Reviews

“Four years ago today I went through Teen Challenge. I was addicted to drugs and had diagnosed bipolar. Today I am living free from all those things and have found more in Christ than I could have ever hoped for. Thank you to all of you who helped me along the way!”

– Samantha M.

“I was introduced to drugs at the age of fourteen. For the next few years, I was constantly in trouble with the law and sin consumed my life. By my senior year of high school, I’d been completely sucked into the fast and easy life of drug dealing. When the police raided my house, I was charged with two felony drug distribution charges. Thank God, the judge had mercy on me and at the age of eighteen, I was on my way to Teen Challenge. I have been given a new life and victory over those old desires through the shed blood of Christ and my position in Him. I praise God; He can use any seemingly disastrous event in our lives to fulfill the plan and purpose He has for us.”

– Jordan R

“I came to Teen Challenge August 25, 2003. I am 39 years old and on my 40th birthday the Lord my God gave me a gift I will never forget! He delivered me from an evil spirit. To this day I know I am a child of God. He sealed me with His Holy Spirit, since then I’ve been baptized in water. I am learning the word of God, applying it to my daily life, preparing for life outside of Teen Challenge. Here at Teen Challenge we have a choir that sings at different churches. We recently went to Austin to sing praises to the Lord! I also assisted at a church camp for inner-city children. I was a dorm leader and we interacted with the children playing games, swimming, and had church services. I actually helped a little girl receive Jesus Christ as her savior – What a blessing for me. I now know what I missed in my childhood and young adult life was a relationship with God and his son Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for all of my sins. I now have a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. I could not have gotten to this season in my life without the help of Teen Challenge.”

– Dagny

“I was raised in Angleton, TX. In high school I gave in to the pressures of trying to be cool by joining the crowd passing pills in the halls and skipping school to get high. I quickly lost interest in sports, church, and real friends, and turned my back on my family. I was running the streets and stealing from stores. I had lost my focus on what mattered in life. I wanted to do right, but I couldn’t let go of my fast” easy lifestyle.”

– Crystal H.

“I started down a path of sin at a young age. I was asked to leave the youth group at my church because of my sinful lifestyle. I’m a changed person because of the grace and mercy of God. Thank you Teen Challenge for all that you have done for me.”

– Sterling B

“Teen Challenge introduced me to the Love of my life, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. They taught me how to have a relationship with Him. Before I went to Teen Challenge, my life was out of control and without purpose. With the love and discipline of the staff, the direction of the curriculum, and the guiding of the Holy Spirit I am learning how to be an obedient, submissive, and confidant Christian woman.”

– nan

“As I was growing up, I had my first drink at 6 years of age. My childhood was filled with abuse and neglect. I was acting out by the time I was eight, and went through different schools and foster homes. I had legal troubles as well. It didn’t matter. . .no one seemed to care. At 16, I was adopted by a loving family and they wanted to take good care of me, but the pain and emptiness of my past continued to affect me. I tried getting involved with sports in high school, but I eventually found meth, and it made me feel invincible. By the age of 20, I was sitting in a jail cell with warrants from two counties. I knew I needed to make a change or I wouldn’t make it. I called my parents and they told be about Teen Challenge. I now have a real relationship with God, and my relationship with my family has been restored. At Teen Challenge I had an opportunity to work through all my childhood pains. I graduated from Teen Challenge and two years later married my best friend. I can’t wait for what God has for us!”

– Anonymous

“At Teen Challenge I learned there is no way to live life without Jesus Christ. The old Danny is dead, and all things are new. My chains of addiction, that so tightly entangled me, have been broken and I am now free from the bondage of drugs and Satan. Immediately after my decision to accept Jesus into my heart I began experiencing Gods love, mercy and miracles first hand. Relationships began to be reconciled. My Lord, Jesus has sanctified my heart and now my desire is to live a pure life, and be the best father I can be. Instead of waiting for the storms to pass, I’ve learned to dance in the rain. I serve an almighty God, who allows me to praise Him through the storm. I am obligated to speak what God has done for me and can do for all who call on Him.”

– Danny

“As I was growing up, I had my first drink at 6 years of age. My childhood was filled with abuse and neglect. I was acting out by the time I was eight, and went through different schools and foster homes. I had legal troubles as well. It didn’t matter… no one seemed to care. At 16, I was adopted by a loving family and they wanted to take good care of me, but the pain and emptiness of my past continued to affect me. I tried getting involved with sports in high school, but I eventually found meth, and it made me feel invincible. By the age of 20, I was sitting in a jail cell with warrants from two counties. I knew I needed to make a change or I wouldn’t make it. I called my parents and they told be about Teen Challenge. I now have a real relationship with God, and my relationship with my family has been restored. At Teen Challenge I had an opportunity to work through all my childhood pains. I graduated from Teen Challenge and two years later married my best friend. I can’t wait for what God has for us!”

– Anonymous

“All my life I was a two-faced Christian. My rebellion started around the age of 13 when I smoked my first cigarette, which led to alcohol, then pot, and then cocaine. I thank God for all He has done for me. He has restored my relationship with all my loved ones and has given me a second chance to live for Him. I also want to thank Teen Challenge for all they have done for me.”

– Kyle C

“I came to Teen Challenge on a drug called meth. I was broken, hopeless, angry and in despair. But God has taken me out of my mess. 1 Corinthians 15:10, By the grace of God I am what I am and His grace to me was not without effect. God’s grace and mercy saved me. I have an inexpressible joy. I have a hope and a future. In Christ I am complete. Hallelujah!”

– Felicia S

“I really want to thank teen challenge for what, they did in my life. Never thought I’d say that. I love you guys. You do great work. We don’t see that while its going on, but when you look back clean and sober with a clear head you realize that it does work. You just have to let it into your heart. I found Jesus Christ in Teen Challenge and owe them my life. You keep on trucking. Keep doing good work and remember that from this former student, you guys really make life more beautiful with your lessons and your love. I pray for you all every night and still get Teary when I think of all of us playing music together. God bless you all.”

– Zach W.

“I am 23 years old, and I am from New Jersey. Being brought up in the church, yet chasing the lusts of this world, I was bound for failure. An addiction to oxycontin left me poor, broken, and full of shameleaving a trail of destruction behind me. Through this ministry, Jesus Christ has given me freedom from addiction and an inexpressible joy as He continues to restore and renew all that was lost and destroyed in my life.”

– Stephen G.

“I always considered myself to be a thinker. I can remember researching theories that tried to describe the origin, constitution, and meaning of existence. I would approach subjects like science, spirituality and religion with an open mind, though I never looked into Christianity. I was adamantly against the idea of Jesus Christ; I had every excuse in the book to walk away from the subject. At the age of fourteen I gave in to drugs and alcohol after testing the waters for a few years. Then by the age of fifteen I was partying with marijuana, LSD, alcohol, or opium every day. Between the ages of fifteen and twenty I was arrested a few times, which destroyed the trust in my relationships. I was always on the move, never living in one place for more than three months. On many occasions I ended up relying on a tent in state forests for shelter. In October 2010 I moved to my aunts house, but within three weeks she said I had to go. She suggested Teen Challenge. Much to both of our surprise I blindly accepted. Upon arriving, I felt I had made an enormous mistake. Being flooded with Christianity I felt like a fish out of water. Yet again to my surprise, within the first six weeks I gave Jesus a chance. At Teen Challenge, the historicity of Jesus was presented to me. I also saw the passion the staff and students had for Christ; and I heard testimonies of healings and deliverance. With that, I prayed for the first time with these words: If you are the real deal, you are going to have to slap me upside the head to prove it to me. No more than a week later, I fell ill. As I laid in my bed feeling dreadful, I called out again, Here is a great opportunity God. When I breathed that sentence I instantaneously felt like a million dollars. Ever since, I have been seeking the God of Israel and His Son Jesus Christ. I have developed a very real relationship with Jesus, and I cant wait to see what He has in store.”

– Joshua S

“In only 4 months you guys have turned my son into a guy who loves to pray with/for complete strangers! Thank you thank you & praise God!”

– Susan T.

“Before I came to Teen Challenge, I was bound by the streets, prison, and cocaine. God has restored my life from that and much more. I am so grateful for what He has done. Praise God!”

– William S

“I was raised in the church when I was young. When I got to high school I began smoking pot and running the other way from God. At the age of sixteen I started using meth. I tried to stop using in 2008 when I got married. In February, I had a massive car wreck that nearly took my life. When I came to Teen Challenge God began to get a hold of my heart and gave me Salvation and his love. He has showed me how great his love and mercy is. Jesus has taken me from a lost and broken soul to having grace, and finding my true identity in him. I have found self worth in him and my faith in him has opened many doors for me in ministry. I’m getting to go on a mission trip, that any other time I would never been able to have done, as a felon. I thank God for all he has done in my life. My favorite Scripture is 1 John 4:4”

– nan

“I am Chris, 26 yrs old, was raised in a Christian home and I had a personal relationship with Jesus. I was very active in our youth group and went on two missions trips to Mexico. I knew that I wanted to spend my life serving the Lord, and I assumed that following God meant that life would be easy. So at the age of 15, when I went through some really tough times, I came to the conclusion that there wasn’t a God and if there was, He was a cruel and mean God. I turned away from everything I was raised to believe and went my own way. This led me to a 10 year addiction to pain killers and heroin. While in my addiction I lost 9 of my closest friends to their addictions and I always wondered why it wasn’t me instead. Yet, nothing really sunk in until my brother died in 2009. As I stood and spoke at his funeral I knew that I would be next if I didn’t make a major change in my life. Seeing the pain in the eyes of my family was a major motivation for me. I didn’t want to put them through any more pain. I began to reach out for help and the ladies at my church began to fast and pray for me. They took me in and had someone sit with me around the clock as they detoxed me from all the drugs. After two weeks they brought me to Teen Challenge. This program has changed my life. I came in here with no hope…I was 24 and knew that I had ruined my life. Now I am excited for what God has done, is doing and is going to do! My family is proud of me and want to be part of my life again. I am going to Bible college in January. I can see now that everyling I have been through I will be used to help bring someone else out of that life I was trapped in. I have peace now where before I was full of anger and resentment. I have learned how to allow Jesus to lead me and once I’ve learned to follow, He will use me to lead others.”

– Chris

“I really pushed my parents over the edge when I overdosed on pills not once, not twice, but three times with 35 pills. They had enough and did not know where to turn. Thats when they brought me to Lakeland. Two months later, Jesus Christ intervened and said, Get ready family! I am the Great Physician and I will heal your daughter and bind up her wounds! God changed me from the inside out that day and has set me free from all the bondage that I was enslaved in.”

– Jennifer

“I am 31 years old. My father was my hero, but he introduced me to smoking pot. Drinking and drug use soon became my focus in life. By the age of 23, I had married and had two children. I soon began using cocaine, and spent less time with my family. Even though my marriage ended, I still continued my drug and alcohol use. I started using oxycontin along with my dad who had suffered from an injury and was taking it for pain management. Together we would get high. In 2007, I suffered a serious injury that required surgery. The pain medication I was given only kept me deep into my addiction. On Feb 8, 2008, I walked into my dads house where he had a 12 gauge shotgun and wanted to end his life. I pleaded with him to stop, but he took his life while I was helpless to stop him. Addiction had stolen everything from me. I was quickly engulfed in depression and total despair. After being incarcerated in a mental institution, I had hit rock bottom. Two weeks later I was arrested for a crime I did not commit and sent to prison. I reached out to my uncle to see if he could get me help, instead of spending the next 30 years incarcerated. He was able to get me into Teen Challenge. I have since surrendered my life to God. He has blessed me beyond belief. I am completely free from the bondage of addiction. I have joy in my heart and God is restoring the lost years with my family.”

– Anonymous

“No one knows better than I what wonderful and awesome miracles God works through Teen Challenge. A year ago my son was doing any kind of drug he could get his hands on. He ended up in jail for stealing checks from me and from his stepfather and for forging my name. The hardest thing I ever had to do was practice tough love, but I knew it was going to save his life. He asked to go to Teen Challenge and because of some wonderful people with Teen Challenge and with the Lord’s help, he was accepted. I will never forget the first time his four children and I got to visit him.”

– A Thankful Mother

“It was the best decision we have made in our entire life. Our sons life was saved from destruction on this earth and for eternity. The education was the finest he could have gotten anywhere. He became a self-disciplined student with motivated study habits and finished with a 3.9 GPA. He now has the desire and compassion to serve in his community and church, as well as tutoring and mentoring younger kids.”

– Grateful Parents

“I started smoking marijuana with my uncle at the age of 15. I had a hard time finding acceptance and fell into a drug-using crowd at school. Upon graduation, I went into military service and started using cocaine, hallucinogenics, and crack. The whole time I maintained a Christian front, even playing in the church band. I became deeply depressed. God in his mercy reached down and led me to Teen Challenge. While in the program I was able to see how deceived I had actually been and at the same time experience his joy and peace. It was at Teen Challenge that I felt Gods special call on my life. I plan on becoming a worship leader and assistant pastor.”

– Brandon P

“I grew up in Pennsylvania in a Christian home. For ten years I was enslaved by alcohol. My life was pure destruction and my fifteen years of marriage was full of chaos. My life was hopeless. Then I came to Teen Challenge! Now my life is complete in God’s love. I am so thankful for His unfailing, abundant grace and mercy. I stand on Mark 12:30-And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Now I can truly say I love my Lord Jesus! I am a new creation! Praise God!”

– Toni H

“I am 27 years old and was blessed to be raised in a loving Christian environment that provided everything I needed to succeed and excel in life. They taught me how to live for Christ through their example. Once I graduated from high school, I chose to hang with the wrong set of friends. I started drinking and it began to consume me. I went to college, but still continued to party. Eventually my addiction led me to drop out of college and to quit working. I had met a young lady, who encouraged me to be a better person, but I was too caught up in my addiction to change. We had a son, but even he wasnt enough to make me want to change. I eventually lost everything and everyone that ever mattered to me. After trying unsuccessfully to get help on my own, my grandfather encouraged me to try Teen Challenge. Since coming into the program, God has given me an overwhelming sense of peace, love, hope, and happiness. He has forgiven me and shown me His true grace and mercy. God has begun to restore the relationship with my family and my son as well as teaching me the principles that lead to a joyous and prosperous life. I know that through God, there is always hope!”

– Anonymous

“I started drinking at age 14. As years went by and life got harder, my dependency on alcohol became so intense that I could no longer face the day without a drink. By the time I reached Teen Challenge, I was drinking a bottle of vodka a day and dabbling in other drugs as well. That’s when Jesus stepped in and literally restored my mind, heart, and soul and has given me a hope for the future and a peace that is truly not of this world. I will be forever grateful.”

– Amy D.

“Before coming to Teen Challenge I was in the trap of crack cocaine. God has set me free from the bondage of my addiction. I praise God for restoring the bridges I burned.”

– Anthony C

“Teen Challenge has been a blessing to me and has graduated the son of a friend of mine who has turned his life around seeking to serve our Lord. Praises to God for the ministry and mission of Teen Challenge.”

– Kenneth A.

“Hi, I’m Liane. Having my baby die from SIDS was my worst nightmare. Then add all that to a psychotic husband’s abuse and what was left in the wake of that was many years of drug addiction. I can’t tell you how broken my heart was. But after going through the Teen Challenge program, Jesus has truly set me free from my addictions and has healed my wounded heart. Now I have no desire to use any drug. My parents now have complete trust in me again and the broken pieces in my life are fixed! I am actively involved in a women’s bible study at church. I’m also working full time and getting my masters – and I’m getting married to a wonderful man who treats me like gold. Teen Challenge has completely restored my life.”

– Liane

“I was raised in a Christian family, going to church every time the doors were open. As I got older I started rebelling against God, which led me to selling drugs, clubbing, and ultimately to cocaine addiction. I deserved prison or death. But God was gracious and had mercy on me. Now I am back in His arms praising and giving Him all the glory. Thank God! Hallelujah!”

– Tonica B

“I started drinking alcohol at the age of thirteen. At one point I found myself homeless. I ended up in prison by the time I was twenty-one. While in prison, I began to read my Bible. When I got out of prison a friend told me about Teen Challenge. I came into the program and received hope. Now, I am alive in Christ. I now know who I am. I am a son of the most high God!”

– Brent

“My mother served the Lord with all her heart. My father served the Lord halfheartedly because of alcoholism and smoking. Now I realize that God had His hand on me, even then. I left my home state at age 18 to go to college and play football. After four years of education and sports, I settled in and started a family and began working in the construction industry. As I began to succeed at my job, upper level positions came with upper level pay. Slowly, I began using drugs and alcohol, and began to neglect my family. The secular world with its quick fixes didn’t help give my life back. I clearly see now that only Jesus could do that. Through the support of a very special friend, the Lord opened the doors of Teen Challenge to me. This was the beginning of my brand new life. God, using Teen Challenge as a tool, changed my life. As the Lord promised through His word, He restored to me all that I had lost, my family, my job and a life full of ministry.”

– Michael

“At the age of 12, I began drinking. I started smoking pot at the age of 15. While at college I was introduced to crack. After 21 years of addiction, God opened the door of Teen Challenge to me. I now depend on Him for all of my peace, joy, and strength. I praise God for changing my life and giving me hope.”

– Malcolm H

“I grew up in a Christian home knowing Christ. However, later in life I turned away from God and began living a sinful life involving alcohol and drugs. For more than a decade an alcohol addiction gradually destroyed all I had-my friends, my job, my future, and was soon to take my life. The grace of God led me to Teen Challenge’s doors through the prayer and help of my family. Since then the Lord has been at work in my life restoring my health, healing my heart, and reestablishing a relationship with Jesus Christ. He has given me hope for my future and a desire to serve Him the rest of my life.”

– Andy B

“My whole life Ive grown up as a Christian. I was always well educated, very active in sports and extra activities. As I grew older, out of acceptance by negative people, I began using gateway drugs and it quickly grew into harder drugs. By high school my focus was less on sports and more on drugs. I was allowing the devil to just take hold of my life. Three months before graduation I dropped out of high school and found myself in a bad relationship with a boy. I ended up getting into some legal trouble and was placed on probation for eight years. By age 18 with five felonies, I felt like my life was ruined. About three years into probation I found myself relapsing on an IV drug and ended up on life support and in a coma for 14 days. After waking up, I couldn’t walk or talk and I realized I needed God to direct my path again. I have now rededicated my life again to Christ through Teen Challenge. Because of my overdose I had revoked my probation and was facing a prison sentence. I brought the idea of Teen Challenge to my judges attention but he was not for it. Twelve months had gone by and in the end I had the choice to either attend a six month rehab through the system or go to Teen Challenge for 12 months. I chose Teen Challenge because I wanted that relationship with God. The Lord has blessed me in so many ways. I am now married to a wonderful man, basing our marriage on Christ. Im not afraid of completing probation. I know now that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. My passion in life is to counsel juvenile kids struggling with acceptance and to just let them know its not worth trying drugs to fit in. The enemy has been defeated by MY Savior Jesus Christ!”

– Diamond

“I went to the doctor for hip pain and he prescribed me pain medication and this was the beginning of the end for me. The meds not only took away the physical pain they soothed the emotional anguish I had deep inside of me. I began to rely on them for everything and became opiate dependent. This led to a lifestyle of crime to support my addiction, which landed me in jail. While in jail I lost my wife, my son, my home, my car and my freedom. This was the lowest point in my life and when I thought I wanted to end it all, I cried out to Jesus. I asked Him to come into my life and help me. He did just that. He gave me a feeling of hope and enough strength to make it through that day. Jesus began to deliver me from the lies I had believed for so long. I would seek HIM and would find Him when I searched with my whole heart. When going before the judge for sentencing, the judge allowed me to go to Teen Challenge even though my lawyer told me there was no way the judge would allow it. While at Teen Challenge my walk was strengthened beyond belief. I was in the word every day, being built up so I now have the tools to witness to the world of the goodness of God and what He can do for a broken spirit. God has done for me what man said was impossible, but most of all He has brought peace to my heart and purpose to my life. No matter how low you feel, or how far away youve gone, He can do the same for you.”

– Jason

“I was full of anger, despair and hopelessness. Alcohol and depression robbed me of my joy. Now I have hope, peace and a song in my heart. It’s not about me anymore. Thank you, Lord.”

– Fred K

“I was raised in a Christian home all my life, my mom always took us, my sister and me to church on Sundays and Wednesdays. I was active in youth camps and helping in the community. My parents were divorced, but I still had a good relationship with my father and mother. All the years of my youth I still never knew what being a Christian was all about. I had accepted Jesus into my heart, but was young and didn’t know what it really meant. When I was 13 years old I woke up one morning and my mom had passed away from an aneurism. That was the day my world fell apart. My mom was my best friend, and now she was gone. That day I gave up on life and on myself. After my mom passed away I moved in with my dad, which meant I had to move to another town, Valley Mill, Tx. and change schools. By the time I was 15 I had made new friends and started doing drugs to fill the void, the hole in my heart. By the age of 16 I was a full blown alcoholic and addict and was in and out of jail. Doing everything I could to run from God. I was hurting! I couldn’t understand why I had to loose my mom. When I was 20 years old I got into more trouble, and the D.A. and judge gave me the option to come to Teen Challenge. Since I’ve been in Teen Challenge, 10 months now, God has done amazing things in my life. He has completely restored the trust and love back in my family, and turned my world upside down. I actually like who Im becoming now. I can talk to my family without hiding who I am and what Im feeling. My grand-mother told me that through seeing me grow, she is becoming a stronger Christian. God has answered prayer and opened doors for a cousin to make her way to Teen Challenge as well. God has also put a desire in me to become a youth pastor and that is something I intend to pursue. God is and has done amazing in my life and I cant wait to see what else He is going to do. Thanks be to God!”

– Matt H.

“My life struggles began with my parents divorce when I was 11. My dad worked so much, and it left such an emptiness in me. When the divorce was complete, my mother attempted suicide and I felt like my world had ended. My need for attention became so great that I began seeking this attention through promiscuous relationships. This behavior almost destroyed my family. My parents desired to pour what was needed into my life so they enrolled me into Teen Challenge. During my tenure, my father died, and this was crushing, however now I am more determined than ever to finish what God has begun in me.”

– Rhys

“I come from a rough past including a lot of drug and alcohol abuse. I spent the last 15 years of my life in and out of jail and high and drunk on anything that I could get my hands on. In August of 2010 I was facing a 10 year sentence. But instead of going to the penitentiary I was sent to Teen Challenge of Texas – Azle Men’s Campus. Here I have learned a lot. One of the best things about Teen Challenge for me has been the extensive class time I get from our education department. I have learned how to read the word and apply it to my life. The group studies that we do helped me to identify things in myself that I didn’t know were there. We had a class on managing money that has been a great help to improve the way I look at my finances. Now we’re involved in a study called the Ultimate Journey. This class helps me identify the lies that I believed about myself as a kid growing up and how to deal with them now in a more positive and Godly way. I have spent my whole life doing wrong for selfish reasons; now I am learning through a new kind of spiritual education to do things for others and for Gods kingdom.”

– Aaron B.

“I never knew God was all I needed until He was all I had. I thought I’d always be bound to drugs until I experienced His resurrection power at the altar one day. Today I stand on the word, plead the blood and run to the cross in times of trouble. Praise God I’ll never be the same and I hope to share this hope with as many people as possible.”

– Amanda M.

“My brother and I were selling heroin and cocaine. We had a lot of money and were living a thrilling high-paced lifestyle. This came to an abrupt end when my brother and I were arrested. I opted for Teen Challenge instead of prison. I graduated, but never submitted myself fully to God. Four months after graduating I began the slide back into my addiction. I fell hard and began using IV cocaine. Two friends died of overdose, but it didn’t sink in until I overdosed on two different occasions and ended up in the emergency room. I realized if I kept living this way I would die. The only reason I’m alive today is I believe God has a plan for my life. Teen Challenge is the vessel God used to restore my life through a relationship with Him. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them”

– Teen Challenge Participant

“Both my parents were heavy drug addicts and alcoholics. They were very abusive to each other as well as my baby sister and me. I became the caregiver to my sister and myself. I lived like this until I was ten years old when a man my mom occasionally dated molested my sister and me. At this point we were finally removed from my parents home and placed into state custody with my grandparents as our guardians. My grandparents had been a part of my life constantly taking us to church every time the doors were open. I knew who God was. I also knew that no matter what I was going through, He was with me. I had seen Him save my life too many times. My life from that moment on was seemingly perfect in comparison to what I had lived in before. I started singing in church and playing music. I began to learn where my place was in life. I started leading praise and worship at church at about 12 years old, and that’s where I knew I belonged. I have been doing that ever since. I made good grades in school and graduated with a full ride scholarship to a bible college in Alabama. I was married to my husband who was a youth pastor a couple of months after I graduated. We moved immediately so that I could begin my degree in music ministry. We found a church family and immediately began our work there. I loved it and so did he. Everything was great until I began to have some medical problems. I was having so issues with my head and jaws that I found out would require a surgery I could not afford. The dentist then decided to prescribe me pain medication until I could have this done. I was terrified to take the medicine because I knew what could happen. I didn’t want to live the way my parents did so I hardly took them. However, I found myself very quickly justifying my using. A few years after I moved, I lost a dear friend of mine and it killed me. Not even a month later I lost another friend and my four-month-old unborn child. A few months later I lost my second child and then a third. I quickly went from 1-2 pills a week to 20-30 per day. My life became a nightmare worse than anything I could imagine. Pain had consumed me, as well as hate and me. I knew what I needed, and that was a fresh touch from God. So I cried out to Him for help. He quickly took me from having everything I wanted to having nothing at all. My husband left me and I lost my home and the rest of my family. He brought me to Teen Challenge with nothing to build me back up and give me everything. I have a relationship with my God that I never thought possible. I don’t just speak with Him every day when I pray at certain times. I Pray at all times with all kinds of prayer and He talks back. He has guided my every step to this very moment to show me I am not worthless and dirty, but that I am His daughter and He has plans for me that are wilder than anything I can possibly imagine. I have been set free of religious bondage as well. I worship with passion and freedom because I know who I serve. My gifts and talents are being nurtured and used here in a way I really never thought possible. I have been able to heal from the wounds of losing my babies. I have honored them and named them because they were precious lives to me and to God. I know that I will be able to see them all again when I get to heaven. I have been able to speak to my family again and I know that they love me. They have accepted me back with open arms as if nothing has ever happened. I wake up every single morning with a hunger and desire to serve Him as best I can. He gave everything for me; I cant possibly give anything less than my life. While there are still some things I am waiting on God to work out, He has given me the peace to know that He has everything under control. I don’t worry about anything anymore. I just stand still and let God work it all out for His glory.”

– Brittney

“I was in Teen Challenge and it was the best time of my life. Don’t get me wrong it was hard work but man I’ll never have an experience like that again. I took with me so many good memories and friends. Thanks Teen Challenge!”

– Kristen G

“For the past 15 years I have been addicted to drugs and alcohol. But today, thank God, the addiction is broken and I stand here a blood-washed, born-again Christian. My only desire is to know more about my loving Savior and walk in His ways.”

– David J.

“The work they do for our youth is AMAZING!! God lives and is working hard with this team…”

– Donna D-G

“I had a good childhood when I was growing up. Unfortunately, I was an angry child and didn’t really follow the rules. I was in trouble a lot at school and had a hard time keeping friends. In middle school I started taking my mom’s psychiatric medication and it just went absolutely nuts from there. High school was a blur of parties, drinking and drugs. I found myself graduating from an alternative school. In college I continued to drink and take drugs and was never able to settle down enough to focus on school. It was difficult to balance a job, school, and drugs all at once. I quit school and continued to work and do drugs. This went on all the way up until I got arrested for a DWI. While on probation, I continued to use drugs and eventually I got caught. After getting out of jail, I went into a rehab, finished the program, and then found myself right back where I started. This time my life felt like it was at rock bottom. I found the Lord and began to pray. However, my life was still out of control and I got fired from my job. Later, I found out about Teen Challenge of Texas and knew I had to go. So, here I am, praise the Lord! Teen Challenge has changed my life.”

– James V.

“Growing up, I became devoted to theatre and loved playing lacrosse, but soon after 6th grade I started hanging out with kids a lot older than me and got involved in the wrong crowd. By 7th grade my grades had dropped, I was being suspended often and using drugs regularly. I was completely apathetic about my family and by 8th grade, my depression was out of control. I had been taken advantage of by one of my closest friends and didn’t understand what was happening in my life. A suicide attempt landed me in the hospital all before my 14th birthday. My mom saw my life and what I was doing to myself and decided it was time to find a safe place for me to find a new way of happiness. I walked through the doors of New Hope House broken and in need of repair. I started to see changes in and around me that I could not write-off as coincidence. I saw God working around me and I couldnt say no any longer. After 5 months at New Hope House I let God take the reigns in my life and I havent looked back since. Now after one year in Teen Challenge, I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. I think, feel, act, and even look like a different person. He has been the cornerstone in my transformation. Without Him, I dont know where I would be, but Im sure it wouldnt be good. God has saved my life and has given me self worth and, most importantly, love.”

– Ariel A.

“I believe in transformation and restoration with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I visited my son this past weekend and I see a change…..Praise to God and Teen Challenge. Praying for God’s Grace to cover the student’s, staff and entire campus at San Antonio. It is so important to lead by example. Amen.”

– Terrylynn W.

“I thought no one could ever understand and bring me out of the endless suffering I was in. At Lakeland, God showed me His amazing grace and opened up my heart to let others in to help. I now know it is not all about me, but helping others, showing love, forgiveness and accepting others for who they are.”

– Megan

“Before I came to Teen Challenge of Texas – Magnolia Men’s Campus, my life was one big perpetual lie. I wasn’t living for the Lord and there was no truth in me. In 2005 I had back surgery, and got addicted to pain pills. My life very quickly got out of control and became a constant search for the numbing effects of the pills. In my selfish despair, I didn’t care who I hurt or used as long as I got what I wanted. Since I came to Teen Challenge and cried out to Jesus, I’ve learned how to rely on God for my needs to be met and how to look to Him for answers. I’ve learned a great deal from the group studies we do here at Teen Challenge. The Gospel and contract studies have been the pivot point of transforming my mind and life in Christ. Since I’ve been here, my family relationships have been restored and I must pass all that glory to my God. I plan to serve God with my life now by answering the call of youth minister. Praise God!”

– Derick S.

“Just prior to entering Teen Challenge, I attempted to end my life, feeling helpless after years of an oxycontin (synthetic heroin) addiction. He has saved me, delivered me, and restored a call to serve Him the rest of my life.”

– Zach N.

“Growing up, I was not the easiest child to raise. I was the rebellious one. I was ‘stuck up’ and always wanted the latest fashions for myself. I didn’t care who I hurt or manipulated in order to get what I wanted. Aderall was my drug of choice. I was able to lose weight on it and it made me stay awake and alert while working. I eventually realized I had an addiction to this drug and enrolled in the Teen Challenge in Missouri. After 2 weeks I left because I wasn’t ready for all that the Bible had to say. I was a a hard mirror to look into. Soon after I became very depressed from a break up and began drinking. I worked while intoxicated not thinking anyone would notice. I met my ex fiance, we moved in together and had our daughter, Gianna. For once I was sober. Yet, little by little I picked up the alcohol again and when my fiance left me, my drinking got worse. I drank so heavily that my liver was at the beginning stages of cirrhosis. I tried secular rehabs but nothing worked. Again my parents suggested Teen Challenge. I was eager to change my life and surrender and that’s just what I did. I’ve been here 11 months and learned how much God loves me. I’ve learned how to have respect for myself and others. God has protected my daughter and my health. I went to have my liver checked and found out it has been healed! God is good!”

– Alexis

“God is amazing and without the help from Teen Challenge, my son Casey wouldn’t be the person he is becoming today! I am so proud of him and I cannot thank you enough Teen Challenge!!!!!!”

– Nikki C.

“My dad introduced me to alcohol at the age of eight with sips from his glass. By fourteen he was handing me my own. It made me feel confident. I started drinking with friends. By nineteen I got the first of four drunk driving tickets. I realized then that I was an alcoholic, just like my Dad. By age 30, after hospitalizations, torn relationships, and a near-death resuscitation during an alcoholic seizure, I found myself broken, hopeless and depressed. I had lost the will to live. I finally cried out to God in desperation. He graciously rescued me from hell’s gates and brought me to Teen Challenge the best thing that has ever happened to me. I now have a personal relationship with him and he is restoring my relationship with my 16-year-old son and the rest of my family. I am now an Intern in the Marketing Department. I wake up in the morning with a purpose. I’ve found joy and peace in Christ. Many have prayed for me. I am living proof that God answers prayers.”

– Brian K.

“Coming here has made me the girl that I have always wanted to be. God is restoring every relationship with my family members. God is amazing and I am so thankful.”

– Amanda

“Before I came to the program I lived a life of drug addiction, violence, and an overall disrespect of any authority. My view of a real man was twisted and I was headed down a path of sin and destruction. My parents had pleaded with me for years to heed their advice and obey them and used many forms of discipline but this world had a hold on my life and I simply would not listen. I was half way through my junior year of high school in January of 2008 when my parents made the decision to send me to Teen challenge. As you can imagine I wasn’t too happy to be there. For the first four months or so I wanted nothing to do with the program or the blessings it could offer me. My plan was to leave when I turned 18 in May (but God had different plans however). On April 25th, 2008 I gave my life to the Lord and decided to finish the program and the rest is history. From that point on I poured into the program and tried to learn all I could from the amazing men that ran it. I found myself reading my Bible constantly and marveled at the miraculous God that I was serving. I soon realized what a terrible life I had been leading as well as all the pain I had caused my family. I became desperate for God and His power to change my heart and heal my family, and our God is faithful. I graduated the program last April and I now live at home with my family. God has since blessed me with an amazing girlfriend and a great new set of friends. I try to stay involved in my church while I finish high school online. I plan to become a firefighter and should be starting school in January. My family and I try to visit the Teen Challenge campus as often as possible to give back to the students, families, and staff. I thank God everyday for this program and what its done for my family and I, and I encourage all of you to help support this program because its an amazing ministry and God truly does works miracles on its campus.”

– Matt R.

“Just a little over a year ago, we drove our son to Teen Challenge. I remember having mixed feelings and being full of various emotions. On one hand I was reluctant to leave my son in the hands of strangers. But mostly I felt so proud of the decision he had made and I felt he was totally safe in God’s hands. I recall having the most restful sleep that first night. I experienced the peace that passes all understanding. I didn’t go to bed worrying about his safety for the first time in several years. I am blessed to have a son who can stand up and do hard things. It is amazing to be a witness to the power of God. With God, all things are possible!”

– Kim

“As a child, my parents made the hard choice to send me to live with my grandmother. Back and forth I went between two states, the many uprootings building high, protective walls. After graduation, worldly pleasures became daily habits. In 2012, I began to use crack. My dad urged me to attend Teen Challenge. Foolishly, I thought I could do it on my own. It was only a matter of time before I was arrested. By the grace of God, I was sentenced to a rehab facility. After a month later, I felt a great burden lift. I was ready to allow God to heal the hurting child within. I know now how much God loves me, and how his plan brought me to this moment. The walls are coming down and the path is straight before me. With Gods grace, I will walk it with the spiritual armor provided by Teen Challenge.”

– Major

“For the last 9 years I have been to 10 secular rehabs trying to break free from addiction to alcohol. By the grace of God I found Teen Challenge. I have been set free. My relationship with Jesus Christ has been restored. He has filled the void in my life. I am no longer consumed by alcohol. I am free from the bondage of sin, and I am filled with the hope of eternal life.”

– Mark R.

“Living in sin for twenty years! I landed in jail three times and rehab twice. After that, I lost my job. But, there is hope because of Teen Challenge. What a change in my life living for Jesus! It’s the best decision I’ve made in my life! I am now bound for Heaven.”

– Tony M

“While growing up, I was involved in almost every after school activity available. From sports, photography, to student government. I made good grades and awesome friends. But things took a turn for the worse when family problems started occurring more and more frequently, eventually to the point of my parents divorce. After the shock wore off, I look for a way to deal with the pain and anger. Boy, was the devil waiting for me! I was introduced to pot when I was 14 years old and shortly after, began using meth and pain killers on a regular basis. Needless to say, it didn’t take long for my life to change. I no longer played sports, wasn’t involved in events and my grades dropped drastically, not to mention my friends no longer wanted anything to do with me. My family life didn’t get much better either. I entered rehab for the first time when I was 17 and have been hopping from one treatment center to the next ever since with very little results. Until, I entered Tennessee Valley Teen Challenge and got right with God. I remembered all the fun I had in church as a kid and I knew a change needed to take place in my heart. I made a decision to rededicate my life to Christ. My life hasn’t been the same since. My relationship with my family has never been stronger. I’m motivated to start college and get my new life started the right way, living for God and always keep Christ at the center of my life. I m looking forward to the blessings God has in store for me in the years to come. I will be forever grateful for what God has done in my life through the Teen Challenge program. Galatians 2:20 is Gods word for me.”

– Chris S.

“This time last year I was deep in my addiction, lost and miserable. I had no hope and just wanted to die. Today I am so in love with Jesus because of His overwhelming love for me. He has forgiven me and transformed my life from a crazy mess to something beautiful. Now I can be the mother that my baby girl deserves.”

– Jennifer

“I grew up in Iowa in a Christian home. My parents divorced when I was eleven, and I started to rebel against everything. Since my mom was basically raising me and my sister alone, she had to get a job and I was left to do more and more of whatever I wanted. I ended up smoking, drinking, and doing drugs. By age 13, I was smoking pot every day and doing other drugs when I got the chance. I got into trouble living with my mom so I would move in with my dad. For a couple of years I went back and forth until I decided to run away. I got caught and was ordered to attend Tarkio Academy. I was there for eight months. I got out shortly after my sixteenth birthday and the court emancipated me. I continued to get high and move around a lot. I would stay somewhere until I didn’t like it anymore or until I wore out my welcome, then I would go somewhere else. I supported myself mainly by selling drugs. In 2001, I met my wife but continued to smoke pot and do drugs. In 2003, my wife and I were arrested for growing pot. I went to rehab and stayed clean for one year thinking I had it whipped. I started smoking pot again which led me into the meth scene more than ever before. I got sent to prison for 120-day drug treatment. Needless to say, it didn’t work. I got out and was worse. My life was more of a mess than ever before. I started cooking meth full-time and got busted a few months later. Now I was in jail thinking that this was the end of my life. Thats when the jailer, who I had gone to school with, started talking to me about God. She gave me a bible and asked her pastor to come see me. I started reading the Bible and praying. Even with all these negative things happening to me, I had a sense of hope that I never had before. The pastor led me to the Lord while I was in jail and mentioned Teen Challenge. He brought me the rules and the application. I filled them out and was accepted. I went to court facing ten years, but the judge told me that I could go to Teen Challenge. I’m still facing sentencing on two other felonies, but Im not worried. God has changed me in a lot of ways and continues to show me areas in my life that need work. Im learning to trust in God and know that He will do what is right for me whether I understand it or not. My goal is to complete Teen Challenge and be the best father and husband I can be. I would also like to help others who struggle with drugs and that lifestyle come to Christ.”

– Andrew P

“Before I came here, I was a lost soul looking for love in all the wrong places and trying to get high every time I got out of school and off work. When I got here at Teen Challenge, I didn’t want people telling me what to do. Then I saw people that I knew in jail and lose everything they had. I did not want to end up like them. While in Teen Challenge, I found out that God was the only way to be happy. About five weeks into the program, I gave my life to God and I could not be happier. My family is happier than I have ever seen them. They know that I was in a place that I got the help I needed and got a better life with my savior Jesus Christ. I stand on the scripture in 2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone the new has come.”

– nan

“I thank God for delivering me from a 7-year painkiller addiction, for my new life in Christ, and for being my ever present help in troubling times.”

– Derrick L.

“I graduated in 2007 from Teen Challenge of Texas – San Antonio Women’s Campus. I remember my first day there. My younger sister (who would later complete the program herself) dropped me off at the office. All I could do was sob. My life was broken after 10 years of addiction, prostitution, prison, and heart surgery. For years I tried to run my life, but the truth is I only ruined my life. Because of Christ I am FREE, and he who the Son sets free is free indeed! I have been clean and sober since the day I arrived at TC. One of the coolest things is I have no desire for the old life. What Paul wrote to the Corinthians is so true, those who are in Christ are new creations”

– Emily K.

“I grew up in an ordinary Christian home. I was always in church and Sunday School and I never had any trouble when it came to school. When I turned 18, I went on Myspace and a girl said that I was her half-brother. I showed my mom and that is when my downfall began. She broke down and told me that she was raped at 15 and I was the product of that attack. After learning the gruesome details my world fell apart. I started using drugs from marijuana to cocaine. I lost everything and got arrested twice in one year for theft. My parents kicked me out and I was living on my own. My mom told me about Teen Challenge of Texas and at first I was reluctant to come, but then the courts gave me no choice. My first day here I broke down and got on my knees and asked God to save me from this pain. Now I’m six months into the program and I have never been as joyful as I am today. It is by the grace of God that I know I have a future and I finally have my loving family back, too.”

– Christopher

“After 15 long years of addiction I can remember thinking that being an addict was all I would ever be. I had many negative labels on my life and believed what the enemy was trying to convince me. I was trapped in my own skin and had no purpose in life. In 2011 I finally got to the end of myself and came to teen challenge and was introduced to a man named Jesus who loved me anyways! I spent a year in the program renewing my mind as the Holy Spirit began to show me who I really am! Now I no longer have to walk around with my head down because I am a NEW creation. The Sarah I was for so long, no longer exists and the Lord has shown me my new purpose in life. Thank you Jesus!!”

– Sarah C

“I started using drugs as an adult. Life was full of pain and abuse. I was a wreck and had very little hope from my life. The drug use got really bad after my husband passed away. The drugs seemed to numb the pain, which felt unbearable at the time. Eventually, I got caught with meth and was facing 3 years in prison when my lawyer suggested Teen Challenge. While at Teen Challenge I was able to face life and deal with my past, instead of running from it. The Lord showed me that I had a reason to help and that He had a plan for me. Even if the plan wasn’t exactly what I thought I needed, I knew it was where God wanted me to be and that He has my best interests at heart. I’m now attending college and working full-time. God is good!”

– Teen Challenge Participant

“I grew up living two separate lives — half of my time was occupied with sports, school & living a very structured live. The other half of the time I was partying with friends and keeping my own agenda. I went on to college and got a really good job but it was all a facade. I was always putting on a show — smiling, laughing, and acting like I had it together. In reality, I was dying inside and covering the pain with a mix of heavy drinking and drug use. When my stepmom discovered me overdosed on drugs — ice cold, she rushed me to the hospital and three days later I entered Teen Challenge. I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am. I actually want to be a better person today. I’ve been humbled and can’t truly explain how thankful I am that I don’t have to be a slave to an addiction anymore. Praise God!”

– Anonymous

“I grew up in a loving family who gave me all the love and opportunity a child could want. But when I came to an age where I was free to make my own decisions I chose to start using drugs. Even though my grades dropped and I lost interest in things I loved. I continued to use because it was what I thought kids did to have fun. My drug use escalated in college, quitting school and getting a DUI shortly after. By the time I was approaching 30 I had added narcotics to my menu of drugs. I lied, cheated, and stole to get what I wanted. My mom found me in a dirty hotel where I had been for 10 days trying to drink myself to death. I was afraid to live, afraid to die. My grandpa, who had experienced addiction in his past, had enough and demanded I come to Teen Challenge. I came in on 9-9-09 and began the slow, arduous process of change. I gave my life to Christ and began to surrender parts of myself to God: my addiction, my past hurts, my future anxieties and as I did this He changed my heart. I am a new person, the person God made me to be: caring, trustworthy, hopeful, silly, a person of integrity. I now work for Teen Challenge as an intern, helping with grant writing and marketing projects. I am back in school to finish my 4 year degree. I have been playing music again and never enjoyed it more. My family and I are closer than ever and God has kept good friends in my life. Mostly, I now have peace and optimism because I believe in Gods promises and rely completely on His love.”

– Will

“Before I came to Teen Challenge I was living a life of sin. I was a puppet for the devil. Drugs had totally consumed me and all the relationships with the people I love. I had become a different person. I thought there was no hope for me and I remember thinking one morning, Wow, this is what I have become, a drug addict. I thought that is what I was going to be. I knew there had to be hope somewhere. I was arrested and put in jail. It allowed my mind to clear and I cried out to God. I made the decision to come to Teen Challenge. I no longer consider myself the black sheep of the family, or the outcast of society. God has given me a new name and I am singing a new song. Hallelujah!”

– Phil

“By God’s grace I am delivered from an addiction to heroin. He’s patiently and lovingly teaching me to live a life that is centered on him!!”

– Rachel L.

“The Bible talks about the word of our testimony, and Teen Challenge taught me about the power of a story. My dad’s a pastor. He’s been a pastor for 38 years in the Chicago suburbs, and growing up, every few months he would have a group from Teen Challenge come and visit our church. One by one these men would stand up and share their story. Hearing those Teen Challenge guys had me on the edge of my seat, and I thought, ‘Man, I want to be as real and authentic as them.’ Because those guys were saying, ‘Hey, here’s my story. It ain’t all pretty, but look what God has done.’ And you know what? When we tell our stories that way, guess who gets all the glory? God does.”

– Matthew W.

“Before coming to Teen Challenge I couldn’t imagine my life without alcohol. Through the love and support of my brothers here, I’ve experienced the glory, grace and mercy of Jesus.”

– Dirk D.

“This place is awesome and has a HUGE success rate compared to ANY other rehab……………Praise the LORD for changing hearts”

– Jeannette F.

“I started getting into trouble at an early age. I grew up in an abused home. My father got saved and he was a very strict Christian. I was physically abused by him for a long time. When my son committed suicide at the age of 22, I lost it and started drinking, and smoking crack rock. Something I said I would never do, I did. I lied, stole, and did whatever I had to do to get that next hit. I would sleep in dumpsters, not eating for days and using the ones that loved me. I gave my life to Christ at the age of 52. I owe my life to God and the Teen Challenge. There I found love, peace, joy, happiness in that hole in my heart that I thought I could never have. I will never forget what I learned in the nine months at Teen Challenge. I graduated the Lifeline Program on July 3rd. Without God and Teen Challenge, I couldn’t have made it. God is my life now and forever. Thank you Teen Challenge and my Lord for my new life. Try it. I know you will become a different person. I did.”

– Viola H.

“I was addicted to money and sex. I forgot how to tell the truth. When God came into my heart at Lakeland He softened my heart and gave me emotion. I have learned how to love. He has restored my relationship with my family. I am a new creation because of His grace.”

– Lisa

“Approximately ten years ago, my life was a dismal valley of despair and selfishness due to unresolved hurts. As a teenager with no real purpose, other than partying weekends and every available moment in-between, I was angry at the world and felt empty with my life ahead of me. I rebelled at most authority figures out of disenchantment from a broken home life. At the final phase of my difficulties, I was given two basic choices. I could either allow the State to sentence me to their programs and systems until I attained the age of 18, or I could try a completely new way of life, cease from complaining about my parents’ problems, and trust the Teen Challenge Program. Teen Challenge believed in my potential and invited me to focus on who I was and how I could be a better person. They offered me a chance to contemplate what life was about in the desert (away from society) for nearly a year. I emerged a brand new adult with a strong enough character base to stay out of trouble and have a fulfilling life.”

– David

“I started using drugs as an adult. My life was full of pain and abuse. I was a wreck and had very little hope for my life. The drug use got really bad after my husband died. The drugs seemed to numb the pain, which at the time felt unbearable. Eventually, I got caught with meth and was facing 3 years in prison when my attorney suggested Teen Challenge. While at Teen Challenge, I was able to face life and learn to deal with my past, instead of running from it. The Lord showed me that I had a reason to hope and that He had a plan for me. Even if the plan wasn’t exactly what I thought I needed, I knew it was where God wanted me to be and that He had my best interests at heart. I’m now working full time and in my second year of college. I’m enjoying my new life, praise God.”

– Teen Challenge Participant

“I’ve visited the campus – awesome – talked to the staff – the best – and even talked to the kids who have been there – powerful testimonies of how their lives have been changed. This is a first class program with lower than expected fees. Don’t miss checking them out. You’ll see the difference right away on their website. I’ve also talked to parents who have had their girl there, and that feeling of being impressed with the program continues, right through graduation and beyond.”

– Anonymous

“After living a sinful life and being bound to drugs and alcohol for over 20 years, I came to Teen Challenge. Since my arrival, God has been fixing things I didn’t even know were broken and totally transforming me. He has given me more peace and joy than I have ever had in my entire life. He’s also teaching me how to love and trust others and myself. For the first time in my life I can look at myself in the mirror and be okay with the person looking back at me.”

– Kelly S

“Before I came to know Christ: I consistently lived in sin, indulged in all the world had to offer, and promoted a self- serving attitude. Furthermore, I believed that this was the correct way to live my life and continued down this path of bondage and destruction blindly, empty and without hope. Then I met Jesus Christ! He is so beautiful, so merciful, so powerful, and so forgiving, that when He revealed a love to me that I could not comprehend and He offered a salvation I desperately needed. I bore witness as He took up my yoke as His own, so that I might be free! Since Jesus saved me: With the Holy Spirit, Jesus has helped me walk and at times carried me, He as broke me down and built me up again, He has allowed me to stray and held me close. In addition, whatever my weather is (good or bad), Jesus has always been, always is, and always be there with me, watching me, guiding me, protecting me, and loving me. I know the truth: With God all things are possible, even for a sinner like me! Glory to Jesus Christ!”

– James

“I have been down a long road with drug addiction. I started out smoking pot like usual, but that lead to much bigger and deeper things. Before I knew it I was taking pain pills every day. If I could not get those I would get heroin because it was cheaper. It started out to be fun, then it got really deep; so much that I lost my first house that I only owed 11 years on. I also lost my business and really hurt my family more than I will ever fully know. In order for me to get up and function in the morning, I had to take something. It grew to all throughout the day, and to go to sleep. This was the pattern. In between that I needed to find the drugs, money, and try to run a business. What a life I had. I knew something was wrong and I knew I was an addict, but I didn’t know how to stop. I went to 2 other rehabs – God was not involved in either. Then after another year went by I started getting in more trouble and still on drugs, trying to hide it (not possible). I have been in Teen Challenge for about 2 months now and I have learned so much since I have been here. I am learning who God is now and what a loving, awesome God He is. I did not know God before but I am slowly learning more and more. He has many things in store for me. I don’t know what they are yet, but I trust that the Lord will guide and take me where I am supposed to be.”

– Liz S.

“After becoming addicted to painkillers and alcohol in my 20s, I struggled for years in my own strength to break free from the bondage of sin and shame. After years of struggling, God saw fit to rescue me from these chains and has literally renewed my mind, heart and spirit. I thank God for the freedom and restoration of life he has given me through Christ.”

– Mark O

“Before Teen Challenge, I felt alone, hopeless, and very much afraid. After 20 years of addiction to Vicodin, I came to Teen Challenge. I have found deliverance, love, forgiveness, hope, and acceptance at the cross of Christ. I stand complete in Christ alone.”

– Beth B.

“I thank God for TC. The amazing work He did in my life and the lives of so many others. Since graduating from the Houston campus a year ago this month He has opened so many doors of ministry and restored my family and continues to work in my life daily. Thank y’all for being that vessel.”

– Lindsay B.

“I was not brought up as a Christian. Intelligence and education were stressed as the most important things in life, so I became a very good student and had aspirations for myself. At age 13 I was sexually assaulted. I then became rebellious and started experimenting with drugs, which became a lifestyle for me. By age 24 I started using heroin, which led to a 20-year-addiction and a lot of psychological problems. All of my dreams faded away and I was dying in my addiction. I lost my will to live and was completely broken. I decided to go to Teen Challenge and after a few months I turned over everything to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life has permanently changed. I finally felt God’s presence. I never wake up sad or depressed anymore. I’m happy to be alive and I dedicate my life to Christ. The following scripture is the most profound thing I have ever read: He was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that gave us peace was upon him. By His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:4”

– Lisa

“I thank God and give Him all the praise, honor, and glory for what he has done in my life. I was so wrapped up in deceit, rebellion, and substance abuse, yet was released when I found the power of God’s love. Always remember-God’s power is greater than any storm we face.”

– Cynthia B

“I was introduced to marijuana at the age of 14 and it slowly progressed to cocaine and pills by age 18. I barely graduated high school and then moved out of my home and moved in with a friend. I quit my job and at this point I started robbing people to get what I wanted. I was put on probation and soon after violated and went to jail. When I finally decided to come to Teen Challenge and through the love that everyone showed me, in which none of the people I have never meet before, on the second day here I gave my life to the Lord. I know that the Lord does love me and that through Christ I have been forgiven. Since I have got saved the Lord has blessed me a lot. He has given me even better relationships with my family. Through the Teen Challenge program, I have learned a lot about how to be more Christ like and be a better leader and have learned a lot about how to experience God and stay in Gods will. I want to thank the staff and the other leaders because they have presented me with what I needed to build the right foundation.”

– nan

“All of my life I have been running and searching for an answer to fill a void in my heart. I tried to fill that void through people, places, and things wanting so desperately to fill that void. One evening in January 2003, I had a dream that brought me to my knees, sobbing and crying out to the Lord with all I had left. I prayed to God to save me because I didn’t want to die like this. Within a matter of days, by His mercy, grace, and forgiveness He placed me at Teen Challenge with a plan and purpose for my life. My love for the Lord has His love for me puts a smile on my face and in my heart. All that I thought was lost forever because of my sin He is restoring, healing, redeeming, reconciling, revealing, and so much more. The best testimony I can give is what Christ is doing in my life now, wow and Amen!”

– Denise M.

“Hi. I’m Brianna. High school was a lonely time for me. I looked for acceptance with a group of friends who introduced me to drugs. I started cutting my wrists and overdosing on drugs. I ended up in the emergency room for suicide, and was sent to a crisis center twice. After being sent to various alternative schools, my drug use only escalated, and my whole life started to revolve around it. My parents intervened and sent me to Teen Challenge. And since then, I have really changed. My drug use has been gone for two years now. I’m studying studio art at Northwestern College, and I have a passion for missions. When I look back on my life, I am convinced of God’s faithfulness. That’s why I’m going to serve Him for the rest of my life.”

– Brianna

“I grew up in church but never had a relationship with Christ. After a failed marriage and losing really good jobs, friends, and family to drugs, I came to Teen Challenge broken. In October 2012 Teen Challenge took me in and introduced me to a relationship with Jesus Christ. Life is great and now I have hope!”

– Kyle

“I was numb, dirty and selfish before coming here. I was constantly running from every problem I faced and I was fazed by nothing. Thankfully, God snatched me out of that dead-end life and brought me here. Through His mercy and love I was spared. I thank God for my life. I thank God for the staff at Lakeland for opening my eyes.”

– Kelsey

“A year ago I was lost. I had no direction in life, no meaning. The life I knew was failing me. The things I loved to do became useless. I had begun selling myself to support my addiction. Accepting nothing but abuse my whole life, I knew I was worthless. I was searching and experimenting and finding nothing but hurt and self-affliction. I went home and shortly after started the process of coming to Teen Challenge of Texas. Now I am filled with the joy of the Lord. I know my stains are wiped clean. Surrendering completely to Christ has been the best choice I’ve ever made. Everything I ask Him for help with and give over to Him is taken care of… He has restored me.”

– Callie

“One night I planned to take my own life. I prayed, God help me!:” He miraculously did. Within 48 hours I found myself at Teen Challenge.”

– Anonymous

“I was sexually abused as a child and my parents were unaware. I grew up feeling shameful, disgusting, alone, and unworthy of love. I hated myself. I blamed my dad and felt he should have been there for me to protect me. I went to church but never had a relationship with Jesus. Suffering with severe anxiety, I lived in fear and it held me back from everything. I felt extremely disconnected from the world. I began using drugs to reduce the feelings of fear and anxiety that overwhelmed my daily thoughts. It held me prisoner for years. I have a three year old daughter who is the love of my life and deserves a mommy who serves the Lord. Praise God she has that now. My family is being restored and my mind is renewed. Jesus has set me free from drug addiction. Since giving my life to the Lord I am now able to share my testimony. Before coming to Teen Challenge my anxiety was unbearable, but God has given me strength and calmed my spirit. He has also given me a boldness that allows me to spread his good news. Kendall, Student”

– Kendall

“I am so thankful for Teen Challenge! May God continue to bless this awesome program! I miss you, my sisters, at the San Antonio Campus!!!”

– Monica A.

“When I came to Teen Challenge I thought I had just come to another program. But, I was so wrong! Teen Challenge helped me to change everything about my life. I am no longer a heroin addict, but a Godly mother and daughter.”

– Melissa P.

“I always believed in God. However, from an early age my life was defined by an endless cycle of domestic violence, alcohol and narcotics abuse which lead to a life of crime, loneliness and the brink of suicide. I was at the end of my rope. I came to Teen Challenge and found in Jesus Christ the only love that satisfied my soul. Fear, loneliness and drugs no longer rule my life. The love of Jesus set me free. -Shane”

– Shane

“For years I was bound by pain pills, which eventually led me into a heroin addiction. But, today I’ve been set free! Teen Challenge has drastically changed my life over this past year. I will never be the same. I give all the glory to God.”

– Carissa M.

“I started using drugs as an adult. My life was full of pain and abuse. I was a wreck and had very little hope for my life. The drug use got really bad after my husband died. The drugs seemed to numb the pain, which at the time felt unbearable. Eventually, I got caught with meth and was facing 3 years in prison when my attorney suggested Teen Challenge. While at Teen Challenge, I was able to face life and learn to deal with my past, instead of running from it. The Lord showed me that I had a reason to hope and that He had a plan for me. Even if the plan wasn’t exactly what I thought I needed, I knew it was where God wanted me to be and that He had my best interests at heart. I’m now working full time and in my second year of college. I’m enjoying my new life, praise God.”

– Anonymous

“Before I came to Teen Challenge I was addicted to crack cocaine and alcohol. Thanks to Teen Challenge I have learned how to put my trust in God and to stop giving up on Him. Praise God for what has been done.”

– Casey Y

“First of all, I need and want to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for being the head of my life. My journey began at an early age consisting of drugs and alcohol and living the worldly way. Living the way of the world caused me to go to jail and eventually I ended up in prison at the age of 19. After serving 10 years, with 9 years sobriety, I allowed myself to be used by the enemy of Gods people again. To make the long story short in 2009, I got married to a wonderful and beautiful woman by the name of Beverly Williams. My extreme drinking caused by life, my marriage, and my family a lot of embarrassment. With the encouragement of my wife, My father in law, and pastor Bill Garvin, I entered my first Teen Challenge in Michigan in which I thought I had it all together, and I also thought that I was ready to be a servant of God. How wrong was I! I allowed myself to be deceived and to fulfill the lust of the flesh. (drinking). I was not able to enroll in their Teen Challenge for a third time, but through the grace and mercy of God, I was able to enroll here at Tennessee Valley Teen Challenge. During my stay here, I have learned how to handle my anger and temptations. Also, learning how to grow through failure and how to remain a successful Christian though prayer and meditation on the word of God. I can truly say that I am a child of the most high God. I thank every board and staff members for accepting me and showing me love and respect. Thanks to every church ministry I have attended for their prayers and support. I want to thank Jim Forakis, Executive Director for pursuing his vision in starting Tennessee Valley Teen Challenge. Last but not least, I give great honors to a mighty man of God by the name of David Wilkerson, founder of Teen Challenge. I thank our Lord God Almighty for Bro. Daves vision. Grace and peace be unto you, and peace, from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:2”

– Frank W.

“I went to Teen Challenge when I was 17. It was the best thing that ever happened to me in my life. I went there with a broken heart and came out a new man. Only God can do that. I felt so clean inside. From that point on I knew there was only one true God. Life goes on, God cleans you up as you go through different things as long as you ask forgiveness and keep him first. I love God, Jesus, Holy Spirit with all my heart and soul and always will. Teen Challenge is a great program and God has Blessed it very much. Thank you for caring for the lonely, hungry, addict, drunk, homeless, and the people who think they got it all together.”

– Chuck G.

“So basically I came to this Teen Challenge and had no idea I was going there 6 days before I got there. When I got there they were preaching the Gospel that changed my life forever.”

– Ryan W

“Before coming to Teen Challenge, I had died 4 times, and had been to 6 secular rehab programs. There was a hole in my heart, and no matter what I tried to fill it with, I still felt empty. Then God saved me! I have learned that no one is too far down for God’s loving hands to get a hold of!”

– Daniel

“Before coming to Teen Challenge I struggled to control of my life. For years I had fought against what I knew God wanted for my life. Coming to Teen Challenge has given me the opportunity to give up control to God, and further develop my relationship with Jesus. The decision to come to Teen Challenge has restored and strengthened the relationship with my family. Teen Challenge has also helped me gain the self-respect that was lacking in my former life. I’m a new creation in Christ!”

– Drew

“I was raised in the church and attended a Christian school. Jesus was my first love. I remember studying the fascinating stories of the bible, singing praise and worship songs during chapel, and being surrounded by kind and loving people. Well, life at home was much different. My mother was the only one going to church with us while dad ran his own program. He became violent towards her throughout the years and I would beg God to remove him from our home. One day he finally left. By that time I was so emotionally damaged that I started to rebel and sin against God. This went on for about 20 years. Thanks to the radio program, K-Love, I heard about Teen Challenge and my wife and I came to an agreement that our family is worth saving. I came to Teen Challenge and established a true solid relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Now I am able to be the peaceful, attentive, and courageous Christian husband and father for my wife and our three children.”

– Christopher

“I was raised in a broken home. Many things happened to me and I felt unwanted and very hurt. I filled the void with anything I could. I had hit rock bottom going in and out of jail. I felt very unwanted. My grandparents were Christians and were and still are regular church attendees. I went to my first Christian based program and accepted Jesus Christ as my savior. After leaving that program, I fell back into my old ways. After entering TN Valley Teen Challenge, Inc. as a Men of Excellence Student, I rededicated my life to the Lord. I realized I needed to change. I give God all the credit for my graduating this program. The Lord gave me the strength to complete this. Romans 8:1 states that I am not condemned by my past, and I am a new man and completely free. I would like to thank the staff of Teen Challenge and my Christian family for supporting me and for their many prayers. Thank you and God bless!”

– Aaron

“I chose to live a life of rebellion, which led to a heroin addiction. It was far beyond my control, and it destroyed everything good in my life. I was hopeless. After coming to Teen Challenge, Jesus has turned my life around. Now I’m filled with joy, hope and a future. Praise the Lord!”

– Sean B.

“I lived my life the only way I knew how which was to deny my problems and pretend to be happy. Now, I realize how much I am worth and nothing can take that away from me. I am so blessed for the amazing and powerful opportunity to change my life and live for God. I am so excited to go out and start living for Him.”

– Olivia

“I can actually say I love the person I see in the mirror today, though this wasn’t always the case. I was bound to heroin for three years and felt no way of escape, but I praise God He never gave up on me and pursued me when I wanted nothing to do with Him. He has truly changed my life and has given me hope and a future I can look forward to. All praise, honor, and glory go to God, my Savior.”

– Heather H.

“I fell into a deep state of depression and rebellion shortly after my parents divorced. I began to struggle with my identity because I was adopted and didn’t know my nationality. This led me into an eight-year cycle of drug abuse and crime. Thanks to Jesus, for the first time in my life, I can say I am truly happy.”

– Jessica J

“Deb – I am 45 years old and from West Virginia. I was raised in a great family. I knew of and believed in the Lord, but I didn’t have a personal relationship with Him. At the age of 18, I started rebelling. I was full of pride spent many years drinking and caring about no one but myself. At the age of 35, my marriage of 10 years ended. I was devastated. Instead of turning to the Lord, I turned to drugs. I was prescribed Tylox, Percosets and eventually Oxycontin. Of course, I abused these drugs. When I didn’t get high from eating or snorting them, I started doing drugs by IV. I would lie, cheat, rob, steal and do anything to get more. My health deteriorated. I had grand mal seizures and was on two blood pressure pills a day. I had abscesses in both arms. But, all this did not make me quit. I continued to abuse drugs trying to fill the void and pain in my heart. By God’s grace I was arrested for selling drugs. While incarcerated, I gave my heart to Jesus. When I was released, I walked the Christian life for over a year. I had a job and was happier than I had ever been. But struggles came into the home. My younger brother went to prison on drug charges, and my older brother took his own life, also due to addiction. Through all the pain, I once again started compromising and fell harder than ever. Again I was arrested. I had failed my family, the court system, myself, and most of all God. I had even planned a way to end my life. But once more I cried out to the Lord, and once again He heard my cry. He worked through my probation officer and the judge, and I was sent to Teen Challenge. Today, I know that Jesus is all I need. My Lord has healed me. He has given me a peace and joy that floods my soul. He comforts me and fills that void in my heart. He has also healed my body. I am no longer on high blood pressure medication, antidepressants or nerve pills. Isaiah 40:31, For they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

– Deb

“I thought I had everything. I was playing college football and making money, but I was truly empty inside. Even though I had the fame that came with playing football, I began using drugs and found myself facing a possible prison term for drug distribution and various auto theft charges. In a jail cell, I got on my knees and prayed for a way out, and God provided Teen Challenge. Here God has saved me from a horrible life of sin and has given me the foundation and knowledge to be the Christian man He wants me to be. I give Him all the glory for my new life.”

– Matthew G

“I graduated in October of 2009 and I still miss that beautiful place today. Is one of the greatest places I ever been in my life. Is a place where God molds you and speaks to you. You want to get close to God and shear good spiritual moments you have to go to Teen Challenge TC.”

– Milton R.

“I came to Teen Challenge broken and desperate for a change in my life. The ministry surrounded me with a love and hope that I hadn’t felt in many years. I have found forgiveness of my sin through a relationship with Jesus, and that has brought peace and joy back into my life. Thank you Jesus for saving my life.”

– E.J. H

“We had tried everything we could think of for our troubled son: tough love, Christian counseling, traditional church activities, and homeschooling. But all were to no avail. The program taught John self-control, physical work and teamwork, leadership skills and integrity. John received love, discipline, forgiveness, and persistent mentoring from dedicated staff members. It was a God-send for our broken family, restoring our relationship with our son. It is a place of hope, a place of love, and a place of renewal.”

– Grateful Parents

“Most of my life has been spent living as a victim and a slave to sin. Just like so many others, I came from a dysfunctional family. My lineage consists of addicts and alcoholics. I was sexually abused throughout my childhood years. I grew into a very angry and depressed young woman. Needless to say, after two failed marriages and four children, I still felt empty inside. My depression became so severe that I became suicidal. It didnt take long for my life to fall apart. The turning point was when I rode in the back of a police car locked in handcuffs on my way to the state hospital. As I sat in the cop car pale and lifeless, I wondered, Why me God? When they placed me in my room, I hit my knees and cried out to God to take my life or do something with me because I could not live this way anymore. From that moment on my life has not been the same. God is using Teen Challenge to transform me into a new creation. The desires of my heart are to bring my Father glory in all I do and to invite others to join in on this awesome journey.”

– Judith

“God Changed my life through Teen Challenge and now I am amazingly blessed to be able to give back what God has given me. Praise the Lord for Teen Challenge!”

– David W.

“I grew up in a very blessed home, with parents who loved and supported me. When I left for college I rebelled. I wanted to be accepted so badly that I did anything to fit in. My priorities went down the drain and I failed my freshman year. I joined the Coast Guard to escape my problems. I got arrested twice and fell harder into my addiction. I moved back to Delaware and got into a toxic relationship; two months later I found out I was pregnant with my son Carson, and his father fled. I was so lonely and lost and never thought I could have joy again. But I was wrong. I came to Teen Challenge of Texas and now I have a relationship with God. He has shown me His faithfulness, and is restoring my relationship with my family. I can now say that I have hope for the future!”

– Melinda

“I went from being in church every time the doors were open to an atheist overnight. I cursed and hated God I didn’t believe in. I started using drugs like pot and I ended up shooting up a legal form of meth called MDPV multiple times a day, I should have died and tried several times. I had lost everything even my two year old son, and my father had to see me strung out with blood coming out of my arms. It was at that point I realized I needed help. My family got me into a medical detox, and then I had to spend 24 hours in a psych ward, to a non-medical detox, to Teen Challenge. Within my first week I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. Joel 2:25 says that God will restore the years the locust have eaten and since the day I accepted Him into my life He has restored everything I had and more. I have my family back, my son back, and his mother and I are engaged. When she visited me the first time she accepted Christ as her Savior. To sum it up the devil is a loser and a liar. My daddy (God) loves me and even with a thousand sheets of paper I couldn’t tell you how good He has been to me.”

– Colton

“While in my mid 20’s a work injury resulted in three back surgeries and a pain killer addiction, which I soon had no control over. A family friend suggested Teen Challenge. Since coming here, God has delivered me from my addiction. I thank God for the new-found freedom that He has given me.”

– Brian J

“Hi, my name is Carrie and I’m 22 years old and I grew up in Missouri. My stand on scripture is Romans 12:2 Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. I’ve been in Teen Challenge right under five months and in that time I’ve started a transformation myself. Addiction for me started very early on. My mother was stuck in her own addiction when she found out that she was pregnant. She was unable to break this so at the time of my birth I to tested positive for the substance. The state picked up on the charges and the day I got to leave the hospital it was in the arms of a social worker. My mom tried to get me back and would for a period of time but it never lasted. She just couldn’t break free. She lost two of my other siblings and then got the news. Her rights to me as a mother were terminated. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. -Jeremiah 29:11 I internalized all this, at this age I didn’t understand what was going on around me, but I felt as though I had done something wrong, I felt unloved, unwanted. So I started putting up walls and not feeling I could get close to anyone. Really that’s all I wanted, was to feel loved! I was placed into a loving foster home and felt love there; I felt wanted. Then another change came and I was adopted out and placed into another family. They are amazing and wonderful people. They are my parents. Life was great! I moved out to the country, I could play in the dirt, I had brothers around me at all times, and I really never had to do without. As I started getting older, however, I was still hurt on the inside. I still felt as though I was unloved. I started having questions Why was I adopted? Why didn’t my own mother want me? What did I do wrong? Why would she choose drugs over her own daughter? I started experimenting with drugs and alcohol to see what the hype was about, to see what the big deal was. I soon started using them to numb the pain and to feel accepted, to fit in. Then it just became part of my life, to the point where I was unable to stop. I started getting into legal trouble, in and out of jail, distancing myself from my family, and facing time in prison. I found myself pregnant, and unable to stop. It seemed as though it would be so easy, to just give it up. I lost that baby because of my drug use. I now understood addiction first hand; I needed a miracle. I went to prison and knew it was time to change! This is when God stepped in! I got out and spent Easter at home with my family we had talked about me finding a program to get into. So the following Tuesday I came into Teen Challenge, and haven’t looked back! God has softened my life and filled that void, hole, hurt, and pain that I’ve carried for so long. He is my Savior and also my friend. Teen Challenge is the foot hold, the foundation that I needed! I am so thankful to be alive and hope that one day I could help someone else find their way and their Savior. God has restored my families. I now have a relationship with my adopted family as well as my biological family. God has only started to bless me. I can’t wait to see the surprises hes got in store!”

– Carrie

“I became a fan of Teen Challenge because this program changed my son’s life. Thank you. and Thank you Lord for everything you have done in his life. and for the things that you are going to do in Mark’s future…”

– Rosie W.

“Before Teen Challenge, life was really hopeless and empty. I was working full-time when someone tipped off the police that I had meth in my house. After searching my home and finding meth, I was looking at going back to prison for the fourth time – for 15 years. My family didn’t trust me; I was unreliable and continued to hide my drug abuse from them. I hated that I was a user and a felon – always running and hiding all the time. I knew I couldn’t save myself, so I decided to apply for Teen Challenge. After graduating from Teen Challenge, I am now living on my own, doing online schooling and working full-time in construction. My relationships with my family are so much stronger. . .they trust me now. Friends and family can tell that I am a very different person. I am free from always being on the run and feeling like I have to hide. God has given me a lot to look forward to – a second chance with Him!”

– Anonymous

“For the past 6 years I was deceived, believing I could live as a man, to the point where I went through psycho and hormone therapy, and was saving money for surgeries to make it legal. But, God had other plans! In 2008, I got saved and delivered from the drinking, witchcraft and immorality that I was drowning in. I thought I could still live as a man of God. But, God was faithful to show me the Truth of His Word, and waited patiently for me to answer His call. He ordered my steps to Teen Challenge, where I could become the woman of God He created me to be from the start. My mind is renewed and I truly am a new creation in Christ Jesus! Glory to God!”

– Shannon B

“I was drinking booze one hot summer evening and stuck at a low rent motel where prostitutes and drug users hung out. I could not afford anything better because my credit was shot, my bank account drained, and most of my bridges burned. I was medicated by the booze and dealing with what I called my life. Then a group of guys, who did not look like they belonged here, came up and wanted to talk about Jesus. We started arguing and they quickly left. A minute or so later, the leader of the group came back around the corner and said that he wanted to apologize for what he had said. At that moment, I knew they were not phony. He asked if they could pray for me. We all gathered in a circle with arms around each other and prayed together. I felt such relief. The tears rolled down my face and I realized I was totally on the wrong path. The guys said they were from Teen Challenge and it wasn’t long ago they were just like me. I looked at these bright eyed, God fearing men with admiration and knew what I needed. I needed Jesus. I remained in the world for about two more years trying to do it on my own, to live for me. It didn’t work. I lost my job and became homeless. I lost everything except that memory of Pastor Sam and those men that night. I decided to call Teen Challenge. They took me in with welcome arms and together we pray every day and strive for a better relationship with Jesus. Today I live my life the way Jesus wants it, not the way I want it. And it works!”

– Andrew T.

“After 20 years of struggling with alcohol addiction, I was beat down, tired and lost. By the grace of God I found Teen Challenge. I have been set free from the chains of addiction. My relationship with Jesus Christ has been restored. I now live with hope of eternal life with Jesus Christ my Savior.”

– Gary B

“I just called to let you know I am approaching 14 months clean; I can hardly believe what God is doing in my life. Thank you, Teen Challenge, for believing in me and helping me grow in my faith.”

– S

“Growing up in a family of 12 children is something that most people dream about. I was raised in the church all of my life. I never had a father in my life. In fact, to this day, I’ve never seen his face. My mother gave birth to me at the age of 40. The responsibility of raising me was, for the most part, placed on my older brothers. I would go everywhere with them, and at a very young age, I would get a contact high from the smell of marijuana. In high school, I developed a love for sports and participated in football, basketball and track. I received a full-ride scholarship to attend college to play football. My freshman year, I came home to visit my family for Christmas and was introduced to crack cocaine. For the last 23 years, I have struggled on and off to overcome this addiction. I threw away a marriage of 7 years and let down two precious children. I’ve always felt a calling on my life to serve God. The Bible says that the calling that He places on our lives is irrevocable. Coming to Teen Challenge has re-ignited the fire in my life. I’ve always wanted to do something for God. The goal that I set for myself when I arrived at Teen Challenge was to win every day. By that, I mean, to live in victory for Jesus, knowing that the battle has been fought and the victory has been won. Coming to Teen Challenge is the best decision that I’ve made in my life other than accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior”

– Gary C

“Paul was raised in a loving Christian home with good parents. Unfortunately, this did not stop him from seeking acceptance from peers, and Paul eventually became involved with drugs. His life and relationship with his family deteriorated to the point that the police had to be called to his home because he was out of control and had become physical with his father. Paul finally saw that he needed help. With the assistance of his family and friends, Paul found his way to Teen Challenge Ranch of NW Arkansas. It was there that he recommitted his life to Christ, and soon after, God called him into the ministry. He began sharing his testimony regularly with the Teen Challenge ministry team and even had an opportunity to preach at a youth service while still a student at Teen Challenge. After graduation from Teen Challenge, Paul returned home and finished school. He went to college and then seminary. He has continued preaching and reaching out to others with the gospel message of Jesus Christ.”

– Paul

“I’m very thankful for this program, as I have seen the good works it produces for individuals with addiction. A loved one of mine entered your program nearly a year ago & has finally, after years of struggle, gotten his life straightened out along with his heart & mind. I’ll be forever grateful for the positive change that has come about from him being a student at Teen Challenge!! God is good! Thank you All for all that you do!”

– Dana J

“Thank You For helping my husband who was in need of God’s help and you were there to pick him up and take him out of the darkest moments he was going through. He also thanks you. Most of all me and his children is thankful for your prayers and god bless you all our father you rises in heaven is there in the time anytime where ever and how ever we need him… I thank you from our Family”

– Mrs Lovin F

“God has completely set me free. He has opened my eyes to the truth. I came to Teen Challenge as a way out of jail; but now I am graduating, forever changed and living for Jesus Christ. Glory to God.”

– Jenny J

“I can still remember walking through the doors of Teen Challenge almost three years ago like it was yesterday. I was a lost soul trying to find happiness in all the wrong things such as drugs and alcohol. All I ever wanted was to be normal. The feeling of hopelessness that I had experienced for 15 long years which included sleeping in my car, willing to do anything to support my addiction. I had become my own worst nightmare. I kept trying to accomplish things in life that would define me, only to find myself just as miserable as before. My family had always been supportive, loving, and great providers, so no one was to blame for my miserable lifestyle but myself. I can remember my mom saying there is nothing worse than having a child addicted to drugs”

– Sarah

“Being here has showed me that people can love me and care about me. God has opened up my eyes to the grace and mercy He gives me. Now that I am set free and He has broken my chains, I can run into His arms and accept His embrace.”

– Becca

“After my parents divorced and a moved, I rebelled and started partying. As soon as I was 18 I moved in with my Dad, but all I wanted to do was work and go to bars. My relationship with my Dad was broken because of my poor choices. I entered a 30 day treatment program, but soon discovered that treatment doesn’t work if you’re not ready to get help. I ended up in jail and had time to think about my life. I asked God for help, not to get me out of jail, but to help me with my addiction when I did get out of jail. A week after I got out of jail I headed home and picked out a church from the phone book. When I went in the music struck a chord with me and I cried uncontrollably. The pastor came over and at that moment I began a new journey. Within days I was in a Teen Challenge program and on my way to a new life. I have purpose and direction. God heard my prayer in that jail cell and gave me back my life at Teen Challenge. I’m now celebrating five years of sobriety. God works everything for the good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. God met me and restored my relationship with my dad before he passed away. Thank you for supporting Teen Challenge. It truly gives people a second chance!”

– Teen Challenge Participant

“I pray that anyone out there that has loved ones with addictions do what you can to get them to Teen Challenge. I have seen the amazing work God has done with two of my cousins thanks to Teen Challenge. I pray God delivers my unnamed loved ones that so desperately need Him. In the name of Jesus, Amen”

– Mary S

“I grew up in a loving Christian home, but never had a personal relationship with God. I made good grades, did my chores, and obeyed my parents. Everything shifted during the summer before 9th grade. I gravitated toward the wrong group of friends, tasted my first sip of alcohol and smoked my first cigarette. Unhealthy habits slowly progressed. I got kicked out of school, rebelled against authority, and started spiraling violently out of control. I began abusing alcohol and prescription pills. To ease the expensive habit, I began taking a cheaper, but much more potent drug called black tar heroin. In November 2011 God changed my life forever. I was arrested and put in jail for two counts of assault and battery with a deadly weapon. I began reading the Bible and had a desire to do good and not evil. I wanted to change. By the grace of God, I was sent to Teen Challenge. I now have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. God has filled the void that I had previously filled with drugs, alcohol, and women. The Lord is restoring relationships with my parents and brothers. I am slowly earning their trust back. I now have the peace of God in my heart, and I hunger and thirst to know Him more each day.”

– Jonathan M.

“I didn’t realize at the age of fourteen that I would be in a battle for my life. I loved living life on the edge. It was then I started experimenting with drugs and alcohol In 1983, my father was murdered. That was the pivotal moment that threw me into the pit of hopelessness. The battle waged on with eight DWI’s and numerous years in jail, two failed marriages and a grand jury indictment. Trying to fill the void in my life with everything but Jesus, I started attending chapel in jail. There I learned how to pray. I asked the Lord to show me what He wanted me to do. Within a week, I heard about Teen Challenge. That was the beginning of victory! I completed the program successfully in March of 1997 and began working full time in the heavy duty truck industry where I am still employed today. I am now celebrating a life of hope with my children, Tyler and Leslea. I thank God and all who are affiliated with Teen Challenge for laying down the blueprints to the foundation of a life of hope. I give our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ all the praise and glory! Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness”

– Tod

“My son graduated from Teen Challenge in Texas… Let me tell you without Teen Challenge I would not have my son in my life… I am sure that the drugs would have taken him… With Teen Challenge my son has found God and excepted him. I praise God and Teen Challenge for been there for my son and for all those lost souls..And for those who do not believe that Teen Challenge is a wonderful place you have not had to walk in the shoes of someone who needs help that Teen Challenge can give…Thank you Teen Challenge i will forever be in you debt. And praise God for you… God is so Good!!”

– Debra

“Since I graduated from Teen Challenge of Texas – Azle Men’s campus, my life is very different from the way it was before. I am no longer chained to alcohol, drugs or even nicotine. Perhaps the biggest difference is my reliance on God in my life. All the things that happen or don’t, the circumstances and events that I encounter, I know they have come about by divine permission or intervention. I was worried about what job I would have, where I would live, what I would drive, silly things now that were real worries when I was leaving TC. God has provided them all. He has blessed me with my own small business and all the material things that I need. My life was over, but God… I was ready to die, but God… I was without hope, but God… I have a real place in my heart for Teen Challenge and the guys that work and live there. God used them to change my heart, and as a result my life changed as well.”

– Brandon

“I grew up in a Christian home being taught right from wrong and going to church. At the age of 16 I started using alcohol, smoking pot, LSD and snorting cocaine. This lasted for nine years, and at the age of 25, I gave my life to the Lord and walked with him for eight years. I went through a divorce and turned to drinking instead of Jesus. This was the beginning of a long 5 years, where I went from job to job trying to keep people from knowing I was drinking again. Before I knew it, I was smoking pot again, then finally smoking crack cocaine. This only led me to a lonely dead end road. I was gone two or three days at a time with no one knowing if I was dead or alive. God spared my life through these years and kept me from the enemy in many ways. I finally got to the point of stealing, lying, pawning things and could not hold a job. Before coming to Teen Challenge, I was having very depressing thoughts of death. Since coming to Teen Challenge, God has restored to me a sound mind. He has also restored a relationship with Him that I wasn’t sure He would do because of how much wrong I had done. I had been called to preach at an earlier age. The enemy had destroyed the vision God had given me, but now that has been restored also. God has been gracious to me in my life, and I am looking forward now instead of seeing all my past failure. It has taken some time but Teen Challenge has helped me with some of the areas of my life where I needed help. God mainly has made me strong where I was weak, given me life where I was dead and health where I was sick.”

– Mike

“After years of being hurt and used, I lost myself. I became numb to life and pushed everyone that loved me away. I did not care about myself, my family or my future. I felt like no one would ever love me. But then at Lakeland I came to know Christ and now I see myself from a whole new perspective. Life has a new meaning and my family means the world to me. I am so thankful for Gods forgiving grace and for a new life that I have found here.”

– Michelle

“As a little girl your parents are your best friends . So when they separated and we moved from the West to the East coast, I held onto a fantasy that they would someday get back together. When the divorce was finalized my world shattered. I felt very unsure of myself and tried to suppress these feelings. My insecurities led me to an eating disorder, always striving for a standard that I could never meet. It wasn’t long before I was introduced to the drug scene and I began abusing pain killers to numb the feelings I couldn’t avoid. It soon became the very thing I lived for, an addiction I could not control. It ruined my relationship with my family and I craved that lost relationship with my father especially, so I looked to relationships as well. I found myself in the most miserable place of my life. Outpatient rehabilitation programs did nothing and it seemed my life was spiraling out of control. I had even influenced my younger sister in the same direction. Oxycontin and Ecstasy were the only two things that brought me any relief but the coming down was hard and I was so depressed many days I could not even get out of bed. The cycle I was stuck in seemed to have no escape until my parents found Teen Challenge. God met me here at Teen Challenge and began healing me from the inside out! I came angry and bitter and unwilling, but God began to wash away all the hurt I had carried for so long. God showed me He had a plan for my life – a good one, not one for destruction. My entire thinking about life has changed as God has renewed my mind and I know I am a new creation in Him. he has given me direction and purpose and restored my family relationships.”

– Elise

“Hi I’m Nathan. It’s been two and a half years since I graduated from Teen Challenge, and my life is a walking miracle. I was abusing alcohol since junior high school and I was a full blown alcoholic by the time I was 19. I went the full gammet of this addiction. The blackouts, the DWIs, the rollovers, the depression, the suicidal thoughts. I’ve been to psych wards, treatment centers and support groups, but my addiction only got worse. The freedom I was searching for only came when I came to Teen Challenge and found God. And that has made all the difference. He has given me my life back. I now hold a steady job. I’m active in my local church. I’m living out my Christian faith every day. I’m a walking miracle.”

– Nathan

“My life growing up was one that some could only dream of loving parents, strong bonds with 7 siblings, and lots of relatives and friends. But somewhere down the line, my dream life turned into a nightmare. The enemy came in the form of a bottle of vodka. He convinced me he could make my life better than it already was. As the days turned into years, I worshipped and craved the enemy even more. I became distant, shameful, guilt-ridden and depressed. My hope was gone. I felt unloved, alone and worthless. On Easter Sunday of 2012, I fell head first down a flight of stairs. My roommate found me lying unconscious in a pool of blood. God used her to save my life! Now, with a broken spirit and a broken jaw, Christ led me into His forgiving and loving arms. On June 12, I came to Teen Challenge. I accepted Christ as my Savior. The Word is now my weapon to overcome the devils disguise.”

– Mary M.

“I was completely broken and in desperate need for change. Drugs and alcohol consumed my life. God led me here to Teen Challenge where I experienced complete deliverance and the love of God like I never knew before. Glory be to God for saving my life and opening my spiritual eyes.”

– Damon F

“At an early age I developed feelings of inadequacy. I was adopted at the age of three. My life was full of rejection and despair. In 2006, I graduated from Teen Challenge for the first time. I was given the knowledge and skills to do the right things but I didn’t choose to do them. It didn’t take long before I was back on drugs. This time it was harder and more destructive. I became a hopeless heroin addict. I hated who I was and feared being around the people who loved me. Once again, pride had a hold of me. I thought the only way out was suicide, but God intervened. God had never left me and I felt his presence. I re-entered Teen Challenge in August 2011, humble and ready to let God heal me. I completed my restoration in May 2012. I am now serving as an intern, anxious to give back to the women who are hurting and broken.”

– Shandrika S

“I am truly inspired by the accomplishments and the support that Teen Challenge gives to everyone in the program. There is someone in the program now whom I care for deeply as a person, and even though it has been months since I have talked to her, I know that God has truly blessed her and is touching her heart. It would be my one wish to let her know truly how proud I am of her, that she has found her healing through God. I pray for Heather and for all the others whom are seeking the light, and of course for the staff and administrators for leading the way….thank you for everything you have done for her.”

– Thomas R.

“My rebellion led me to a world of darkness and sin fueled with a seemingly unbreakable addiction to crack cocaine and heroin. I lost everything including my wife, two boys and all selfrespect. I lived on the streets. After being shot, I began to search for help. My family brought me to Teen Challenge. Since being here, I have experienced the joy of the Lord. My relationship with my family has been restored, and I have hope for my future. I am ever thankful to the Lord for what He has done.”

– Henry B.

“I was in jail once again with no where to run to. There were no more drugs to take, just the sobering reality of where my choices had brought me. I have to admit that what came to mind first was not repentance; my heart was hardened after many years of backsliding into a lifestyle of sin. I told myself that this situation was not very unlike others that I had found myself in and that I could easily wait for this whole thing to go away. That is when the Lord spoke clearly into my spirit, he said that my heart could get me through jail once again, but where would I be when I get out? He told me to be the exact same person that got me there and asked me how much longer did I want to resist His love and trade the calling he had placed on my life for pain and destruction? I knew the Lord was right and the truth He spoke breathed new life into me. He told me to go to Teen Challenge and lifted the weight of condemnation. Within just a few days God opened the doors for me to come into Long Island Teen Challenge. God is so good! I dont deserve to be where I am, so blessed and looked after by God, but thats what grace is and to Him be all the glory. I hope to further my ministry and discipleship training at Brooklyn Teen Challenge School of Ministry so that I can take the eternal power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ into all the earth. Hosea 2: 19-20 reads, I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In loving kindness and mercy; 20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the Lord.”

– Kyle M

“My parents splitting up left me feeling like I didn’t belong anywhere. I began to drink, smoke marijuana, and then even harder drugs. On my 16th birthday I smoked crack for the first time. Little did I know that this was the beginning of a huge mess in my life. I quit school and church. I got a job and managed to stay somewhat off drugs for a few years. Then I started using drugs again and my life was a mess for a long time. I lost everything. After jail time, I spent 90 days in a rehab program. I did well for a few months and then I fell flat on my face. The vicious cycle of addiction had driven a wedge between me and Christ, as well as me and my family. I was contemplating suicide, but I met a girl who helped me drastically change my life. I managed to stay sober for over two years. As we had problems, I felt empty inside and started to use drugs again. My fiance refused to stay with me with me if I used drugs, so we broke up and my addiction worsened. After more jail time and more programs, I ended up at Teen Challenge. Since being at Teen Challenge, God has opened my eyes to a whole new spiritual world. He has restored my loving family. I give God all the glory and praise because without Him, my life and story mean nothing.”

– Teen Challenge Participant

“Someone once told me a mother’s love can be compared to God’s love for us. That may be partly true, but we cannot fully grasp the depth and enormity of God’s love for us. Visit San Antonio Teen Challenge campus, talk to the interns, to the successful students and you WILL feel God’s love and see His presence there. Brandon Padgett, the director in San Antonio, is truly an angel right here on earth. He has made a difference in many lives and continues to be the driving force behind Teen Challenge San Antonio’s success in the earthly sense. God has filled Teen Challenge San Antonio with his spirit and is combatting the wicked ways of this world, day by day. Praise God for people like Brandon and the other staff members that care for everyone that walks in the shoes they once wore…. I will be forever in awe of the amazing transformation I have seen, the MIRACLES that I have witnessed first hand that my son has experienced over the last 13 months. GLORY TO GOD ALMIGHTY!”

– Nan

“I accepted Christ as my Savior in 2004, at the age of 37. I continued to live with a severe alcohol and sin addiction. After losing my business and most of my possessions in 2009, I came to Teen Challenge in January of 2010. I was within a month of graduating when my own pride allowed me to leave before graduation. I fell right back into alcohol and sin. Thanks be to God that He brought me back to finish the work He started in me. I know now that I can never go back to my old sin life again. I thank God for Teen Challenge and the staff.”

– Thomas D

“Growing up, I became devoted to theatre and loved playing lacrosse, but soon after 6th grade I started hanging out with kids a lot older than me and got involved in the wrong crowd. By 7th grade my grades had dropped, I was being suspended often and using drugs regularly. I was completely apathetic about my family and by 8th grade, my depression was out of control. I had been taken advantage of by one of my closest friends and didn’t understand what was happening in my life. A suicide attempt landed me in the hospital all before my 14th birthday. My mom saw my life and what I was doing to myself and decided it was time to find a safe place for me to find a new way of happiness. I walked through the doors of New Hope House broken and in need of repair. I started to see changes in and around me that I could not write-off as coincidence. I saw God working around me and I couldn’t say no any longer. After 5 months at New Hope House I let God take the reigns in my life and I haven’t looked back since. Now after one year in Teen Challenge, I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. I think, feel, act, and even look like a different person. He has been the cornerstone in my transformation. Without Him, I don’t know where I would be, but I’m sure it wouldn’t be good. God has saved my life and has given me self worth and, most importantly, love.”

– Ariel A.

“I just wanted to hang out with the cool people in my class, but I was dragged down a road of drinking, smoking pot and crack until I overdosed. Twenty years later, my sister found Teen Challenge where I began a relationship with God, but would not give my all. Eventually, I was dismissed. I went to a church just to get food, and Pastor Dan was there for a rally. Instead of food, I got a relationship with Jesus, and I have never been the same.”

– John H

“God has delivered me from the depths of depression and all of my self-absorbed misery. I praise God today for the ministry of Teen Challenge in helping me to find freedom through obedience to His word and His spirit.”

– David F.

“When I first started Teen Challenge I was totally against someone telling me I had to go to church. Now I am glad I gave Teen Challenge a chance. But most of all, I’m glad I gave God a chance. I am proof that if you give this program a chance and commit yourself to it, it does work. I’ve tried several rehabs before and none worked until I got God in my life. Since I’ve come to Teen Challenge, it has changed my life, and helped me so much to get God in my life. I gave my heart to God at Teen Challenge and since then I am in church. I read my bible and live for God everyday. God has begun to bless me with my relationships, work, and financially among many other blessings. It has really made a difference being in a program that you know works because God never fails. Thank you Teen Challenge for changing my life.”

– Andy E.

“Hello, my name is Jordan and I am a drug addict. That was the first sentence of this young man’s story that he sent to me. He went on to tell me how for years that was how he identified himself. A two-sport all star athlete in high school, Jordan received a college scholarship to run track and play football at a university in Kentucky. But during his sophomore season, Jordan broke his ankle. That is when he received his first prescription to Oxycontin. He wrote about how addiction quickly took a hold of his life and sent him spinning out of control. After two failed drug tests, the university kicked him out and removed his sports scholarships. Jordan had lost everything he had worked for. He landed at a place called Teen Challenge in North Carolina. Teen Challenge is a Christian rehabilitation center in the business of restoring lives with the hope of Jesus Christ. Jordan said it was during his time in Teen Challenge that he began to realize that God wasn’t done with him yet, and that all of those defeating titles like addict, didn’t have to be attached to his name the rest of his life. His story is far from over. He told me that in the years since his recovery, he went back and got his masters degree from the very college that kicked him out. Now, he is a teacher and a coach and a newlywed. And he has recently felt God calling him into full time ministry. He closed his story by saying, These days I introduce myself a little differently than I used to. Hello, my name is Jordan and I am a child of the one true king! What a powerful example of God at work in someone’s story. I read Jordan’s story and couldn’t help but wonder how many people in the world are walking around defined by the defeat and the regret of past mistakes, believing the lie that they will never be able to kick an old habit or move on from yesterdays mistakes. Jordan’s story is powerful proof that we are not defined by our past. God can restore, redeem, and renew our hearts and lives. He can set our feet on a new path that will lead our lives to a destination far greater than where we used to call home. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is gone and the new has come! Jordan is standing in the light of a new beginning, forgetting what is behind and taking hold of his new name.”

– Jordan

“God has been doing great things in my life. My name is Debra. I was raised in a Christian home by loving parents here in Muskegon, Michigan. At the age of seventeen, I became rebellious and left home. I moved to Florida. I started using marijuana and began to drink heavily. The alcohol took control of me and I slid into the dark shadows of the adult entertainment business. The nightclubs consumed me and I did not see the light of day for the next seventeen years. During this time, I started to use cocaine and then crack. I poured so much alcohol into my body that I nearly drowned the life right out of me. I started getting alcohol related charges and the destruction of my life was so complete that I thought suicide would be the only way out. But, like the prodigal, I turned and came back home to mom and dad’s house. They live two miles down the road from Teen Challenge! Two weeks later, I came through the doors of Teen Challenge. That is almost eight months ago. I lost a big part of my life back there in that dark twisted life style. But, today thank God, I no longer live in the dark shadows of sin. I have the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ shining in my soul, lighting up every part of my life and pathway. The darkness is gone, the light has come, and I am free.”

– Debra

“I grew up in a Christian home and went to church weekly, but I was living as though God did not exist. My choices were selfish, using drugs, alcohol, and relationships to relieve deep seated anger from my past. Exhausted from my rebellious behavior, my parents brought me to Teen Challenge. Many changes have occurred since my arrival at Teen Challenge. I am now willing to listen to those who want to help me, including my parents. In addition, I have found that I have a great love to serve others. God has begun to heal that anger from past hurts. A Bible verse I learned in class spoke directly to my need: Do not repay evil with evil, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. (IPet.3:9) Most importantly, I have a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. Im learning to trust him and to know that He will never leave me.”

– Tara

“Because I watched my grandfather die, I felt justified not getting close enough to be hurt again. Because my dad left I was justified to hate him. Always being the poor kid, picked on in school, justified my feelings of worthlessness… which justified filling that deep dark hole with drugs, women, and fast living. My marriage failed, CPS nearly took my daughter, my mother couldn’t look at me, and my sister despised me. After six months at Teen Challenge of Texas, I know who my justifier is… Christ Jesus justified me with His precious blood and the Holy Spirit is moving mightily in my life today. I am no longer defined by my past, but by the blood of the Lamb. My family is being restored beyond my wildest imagination. Only Jesus Christ Himself could have taken my darkness and made it flee.”

– nan

“Have you ever woken up one day and thought: How did I get here? Where are all my real friends? Joy? The purpose of living? I felt confused and I didn’t know what to do. I was addicted to drugs and sin. I got arrested and went to jail. I got kicked out of school. And then my parents sent me to Teen Challenge of St. Louis. My name is Nicole F. Im 19 and Ive been at Teen Challenge for six months now. I fought changing, and pointed my finger at everyone around me. Then God showed me the three that were pointing back at me. I am beyond grateful for all the people that have lovingly showed me my wrong and restored me gently. I love it here at Teen Challenge and I also love the basic idea that I can learn just as I have my whole life, except this time, Ill learn the way of my Lord.”

– Nicole

“Lord knows this placed has saved the lives of two of my children. how do you thank you enough. Theres no way. Just keep saving these lives and making parents like me watch in complete amazement. It has taken Teen Challenge one year to do something I have tried so hard for 20 years to do. Thank you gracious Lord for Alabama Teen Challenge”

– Stephanie W.

“Today, I know God has given me power to overcome all of my addictions and obstacles by walking in faith and not by sight. I truly thank Him.”

– Malcom H.

“I was born in Houston, TX in 1991. I was raised in an awesome Christian family. I was practically born with a basketball in my hand, playing every day since I was 5 years old. Multiple injuries caused me to develop plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis which made it impossible to compete at the level I wanted. Devastated, I turned to everything but God, which caused my life to spiral out of control. I was numb emotionally with faith in nothing except for drugs and alcohol. I went through a lot of trouble to get to Teen Challenge, and it was definitely a life-changing decision. God is restoring everything I had and more. He is at work even as I write this. I now have faith in God, feelings, and a restored family. I never imagined I would ever have such an amazing relationship with God and my family.”

– Neal B.

“By the age of 16, I was already steeped in drugs and alcohol, and I had been banned by law from all public schools in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I had charges of gang violence, instigating a riot, and assault. Through the watchful eye of the sheriff’s department the violence was curbed in my life, but my drug use escalated. My friends, the group I hung with, couldn’t stand me anymore, and my family was afraid to be around me. For the next 17 years I wandered from crack den to crack den and nasty rotten motel rooms. I was involved in all sorts of vile filth all the while turning my back on Jesus and trying hard to forget Him. Yet Jesus never turned His back on me. Jesus tells me in Isaiah 49:16- He can never forget me, but that He has graven me upon the palms of His hands. I was heartless, unlovable, untouchable, and unwilling to want anything different. But Jesus had compassion on me and loved me. I know that Jesus loves me because He gave me more in one day than what the world and the devil had taken from me in 37 years. Today I’m in love with Jesus, born again, filled with the Holy Ghost and I’m homeward bound!”

– Rex W.

“Just wanted to say god is amazing! Its been so long since I was a student at tc a lot has happened since I left but I just want to say that I am connected to a really good church that is showing me the way! I have taken what I’ve learned from there and have slowly been putting it to use after all these years and wow god can do amazing things! I’m happy for what you guys do! Keep doing the good work…god bless”

– Ted S.

“The last time I got arrested, I was actually relieved. I grew up thinking violence and drugs were just part of life. My parents even helped me get started selling drugs and even before I turned 30, that lifestyle cost me 5 years behind bars. I seriously needed help. That’s when I came to Teen Challenge and my whole world turned upside-down…well, really it turned right-side-up. I never knew a turn-around like this was possible. I’m drug-free but best of all, now I know how to stay that way.”

– Anonymous

“After 12 years of addiction and two felonies, I knew something had to change. In 2007 I entered Teen Challenge lost and hopeless. In the past I had tried to do it on my own and was never successful. After a year in Teen Challenge I now not only have hope, but I have new life as well. After completing Teen Challenge, God put it on my heart to stay on as staff.”

– Justin B.

“God, our loving and faithful Father, saved me through Teen Challenge Women’s Ministries. I am so grateful for all I’ve learned and for all the changes God has made in my life.”

– Christie F

“I’m Megan and I am 21 years old. I grew up in an awesome family, but I was always the rebellious one. I always felt lonely, insecure and unhappy. I tried to fill my emptiness with competitive cheerleading, friends and having fun but I never found what I was looking for. After high school I rebelled against everything I knew and soon after found myself addicted to heroin, xanax and coke. The ‘needle’ robbed me of everything that ever mattered. It made me into a lying manipulating and angry person, someone I never wanted to be. I was hopeless and broken. When I was in jail for drug charges, my mom suggested Teen Challenge. Since coming to Teen Challenge my life has changed completely. I don’t have that empty spot inside of me anymore because JESUS has filled it! For the first time in years I am free of the things that held me captive for so long. My family is being restored and is proud of me again. I have hopes and dreams for my life and I’ve found peace and joy that I’ve never known before. I’ve learned that all of my pain has purpose and God is going to use me to be a light in this dark world. God has brought me so far and I can’t wait to see where He’s going to take me next!”

– Megan

“I was close to total despair in my life. Out of utter desperation I cried out to God, and He heard my cry. Today I am grateful to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and a better understanding of how to walk with God. Now I can take up my cross and follow Him.”

– Judi Y

“I’ve never seen a ministry that glorifies Christ and His power; taking lives back from the brink as much as Teen Challenge.”

– Hannah H.

“I had struggled with depression and anxiety for years. To escape, I was using narcotic painkillers intravenously to numb myself from reality. I came to Teen Challenge and gave my life to Jesus. God has given me the strength I needed to face life and all of the things I had been running from.”

– Robert D

“I grew up living two separate lives — half of my time was occupied with sports, school & living a very structured live. The other half of the time I was partying with friends and keeping my own agenda. I went on to college and got a really good job but it was all a facade. I was always putting on a show — smiling, laughing, and acting like I had it together. In reality, I was dying inside and covering the pain with a mix of heavy drinking and drug use. When my stepmom discovered me overdosed on drugs — ice cold, she rushed me to the hospital and three days later I entered Teen Challenge. I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am. I actually want to be a better person today. I’ve been humbled and can’t truly explain how thankful I am that I don’t have to be a slave to an addiction anymore. Praise God!”

– Anonymous

“I started experimenting with drugs at the age of 12, and by 15, I was using meth, acid, and cocaine. By age 18, I was manufacturing and using meth which earned as time in prison. I cycled through the system a couple of times but always returned to the drugs. At my third arrest, I was facing 30 years in a federal prison. I was bailed out of jail and while waiting another year and a half for sentencing, I was hopeless and suicidal. I attempted suicide on my wedding night. I just wanted to be free of the depression and hopelessness I felt. My mother heard about Teen Challenge an I filled out an application for the program. I graduated from Teen Challenge and one month later I was standing in front of a judge waiting for my sentence. I received five years probation and started my new life with my husband. I’m currently pursuing my Social Work degree and I lead a women’s Bible Study at the jail. God turned my mess into a message!”

– Teen Challenge Participant

“I grew up in a Christian home and somewhere along the way, I had confused religion and the relationship that God had truly wanted. I thought if I did good, then God would love me; if I didn’t, He wouldn’t. I also ran hard and fast from God’s call on my life into drugs, a life of crime, despair and aloneness. Through a series of miracles and a desperate surrender to Christ, I found myself in the Teen Challenge Program. The week I finished the program, I went on a mission trip to the Middle East with a church, and I now serve full time on staff for Global and Urban Outreach. I also pastor a growing congregation and outreach center in the heart of the city where I live. Teen Challenge was an instrument in the hand of God to equip me for the ministries where I now serve. Thank you Jesus, for using Teen Challenge.”

– Tom

“I began my rebellion shortly after high school, looking for acceptance and a need to be popular. This led me to selling drugs and eventually a four-year addiction to methadone. Although I was raised in a very good Christian home, when I entered the doors of Teen Challenge, I fell in love with Jesus in a new way. I am very thankful for my stay here and for the new creation I am in Christ.”

– Rachel S

“I thank and praise God today for His marvelous redeeming grace in my life. He rescued me from a life of rebellion and deceit. He now leads me into green pastures and beside still waters. Thank God for Teen Challenge.”

– Holly H

“Wow! God has really brought me a long way since I first walked through the doors at Teen Challenge. I was totally bound in the satanic realm of witchcraft, gang violence, crack cocaine and alcohol. Through the struggles and victories throughout this year, I have come to realize just how much God loves me. I give Jesus all the glory! Shalom.”

– Connie B

“At the age of 7, my parents put me on Ritalin. From the age of 7 to 38, I had one year of sobriety. At the age of 19, like many boys, I married my high school sweetheart, Cheryl. Due to my addiction, my life was slowly spiraling out of control. After only five years of marriage, Cheryl took our daughter, Kaylee, and left and who could blame her? I had become a horrible person; she had no choice. So I moved back in with my parents and started doing more drugs. By this time I was hooked on speed and the speed lifestyle. I was associated with a rough bunch of people. A few years later I married Kelly and had two more kids. I owned and operated a very successful roofing company; however that business was short lived. My addiction worsened; smoking meth was getting old to me so I started shooting it up daily. It took complete control over every part of my life. I lost my business, the house, work vans, dump trucks, everything. My family and I moved to Texas and in order to start over. Not long into that venture the demons from my past caught up to me again. I got caught up in the Texas meth scene and those guys didn’t play around. My wife, Kelly, divorced me and I ended up in a Texas State jail. Upon my release I found more meth and more problems. I ran from God; I blamed God for all my problems. I hopped on a greyhound bus and came back to Tennessee. I got arrested on my first day back home on an out of state warrant. I was released a few months later. I started making meth again for myself and some so called friends. I was determined to cook meth and mock the law and I did. I got arrested again for simple possession of pot. However, two hours before I was arrested I had been in possession of a large amount of drugs. I was losing all control of life. Sanity was not an option. I heard voices and saw things all the time. The devil had control of me and he told me daily to just kill myself. On August 15, 2009 I took enough pills to kill 5 men. One day the police surrounded my parents house. In desperation I attempted suicide by cop. I tried to stab a law officer so he would shoot and kill me. Instead of shooting me he used a taser on me. Later, the cop told me he had permission to shoot me, but he chose not to. I went to a psyche ward and then to jail. I was facing several years in prison but the judge offered me Teen Challenge. I wanted to go to prison but I changed my mind and accepted the deal to go to Teen Challenge. I entered Chads Hope Nov 2 of that year; my oldest daughter, Kaylees, birthday. I was an undisciplined boy. They molded me into a man. I graduated in August 2010. From that day until now God has restored my life. I am remarried to my first wife, Cheryl. WOW, no one saw that coming. Especially Cheryl or myself! I had had hepatitis C for 16 years. Jesus has taken that away thru hepatitis treatments. My wife and I are youth pastors at our church now.”

– Michael Patton

“I am so thankful for the attention and love that was poured out on me while I was in the Teen Challenge Program. I could never fully put into words the impact that God has allowed it to have upon my life. Since completion, I have re-established a relationship with my nine year old son, married a wonderful woman, and rejoiced in the birth of our beautiful daughter.”

– Jeff

“I just want to tell you all at Teen Challenge how happy and impressed I am with your program. I talked to my son today and I just can’t get over how good he sounds, like a totally different person. I know that God can do all things, even what has seemed impossible for years and years. I want to thank all the wonderful people who run the program and all the great guys who are working there now. As my son says….you can feel the love and peace of God when your there and that he is exactly where he needs to be. Praise God~~~Thank you all!!!!”

– Nancy M P

“As far as my choice of charity to give to; the one I have found that has touched my heart as I watched lives changed and watched the heart of the staff is Teen Challenge. This program helps troubled teens head down a better path and encourages a life of service and giving to those in need. This organization takes broken lives and helps them heal so these girls can become strong, giving, loving adults.”

– Alison

“I grew up in a loving Christian home. At the age of 14, I started using drugs and alcohol. For 18 years, instead of trusting God, I ran from Him. I thank God for His grace and mercy and for bringing me to Teen Challenge so I could start my life over again.”

– Ryan H.

“Thank you Teen Challenge TX for the amazing blessing that you are. God uses you in such a powerful way. I have never had such an amazing time then the year I was there, and met such wonderful people.”

– Lauren M.

“I had a three-year addiction to pain pills and alcohol as a result of a painful, broken marriage. I came to Teen Challenge and God has taught me that whatsoever state I am in therewith to be content. I am so thankful to God that He has given me a hope and a future and that I can now go home and be the Godly mother He has called me to be.”

– Donna F