Synergy’s information is available on our website and on printed or audio media.

Synergy aims to provide prime quality input and impartations during the Winterschool, Mini Leadershifts, Easter Conference, as well as through all stations. Priority will be given to build on-site with leaders who make the most of these opportunities. We can only expect returns from Synergy in proportion to the investments we are willing to make in this regard. The bottom line is that your input will determine what you get out of it!

Disciple:

Our main objective in Synergy Stations remains to be and make disciples of Jesus. Discipleship was Christ’s first call as well as His final commission. A station is a place where we hold each other accountable for our walk with God. Here we should be willing to be held accountable in areas where progress is needed. It’s a place where we encourage each other to keep on fulfilling the great commission and great commandment! Synergy provides resources to help disciple your young people in Kingdom Values, their identity in Christ, and in leadership development.