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.
