Meth, in Gabe's words, was the "devil's drug," a substance that severed his connection to God. He also began to distance himself from his family, creating a wide gap that strained his relationship with his parents — especially his father, a pastor who desperately tried to guide him back to the right path.

Gabriel was soon arrested for possession of meth and a weapon, and was probated to Teen Challenge. But throughout his time there, all Gabriel wanted was to return home, resume work, drive his fancy car, and go back to his old relationships. At the end of his year in the program, having made it through half of an apprenticeship, he made the decision to leave.

Soon after, he started doing meth and the cycle began again, “A year and a half later I found myself hearing voices, and seeing things. I was about 80 pounds lighter than when I had graduated and I just couldn't take it anymore. My life was over. I had no car, no job, nobody wanted me around.” In a moment of darkness, he walked out to the middle of an orchard determined to end his life. The weight of not wanting to put his parents through more pain pushed him to the edge. Sitting amidst the trees, he took off his belt, wrapped it around a tree branch, and found himself on the cold ground, completely shattered and in tears. This was the moment when Gabriel had his first real conversation with God, “I looked up to the sky and was just like, ‘Where are you? Can you not see what's going on? I need you to do something.’ The voice told me, ‘Get up and go to your parents.’ So I got up and I walked to my mom and dad's house.”

Through the work God is doing at Teen Challenge, Gabriel has become a new creation. He has found hope and a future in Jesus Christ. Will you help others like Gabriel who need hope and restoration? People who have distanced themselves from God, from their family, from loving relationships? Please consider setting up a one-time or a recurring gift today. Your faithful giving is what makes this work possible.