Kellisha’s Story
“If you would’ve told me what my life would be five years ago when I was in that jail cell, there’s no way I would have believed you.”
Today, Kellisha is married and has a beautiful little girl nearly one year old.
“Today I’m set free, I’m delivered, I’m redeemed. I have so much to be grateful for. Everything I have is because of God, Teen Challenge, and the prayers of my mother.”
But it hasn’t always been that way.
As a child, she felt teased and shut out because of her skin color. As a teen, she tried alcohol then drugs as a way to be accepted—and as a way to cope with feelings of shame. At age 16, she took meth for the first time. “When I tried meth, all those insecurities went away,” she said.
Today, Kellisha is married and has a beautiful little girl nearly one year old.
“Today I’m set free, I’m delivered, I’m redeemed. I have so much to be grateful for. Everything I have is because of God, Teen Challenge, and the prayers of my mother.”
But it hasn’t always been that way.
As a child, she felt teased and shut out because of her skin color. As a teen, she tried alcohol then drugs as a way to be accepted—and as a way to cope with feelings of shame. At age 16, she took meth for the first time. “When I tried meth, all those insecurities went away,” she said.
When she was age 18, her brother was murdered. But instead of grieving, she dove deeper into drugs. Her experiment with drugs turned into an 11-year habit. While mostly functioning, she nonetheless landed in jail more than once because of her habit.
But Kellisha’s mother never stopped praying.
“Kellisha, I’m not going to let you throw your life away and I’m not going to lose you to this world,” her mom said. When she saw the pain in her mother’s eyes, Kellisha knew she needed to change.
She came to Teen Challenge in 2010 and gained all the tools she needed to live a life free from drugs. She graduated in 2011 but only a few months later, found herself lonely again. And she stumbled.
After four years of struggle, she found herself in jail one again, broken and hurting. It was there that Kellisha decided to return to Teen Challenge for a six-month restoration program. She knew that at Teen Challenge, she could start fresh and this time not let go of the tools that made her earlier recovery possible.
By supporting Teen Challenge, people like you were there for Kellisha when she needed help the most. Today, she is a vibrant young wife and mom with a bright future. She and her husband have founded their household on God’s principles and every day they pray with their little daughter.