Real Lives. Real Freedom.

God changed my mindset first and then my actions changed. When I was a student at the Rochester house, I was 21 years old, my mind, my heart, and my emotions were broken and full of rage and disappointment. I had lost everything in my life and even my family kicked me out of their home. Teen challenge was my only option. Jim west, Brother Paul, Brother Mike, and Brother Andy. Welcomed me with open arms and with tough love. The cook, "Papi", Brother Benny was my favorite because I loved to cook and was good at it. I spent all of my free time in the kitchen with him, learning about life and God.The Bible studies, Elim Bible college, and the church services definitely helped me learn God's word and transform my mindset. My family couldn't believe the man that I had become in only 4 months. I graduated from the 1st phase and entered the 2nd phase, going to God's mountain. This place was a college for thirsty Christians who wanted out of their self made prison of addiction. I learned so much while I was their. The church services, college classes, working on the farm, and balanced diet helped me transform my life into a man that I had only dreamed of. Unfortunately, I was unable to walk across the stage because I broke my foot, forcing me to have to graduated from the Rochester house, yet I learned so much. It has been over 20 years and drugs and alcohol are a thing of the past, a chapter in the book of my life. Thank you Jesus and teen challenge for changing my life.

I was a Presbyterian boy. At age 17 I started drinking & smoking marijuana heavily, was radically transformed by God's grace on 16/10/88 of which instantly left my bad habits. I joined full time Christian service on 1990 and serve as an AG Pastor since 2001. Praise the Lord! It's wonderful to belong to Jesus . Amen !

I came from a broken home. My mother was abusive, sexually immoral, a Wicken, and so many other things that a child should not have to live with. I did not know my father and my mother lived with several guys. None of these were good situations. The abuse continued as I got older and as a result, I was taken from my mother at age 8. I struggled with trusting people and did not handle moving well. I moved a lot with my biological mother and move a bit under state custody. In February of 2018, I was adopted. That was not a health relationship either. I still experienced abuse, rejection, and betrayal. I was living out of the house at age 12. Eventually, my adopted parents sent me to Teen Challenge. I wrestled with all sorts of hurt, pain, and anger. Unlike most people who are at Teen Challenge, I did not struggle with substance abuse, but I still needed help. I thought that I was hopeless and that things would not change. I thought my past defined who I was, but Teen Challenge helped me know that because of what Christ did, hope was within reach. I am so thankful for all that I learned during my time there and I have fond memories there. The program was hard but was truly worth it. I am now looking into potential college options and am trusting the Lord with my future. I still keep in touch with my counselor from the program! I am a broken person in need of a savior, and I know that Christ came to seek and to save the lost. He used Teen Challenge to remind me that truth, as well as there is hope!

I got saved in 1980 when I was a drug dealer and smoking pot daily. I had been high everyday after work as a Emergency room Tech. But my supplier told me he knows what I needed: I really needed a personal relationship with God. I left his house and searched my heart over the next 3 days. I accepted Jesus in my heart and destroyed all the drugs in my possession. I joined a Church. I learned about my New Life in Jesus and being a witness for Him everyday of my life. I told God I do anything He wanted me to do. So He directed me to join the US Navy I was 31 yrs old. I attempted to join after failing the physical and test entrance exam when I 18yrs old. I got through boot camp with a new found joy as the recruit Chaplin to the others in my company. I was discharged from Navy 1985/86 with honorable discharged. I met my wife in my last duty station Virginia Beach, VA. We have been serving God as a probation officer, mental health counselor, and substance abuse counselor with Teen Challenge and Youth Challenge in Newport News Virginia. I have been blessed and now 70 yrs old serving Jesus every day. I was a local truck driver after my retirement when I was 60 yrs old. I was able to share the Gospel message at the ports while getting my container off my chassis. But now I am 70 sharing daily on bike rides 22 miles per day. Don't ever stop sharing that life changing message.

I was a teenage addicted to drugs for years, did everything under sun included jail the Lord spoke to my heart. I got to know Him from reading his word. I became free from drugs, alcohol, prostitution etc. Been clean for over 30 yrs, Jesus is the answer.

On June 7, 1996, I entered MN Teen Challenge by way of an 18-wheeler truck driver from Chicago, Illinois. He pulled up on the side street to the entrance, and he walked me to the door. I remember them telling him we've got her from here and thanks for dropping her off.

I had a lot of firsts at Teen Challenge, which enabled me to do the very hard work to be successful. Firsts like how important the Holy Spirit is in your recovery so you know you are not alone. And hearing the word "anointing" for the first time and finally understanding what it meant.

I did have a legal issue with my son, who was 6 at that time. He was being taken care of by my parents by way of the state of Illinois. God worked thru this process after I completed all state requirements by returning my son to me. Today, he is 33. God is so good.

I have to give a shout-out to Bishop Earl Gilchrist, who picked me up, I believe, twice a week to attend the state-required 12-step program at his church.

All in all, I successfully completed the program on June 11, 1997, and began working in the women's office as the administrative assistant for nearly 5 years!

God has been with me ever since, and I am now back in the Chicagoland area.

Lastly, Pastor Richard Scherber who ran MN Teen Challenge while I was there, had such an anointed vision for the program and all the students that we felt blessed to have him rooting for us daily.

God Bless, thanks for listening.

Karen P. Samuels (Huskisson)