TeenChallengeUSA.com

Alex and Elizabeth

Alex: I'm married and a father of four daughters, which is a blessing because I should be dead or in prison for the rest of my life. I had a 13-year meth addiction and during those 13 years I did many things that I'm not proud of and wish that I hadn't done.

Elizabeth: I grew up in a family that partied every day. Drugs were a big part of my family. At the age of 13, an older cousin introduced me to meth and I used off and on until the age of 18. Read more ...

By this time I was married and had two daughters. Then I started using with my husband and that's when our life took a turn for the worse. We had a home, good jobs, and nice cars -- but we lost it all. My marriage was just about over. I didn't see my husband for weeks, months at a time, he was living his own life and I was living mine. I would leave my daughters for days at a time just to get high. I lost the respect of my daughters and all my family. I thought that my life was over. I hated the drugs, but I couldn't stop doing them.

Alex: After going through the Teen Challenge Program I've learned how to have a true relationship with Jesus Christ, and I'm learning how to be a husband and a father. I'm learning how to be consistent, which is something I've never been in my life. The only thing I was consistent in was messing up.

Elizabeth: We came to Teen Challenge together, and there the Lord restored our marriage. We are learning how to love and trust each other again. He brought my daughters back to me and they now see a woman of God through me. I know that the Lord has great plans for my future.

Alex: My wife and I want to help young families who started down the wrong path like we did. I believe it is very important to give back. Someone took the time to help me so now I want to take the time out of my life to help others who needs help. Others who, like me, who thought there's no hope. I believe God's going to use us in a mighty way to help others!

Jason

Arrested for the first time at age 14, I was on the road to destruction. I turned 19 in the state prison and by 24 I had been arrested too many times to count. I mixed alcohol and Xanax and fell asleep with the cruise control set on 90. Read more ...

After the crash, my parents were told I had a 20% change of survival. I was in intensive care on life support for three weeks with a lacerated liver and all of my ribs were crushed. God spared my life and I was released from the hospital after a month. This wasn’t enough to get me to change. I started using more drugs and could not distinguish reality from fiction. Soon I found myself facing the possibility of a 20-year prison sentence. It was at this time I truly learned all things are possible with God. I was released to Teen Challenge the same day. I expected a rehab center, but I found something different -- Jesus Christ. My relationship with God brought freedom I had never experienced.

God called me to help others be free from their addictions. Today I am a state certified drug and alcohol counselor, a certified minister, and one year away from having my bachelor’s degree in behavioral science. My driving privileges have been restored and I’ve been promoted to program director of the Teen Challenge where I’m helping men work toward new lives in Christ. Words cannot describe the wonderful journey that God has taken me on since I surrendered my life to Him. When I think back 5 years ago to that young man in the jail cell and look at where God has brought me now, it only makes me want to praise Him more!

Sally

Before coming to Alabama Teen Challenge, I was taking three psychiatric medications just to be mentally stable due to a deep depression caused by the abuse I was forced to endure as a child and the guilt of my rebellion as a teen. Read more ...

Mary Beth

I am NOT an alcoholic nor am I a drug addict! 6 years ago I couldn't say that. 39 years of my life were plagued with wrong decisions, and major drug and alcohol addiction. I lost everything I held dear, including my children. I was homeless and miserable, and begged God to let me die. God doesn't always give us what we ask for. Read more ...

At Teen Challenge I learned to take responsibility for my actions and not to hide from life through drugs and alcohol. I will always be grateful to the ministry of Teen Challenge, but also to those who have prayed and supported Teen Challenge.

Julie

Addiction came in many forms in my life -- drugs, alcohol, and men. At 16 I became a meth addict, and at 20, a full-blown alcoholic. At Teen Challenge God has taught me the true definition of love. For the first time in my life I have hope!

Jeff

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.

Billy Graham

I've believed in this ministry since its very beginning. And I continue to support it. I consider it a real privilege to endorse this work. Thank God for Teen Challenge!

Ruth Graham

We have long been aware of the tremendous ministry of Teen Challenge. I consider it a real privilege to endorse this work. Thank God for places like Teen Challenge that not only understand the problem, but know God, who can set young people free and transform them into whole, useful, caring people.

Charles Colson

The Teen Challenge program succeeds when all of the government programs have failed.

Ronald Reagan

Not only does Teen Challenge help our young people deal with their substance abuse, but is also gives our kids something to live for -- a relationship with God, a healthy self-esteem, and a direction in their lives that finally leads somewhere.

It’s going to take the all-out commitment of concerned citizens like you and me to help turn the tide of drug abuse among our kids, but for Teen Challenge to help we need your help now more than ever. A wise person once said that God’s reward for a job well done is that He always gives us a bigger job to do. We have that bigger job, and with your generosity we’ll help more of America’s youth than ever before.

I sincerely appreciate your efforts to reach and rehabilitate the many young people who have, at present, no hope in life. The ministry and dedication of Teen Challenge deserve the commendation of every citizen.

Dr. John A. Howard (Former Member National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse)

Of all the drug programs reported to the Commission, the most successful is the religiously based program conducted by Teen Challenge.

George W. Bush

Too many young [people] have already lost their lives, and too many others have suffered serious injury for us to ignore the problems of juvenile alcohol and drug abuse. Programs such as yours [Teen Challenge] work to change young people's lives by changing their hearts. I commend you for your work with young men who are addicted to drugs or alcohol." (See President Bush's comments on YouTube)

John Ashcroft

I believe in the work of this great organization. A government funded research project concluded that Teen Challenge has the highest success rate in helping people move from substance abuse, off substance abuse. The ministry of Teen Challenge International, USA has helped countless individuals through its 40-year history. Teen Challenge changes the world one person at a time, by offering hope and direction to those with problems that are ruining their lives.

Check us out on Facebook.com/TeenChallenge and Twitter.com/TCUSA, to find more stories about lives that have been and are being changed by what God is doing through Teen Challenge.