Mission and History

Delivering Hope and Freedom since 1968

Our Vision:  Put hope within reach of every addict.

Our Mission: To provide youth, adults, and families with an effective and comprehensive Christian faith-based solution to life-controlling addictions in order to become productive members of society.

Our Core Values:

• Outreach……….  Evangelize in the marketplace to admit willing students (Matthew 28:19)
• Fellowship…….. Live in community and face life together (Ephesians 2:19)
• Discipleship…..Teach, mentor, and equip (Ephesians 4:12-13)
• Compassion……Serve the needs of the family and community (Matthew 10:42)
• Worship………….Seek God (Matthew 4:10)
• Integrity………….Honest and ethical stewardship of physical and human resources (II Corinthians 8:20-21)                

Our Strategy:

1. Evangelize, teach, and disciple adults, adolescents, and families impacted by addiction by offering Christ-centered mentoring, education, work experience, life skills, and aftercare services.
2. Operate a residential facility and offer support groups in every Texas metropolis with a population over 250,000 people.
3. Operate profitable businesses that financially subsidize our programs and services.
4. Attract, develop, and empower servant leaders to positions that fulfill their divine call.
5. Offer an effective training program for interns and volunteers

We have a problem that affects all of us – In Texas, there are nearly 2.5 million people over 17 years old living with alcohol or illicit drug dependency or abuse.

1. When arrested, the cost per offender of jail/prison averages $29,000/year in Texas – we pay that through our taxes.
2. Their lost wages cost our economy an average of $45,000 (men) and $35,000 (women) in Texas.
3. Our whole community is impacted from drug use, especially via crime and broken families.

The common treatment method (by other rehabs, not Adult and Teen Challenge):
• 30 to 90 days in an inpatient facility
• Average cost: $7,000 / month
• 28% success rate after 5 years from completing an inpatient facility

The Adult & Teen Challenge Solution:
• 13 to 15 months in a voluntary residential program
• Average cost: none
• *70-86% success rate after 5 years from graduating a Teen Challenge program

*Sources:

1. 1.  2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (SAMHSA).
   2. PEW Center on the States (3/2/2009).
   3. US Census Bureau (2007).
   4. National Substance Abuse Treatment Survey N-SATTS.
   5. Northwestern University research study (1999)
   6. Wilder Foundation research study (2007) on Teen Challenge Graduates.

History:

In 1958, a young pastor from a farm town in Pennsylvania took a step of faith into the inner-city of New York City. David Wilkerson started a movement that would change the lives of thousands. With a heart for young people, he began working with gangs and troubled youth.

As he began to establish rapport within the city, he became aware of the life-controlling issues destroying these young people. Everywhere David turned he saw the consequences of addiction: a 16 year old girl working the streets, a 12 year old boy murdered by his younger brother, the sight of a teenage mother with her baby on her lap, begging for food and shelter. The young pastor found himself in a place with no hope and no future: these children had been set up for failure. He knew he had to break the vicious cycle. He had to offer a way out of their trouble and despair.

Later that year, the first Teen Challenge Center was established in New York City working with inner-city youth wanting a life free of gangs and drugs. Since 1958, Teen Challenge has seen remarkable growth. Thousands of lives have been changed in over 200 centers throughout the United States. One thousand campuses are now operating in 90 countries.

In 1963, David Wilkerson co-authored the book, The Cross and the Switchblade. The story continues to inspire renewed faith in God’s ability to overcome problems that even the most determined human efforts cannot resolve. Teen Challenge came to Texas in 1968, with the opening of the San Antonio men’s campus, then called the Westwood Center.

Adult & Teen Challenge of Texas now operates 4 men’s programs (San Antonio, Magnolia, Azle, Brazos Valley), 2 women’s programs (Houston, San Antonio), and 2 re-entry programs (Houston, San Antonio), We currently have only 2 thrift stores (San Antonio, Brenham) and we will actually be closing down the San Antonio store very soon. We also have an adolescent boys program near Austin called New Hope Christian Academy. Admitting over 350 students a year, the ministry continues to expand and offer hope to men and women with life-controlling addictions.