"I started abusing alcohol at age nine. I could not handle the idea of my dad leaving me! I remember hanging onto my dad's leg screaming, ‘Please don't leave me!’ Eventually I began drinking and using large amounts of LSD. I knew something had to change. I entered the Teen Challenge program...Teen Challenge...I just want to say, ‘Thanks for turning my life around.’" - Joe

Since 1978, Teen Challenge of the Mid-South, Inc., has been helping men ages 18 and up with alcohol, drug, and other life-controlling problems. In 1996, the program was expanded to meet the needs of women ages 18 and up.

Teen Challenge is a program that works! Our documented success rate is over 86% percent. The reason, we believe, is the focus on life-style change through a personal relationship with Christ.

Our goal is to evangelize people who have drug, alcohol, and other life-controlling problems, and initiate the discipleship process to the point where the students can function as Christians in society by applying spiritually-motivated, biblical principles to relationships in the family, local church, and their chosen vocation in the community.

Teen Challenge of the Mid-South, Inc. is a non-profit, residential, Christian organization funded entirely by individuals, churches, foundations, civic organizations, and businesses. Our center is a state-licensed, National Teen Challenge accredited Christian Growth Center. Our program includes all five phases of the accredited program.

Teen Challenge is a National Organization founded in 1958 by a minister, David Wilkerson, author of The Cross and The Switchblade. There are now 140 centers in the United States and 250 international centers.

Entrance requirement is a willingness to change the habits that led the person to alcohol and drug addiction. The students are free to leave at any time, but their counselors encourage them to stay.

Teen Challenge of the Mid-South, Inc. now offers all five phases of the program:

Phase I: Basic outreach evangelism to the community; i.e., prevention programs, drop-in counseling, literature distribution, street meetings, jail, and prison services.

Phase II: Crisis intervention, pre-induction, and referral. Persons with life-controlling problems are provided with an evaluation on whether they need long-term discipleship training offered by Teen Challenge.

Phase III: Induction. This discipleship process involves five months of Bible study and character refinement.

Phase IV: Training Center. Long-term residential program involves five months of Christian growth, academic, and vocational development.

Phase V: Re-entry. This five-month process provides temporary housing, personal and family counseling assistance in finding employment, and a home church.