I am NOT my behavior!

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A guest post by Amanda Brandt...

Safety and boundaries sounds like a snooze fest to most people, even my leader team thought so when I started putting a greater emphasis on safety training.  What they experienced after being equipped with in-depth relational skills, conflict resolution processes, and intervention techniques was great freedom though   …. Freedom from fear!  Freedom to love our friends better!

Our team decided to implement Mandt training a year and half ago.  Mandt is a relationally based program that equips people with skills to first understand the students we serve, then gain skills to help our friends independently make healthy choices, and finally teaches us how to safely intervene (non-physically & physically) if their choices are ever harmful to themselves or others. 


What sold me on Mandt (or any other relationally based non-violent intervention program) is the PERSON first approach. They are NOT their behavior!  Just as I am not defined by MY behavior.  We are defined by Christ!  When we display a behavior, we are using that action to get something we need or get away from something we do not need.  It is our job to interpret and respond to our friends in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity in any situation.


With Mandt training, our leaders and students have been given the gift of freedom.  Our leaders have freedom because they are now confident in their ability to handle any situation.  Our friends have freedom because they know they are safe even in their most vulnerable moments.  Mandt training has given our team better tools to care for our friends, thus allowing us to better share the love of Christ.



If you're interested in talking more with Amanda about this, email us through the website and we'll put you in touch!



Amanda is on staff in Wichita, KS and continues to amaze us all with the ministry that she is a part of there.

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