Teen Challenge achieves this by working with local churches and individuals
to help those struggling with addictions and willing to commit to long-term
discipleship.
The Teen Challenge discipleship curriculum has recently been updated.
These lessons are used in Teen Challenge centers around the world and
also in churches, schools, prisons and for pastoral counseling. The
second edition of the sexual abuse curriculum, Committed to Freedom,
was published this year to reach lives scarred by sexual abuse.
A dynamic drug-prevention program exists in Teen Challenge that seeks
to reach youth and others at risk of becoming involved with addictions
and violence. Literacy, adult education, GED and after-school programs
are operating in and through Teen Challenge centers around the United
States to help families and communities escape the devastation of abuse
and addiction.
There are presently 147 residential Teen Challenge centers in the United
States and another 31 non-residential sites. Teen Challenge centers
conducted 33,000 church services, 2,000 school meetings and 4,640 prison
meetings in 1999-2000 with a total of 1.8 million participants. These
resulted in more than 60,000 decisions for Christ, and more than 5,000
graduates received hope and new lives.
More than 1,250 full-time staff ministers serve in Teen Challenge USA
(including 217 directors and 68 nationally appointed home missionaries).
In addition, 810 volunteers, 170 part-time employees and 2,231 workers
serve in local Teen Challenge programs.
I
am 31 and a fourth-generation drug addict. When I was 5, Child
Protective Services removed me from my parents due to their drug
addiction. At 13, I was drinking, smoking and running with gangs.
My parents introduced me to crack and heroin and I soon became
addicted. I became pregnant four times. Because of my drug addiction,
these four children were taken away. I sold my body on the streets
to support my drug habit.