Now she knows who she is, Danielle’s story
In 2011, Danielle entered a relationship with a man in an effort to prove to herself and her family that she was straight. But that relationship became extremely abusive. She had never felt more hopeless or hated herself more than she did then. “All I wanted to do was get away but I felt there was no way out.”
Then came the day when Danielle found herself pinned up against the wall after being pushed to the ground with a knife at her throat. Somehow she escaped and left Southern California to go back to her hometown further north.
She started working again and, encouraged, thought she was finally turning her life around. But after her best friend was murdered in New Mexico, she started smoking and drinking more heavily and taking even more drugs. And thoughts of suicide became overwhelming. At one point, Danielle’s drug habit was costing her $200 a day.
Then she started disappearing for a couple of days at a time. After a friend found her collapsed in a stupor, Danielle knew she desperately needed help. A couple of days later, she laid everything down at the altar and for the first time, she could feel God’s grace and love all around her.
Afterward, she called her mom to ask for help. And her mom suggested Teen Challenge. Before long, she found herself at Redwood Teen Challenge. There God delivered her from self-mutilation, from the abuse that she believed she deserved, from homosexuality, and from drugs and alcohol.
After graduating and finishing an apprenticeship, Danielle came to the Teen Challenge of Southern California’s Ministry Institute in South Gate and there she continued to grow in her walk with the Lord.
“During my time there, he taught me to embrace who I am in Christ because I’m beautifully, wonderfully, uniquely made by his perfect hands.”
Today, Danielle works at TCMI as an advisor, as well as coordinator of admissions, alumni, outreach, and events. “If you had told me in the past that this is what I’d be doing, I would’ve said, ‘No, I’m not worthy to do that.’ But that’s the beautiful thing. When the Lord asks us to do something, he’s going to qualify us to do exactly what he’s calling us to do.”
Today Danielle is free! The Lord has healed her mind and restored relationships with her family.
This July, I’m asking you to support freedom by making a donation to Teen Challenge. Your gift will support others like Danielle working to find freedom from addiction.
Your gift will change lives.
In 2011, Danielle entered a relationship with a man in an effort to prove to herself and her family that she was straight. But that relationship became extremely abusive. She had never felt more hopeless or hated herself more than she did then. “All I wanted to do was get away but I felt there was no way out.”
Then came the day when Danielle found herself pinned up against the wall after being pushed to the ground with a knife at her throat. Somehow she escaped and left Southern California to go back to her hometown further north.
She started working again and, encouraged, thought she was finally turning her life around. But after her best friend was murdered in New Mexico, she started smoking and drinking more heavily and taking even more drugs. And thoughts of suicide became overwhelming. At one point, Danielle’s drug habit was costing her $200 a day.
Then she started disappearing for a couple of days at a time. After a friend found her collapsed in a stupor, Danielle knew she desperately needed help. A couple of days later, she laid everything down at the altar and for the first time, she could feel God’s grace and love all around her.
Afterward, she called her mom to ask for help. And her mom suggested Teen Challenge. Before long, she found herself at Redwood Teen Challenge. There God delivered her from self-mutilation, from the abuse that she believed she deserved, from homosexuality, and from drugs and alcohol.
After graduating and finishing an apprenticeship, Danielle came to the Teen Challenge of Southern California’s Ministry Institute in South Gate and there she continued to grow in her walk with the Lord.
“During my time there, he taught me to embrace who I am in Christ because I’m beautifully, wonderfully, uniquely made by his perfect hands.”
Today, Danielle works at TCMI as an advisor, as well as coordinator of admissions, alumni, outreach, and events. “If you had told me in the past that this is what I’d be doing, I would’ve said, ‘No, I’m not worthy to do that.’ But that’s the beautiful thing. When the Lord asks us to do something, he’s going to qualify us to do exactly what he’s calling us to do.”
Today Danielle is free! The Lord has healed her mind and restored relationships with her family.
This July, I’m asking you to support freedom by making a donation to Teen Challenge. Your gift will support others like Danielle working to find freedom from addiction.
Your gift will change lives.