Your Discipleship Journey
New Life Community is a flexible, ongoing discipleship journey built around 9 transformative chapters—each one designed to help people break free from addiction, heal from deep wounds, and experience the life-changing power of Jesus. Every chapter is Christ-centered, Gospel-driven, and intentionally crafted to lead participants into lasting freedom. Churches and ministries are encouraged to run New Life Community year-round, with the flexibility for new participants to join at any point on their journey.
Each chapter is infused with the truth of God’s Word, powerful real-life testimonies from Teen Challenge alumni, and personal reflection questions that stir faith for breakthrough. Group discussions and weekly scripture meditations become sacred spaces where transformation takes root, and connection to God and community is restored. At the heart of it all is this unshakable truth: only a life-long relationship with Christ brings true and lasting freedom—and that’s exactly what this journey is all about.
Group Format & Core Elements
Every New Life Community gathering may look different depending on the setting, but we recommend the following core components be present in every session:
- Prayer – Begin and end each gathering with prayer, inviting the Holy Spirit to lead.
- Praise & Worship – Create an atmosphere of surrender and reverence with simple, heartfelt worship.
- Evangelistic Message & Salvation Invitation – Present the Gospel clearly and offer an opportunity to receive Christ.
- Group Discussions – Separate men’s and women’s group time creates safe spaces for deeper sharing and connection.
Suggested Weekly Ministry Night Flow
- 6:00 PM – Leader Meeting
- A time of fellowship, encouragement, equipping, and prayer for all group leaders. Includes brief training, leadership development, and spiritual encouragement.
- 6:30 PM – Large Group Gathering
- All participants and leaders come together for worship, announcements, a short teaching or a testimony. This moment sets the tone for the evening and points everyone toward Jesus Christ. We encourage every gathering to play a Teen Challenge freedom story video — there are 60+ available on the New Life Community website under the Videos tab — as well as a Gathering Introduction Video for the specific chapter your group is currently walking through.
- 7:30 PM – Small Group Breakouts
- Men and women separate into gender-specific small groups
- Each group is led by a trained leader
- Group members reflect on and discuss that week’s chapter content
- The focus is on sharing, prayer, accountability, and applying the truths from the curriculum to their own lives.
- During small group time, leaders are not teaching a lesson or delivering training. Instead, they are shepherding each participant through the week’s chapter—unpacking the spiritual truths, discussing the personal reflections, and helping individuals hear from God for themselves. Leaders must remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings throughout the gathering, creating space for ministry, prayer, and unexpected moments of breakthrough.
- 8:30 PM – Fellowship Time
- Casual hangout space for connection, coffee, and community. These moments often foster relationships and deepen trust within
the group.
- Casual hangout space for connection, coffee, and community. These moments often foster relationships and deepen trust within
New Life Community Curriculum
Download the complete New Life Community curriculum package right here—everything you need to start or lead a group is available in one place. This resource includes session guides, leader tools, and printable materials to help you bring hope and transformation to your community.