"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
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. offers all
four phases of the program:
Phase I: Crisis
intervention, pre-induction, and referral - one month. Persons with life-controlling
problems are provided with an evaluation on whether they need long-term
discipleship training offered by Teen Challenge.
Phase II:
Induction. This discipleship process involves Three
months of Bible study
and character refinement.
Phase III:
Training Center. Long-term residential program involves four months of
Christian growth, and vocational development. Basic
outreach evangelism to the community; i.e., prevention programs, drop-in
counseling, literature distribution, street meetings, jail, and prison
services.
Phase IV:
Re-entry. This four-month process provides temporary housing, personal
and family counseling assistance in finding employment, and a home
church.