Elizabeth Goodban's Story Even though Elizabeth had been raised in a Christian home, she decided to go her own way and follow the party crowd. When she graduated from high school, she felt free to do whatever she wanted. Unfortunately, that included more poor decisions. She had two children over the next [...]
Jeff found himself in jail. Again. He’d exchanged the values he’d learned in a Christian home for a lifestyle centered in defiance and rebellion. He ran with new friends in a world centered around skateboarding. For him, it was a path that eventually led to a steady stream of drug use and bad decisions. [...]
A Family Restored, Ashley's Story Ashley’s story is different because she never used drugs but was addicted to heroin and opiates from the day she was born. Her father was a drug dealer on the streets of Fresno and her mom used drugs every day of her pregnancy with Ashley. Within two weeks, [...]
Life, Family, and Purpose Restored: Mike Jone's Story His brother, a Superior Court judge, kept an aluminum bat by the door in case Mike showed up. You’d never know it to see him today, but Mike was a 16-year meth addict with a history of violence. Mike watched his siblings go through college and [...]
Addict to World-Changer, Tom Tiemens In 1968 Teen Challenge of Southern California was in its 5th year. Tom was in his 22nd. He was 6’1” tall but weighed just 135 pounds. Drugs were killing him. When he got arrested again his probation officer offered two choices: prison or Teen Challenge. “I didn’t want [...]
December, 2018 Thank you so much for your support this year! With your help we’ve been able to: Commission 62 graduates into Teen Challenge Centers and urban outreaches all over the USA and around the world Reach more than 500 at risk youth whose parents are incarcerated with a message of hope, [...]
Jason Graduated from Teen Challenge in 2005. Jason graduated from Teen Challenge in 2005 and was hired as an accounting clerk. Today, 13 years later, he is the Controller for Teen Challenge of Southern California. Since joining the staff he has earned several promotions, moving into positions of increased responsibility. The value he and his [...]
“I was selling dope to a guy and it turned out he didn’t have any money, he pulled a knife, cut my throat, and I wondered if I’d live.” - Woody Woody’s Parole Officer was ready to obtain a warrant for his arrest when she saw him panhandling at a fast food restaurant. Instead, [...]
“I looked up and saw my father’s face as the EMTs put me in the ambulance. I never saw that face again.” It wasn’t Alberto’s first overdose. The man who found him unconscious called 911, then scrolled through his phone, found a number for his dad, and called. That was nearly 15 years ago. [...]
Don and Luz sensed there was a problem with their son, David. David was born in Latin America, lived there for the first 13 years of his life, and was having trouble adjusting to life in America. He disliked school and began isolating himself from others. When David was in middle school, [...]
