History

Teen Challenge was established in 1958 by David Wilkerson on the streets of the New York slums.  David, a small town Midwest pastor, had a heart for the troubled teens dealing with drugs, violence and gangs.  Teen Challenge has grown to include more than 1,000 ministries in 82 countries around the world.  Over the course of 50 years the organization has transformed thousands of men and women, breaking the cycles of drug addiction, alcoholism, gang life, and other life-controlling problems. 

Teen Challenge has become known worldwide as “The Faith Based Solution to the Drug Epidemic.” Past government and university studies have shown a documented success rate of 86% for those who have graduated from the Teen Challenge program. The success rate is based on graduates many years after they leave Teen Challenge. 

In 1978, Teen Challenge of the Mid-South was birthed in Chattanooga; for thirty-one years it and has been involved in meeting the needs of those bound by “life-controlling addictions.” Our organization has grown from its humble beginnings in a small home on Willow Street serving only 6 men, to its present location of 7 acres at the foot of Lookout Mountain. We now have the ability to serve over 100 men and women. This is a 12-month residential program for both men and women.

All of our services are provided at no cost to those in need because of the many faithful partners, yet it costs Teen Challenge approximately $2000 a month per student to provide housing, food, transportation and council. Our staff, humble men and women called by God, come here to love on the hopeless and desperate. They give without expectation and pour love into the students’ lives. The reward for staff is certainly not salary as they work way below normal wages; their reward is to know they have made a difference in another life.

We have remained unwavering and dedicated to a program that has not only impacted the lives of the over 3000 men and women who have entered our residential program, but we have seen literally thousands of others turn their lives around through our outreaches and how the student impacts their own family; it becomes a ripple effect..

Residential Program

The “average” student, adults 18 and over, in our program has been in nearly three treatment programs before arriving at our doorstep. Their lives have spun out of control and are now willing to take the final step to change!  Sometimes it is a life or death situation when they finally reach our doors. 

The greatest part of our ministry is the 12-month long Residential Program where we have the availability to serve approximately 100 men and women. All residents adhere to a daily schedule which includes individual daily classes and work assignments on or near the grounds. The students are “stretched” taking in-depth character and personal development classes. They are involved in group classes and individual counseling. The individual studies are designed to assist each student in dealing with their own personal issues. Our program addresses the central issues that lead today’s young adults to harmful actions such as drug addiction, promiscuity, rage, and violence.