Thank You

Letters from the Students

Teen Challenge of Southern California

Thank You, Letters from the Students

Copyright © 2018 by Teen Challenge of Southern California

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

For information contact:

Teen Challenge of Southern California, Inc.

5445 Chicago Ave.

Riverside, CA 92507

Tel: (951) 682-8990

http://www.teenchallenge.com

Dona Watson, Editor

Cover photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

First Edition: December 2018

CONTENTS

Dedication v

Introduction 1

The Letters 3

The Poems 363

DEDICATION

To our faithful donors, supporters, and volunteers.

“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Philippians 1:3–6 (NLT)

INTRODUCTION

THE LETTERS CONTAINED in this book have been written by men and women preparing to graduate from Teen Challenge of Southern California sometime in 2018. To gather these together, the students were given the opportunity to express their thoughts to you, our precious supporters, donors, and volunteers. This includes our amazing Ladies' Guilds, who regularly bring support, encouragement and supplies to the students.

As you will see, one theme resonates and is expressed by the students—gratitude. Because Teen Challenge of Southern California is completely donor supported, without you none of these stories would be possible. Like the students, the staff of Teen Challenge of Southern California would like to express our sincere thanks. You are the life blood that keeps this ministry operating and allows us to accept and help hundreds of men and women every year at no cost to them. We know that there comes a point in nearly every addict's life where all their bridges have been burned and they have nothing left, least of all money to pay for a safe place to recover from their addiction.

While the students will on occasion name a particular center in their letters, in actuality, all of our Southern California centers are represented here—from our Phase 1 centers in Bakersfield, Shafter, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange County, to our Phase 2 centers in Ventura and Riverside. Also included is our Central Valley center in Reedley, a unique campus that provides both Phases 1 and 2 on the same property.

You will also see mentioned our Ministry Institute (TCMI). While TCMI is also open to those who have not gone through the one-year Teen Challenge program, many students who graduate from Teen Challenge of Southern California apply to this one-year Bible school to learn more about the knowledge and skills helpful in living a life of ministry, whether in churches, on the mission field, or as a Teen Challenge staff member.

In the latter pages of this book, you will also find poetry written by students, related to the life changes they have experienced while at Teen Challenge of Southern California.

It is our desire that the letters and poems contained in this book will touch your heart and perhaps give you a glimpse of how thankful the students and staff of Teen Challenge of Southern California are for you.

May God bless you richly for the blessings you have bestowed on others.

THE LETTERS

For me, coming to Teen Challenge was a blessing. For 25 years, I couldn’t get my life in order. I suffered from drug addiction and other forms of darkness in my life. There are many things that I am thankful for. I’m thankful that I was able to come to a place that was free of charge. I had a warm bed, food 3 times a day. I’m also thankful for my Prayer Mom, who sent me Hallmark cards by mail. And I’m thankful for the gifts we got during the holidays. I’m very grateful that God set me apart, took me out of the world and allowed change to take place. Without having to worry how I would take care of myself.

Aaron

I would like to first start off thanking everybody that helped donate and helped out [to] make this ministry grow. I like to specially thank the Ladies’ Guild for treating us like men of God and nothing else. Because of that I felt a strong love here from the people and also from God. I’m glad to have been able to experience this journey here. Thank you again.

Much love and God bless you all!!

Alex

Alfredo

I would like to start by saying thank you volunteers and donors, who have helped keep Teen Challenge possible in the Central Valley and all they have done for our center.

Without Teen Challenge I wouldn’t have come to know God and been able to have a personal relationship with Christ my Lord and Savior. Before Teen Challenge I was a meth user and was destroying my family. Since coming to Teen Challenge God has delivered me from addiction and helped restore my family.

I have had the opportunity to go on fundraising and spread the Gospel. A scripture I stand on is 2 Corinthians 5:17. This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone. A new life has begun … My old self is gone. I am a New Creation in Christ.

Allen

I want to begin my thanks to the Lord for everything He has done for me. He has opened so many doors to grant me this opportunity, using every donor and volunteer that pours into Teen Challenge to make this possible. He pulled me out of a life of physical and spiritual imprisonment, including a life sentence over my head, and gave me a life with the tools provided by Teen Challenge. I came here a year ago knowing only drugs, jail and prison, but here I leave with a job, house, marriage and family.

Jeremiah 29:11—“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper and not to harm you, and to give you a hope and future.”

I would like to give my Special Thanks to the volunteers that donate their time and I also want to say Thank You to the donors that donate funds. I think it’s a two-way blessing: Without your help the doors would not be open and I’m sure by seeing lives transform it blesses you, so Thank You. Teen Challenge has given me a new life worthy of living. I now know that I no longer have to conform to the patterns of this world, but instead I live a life that has been transformed through the renewing of my mind. (Romans 12:2)

Before walking through the doors of Teen Challenge I was comfortable living a life full of sin, and was used to looking at prison walls. But today, I now look forward to God’s promises and I plan to give back my time to Teen Challenge and let the Lord lead my steps.

Thank you for everything you do and your help. I will forever be grateful and this life has been changed...

XOXO – Amanda – XOXO

Thanks for donating to Teen Challenge. If it wasn’t for this place, I don’t know where I would be. I plan on doing my apprenticeship and going to TCMI and I am so looking forward to my future. The scripture I stand on is Isaiah 43:18, “...forget the former things...don’t dwell on the past.”

I really enjoy my stay here and I want to make this next four months count. So, again, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Andrew

I would like to thank all of the heartfelt donors and volunteers for all that you do for us students here at Teen Challenge. God has gave me peace in my heart and in my mind. I now see the beauty in my life and the second chance I have at life. I feel there is nothing I can’t do and I can follow my dreams sober and focused. Seek God in all you do and the Lord will bless you more than you can ever imagine. Matthew 6:33

Andrew

To the supporters of Teen Challenge,

I thank you for your generosity and huge heart to support me, and my fellow brothers. God has touched your heart to help His lost children like myself and blessed us with a beautiful home to seek the LORD. God has delivered me from a 15-year-long addiction that nearly destroyed my life. With your support you allowed me a year to rest and renew my relationship with Jesus. After graduation I’m gonna be an apprentice at Teen Challenge to grow and support my brothers.

My scripture I stand on is Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him because He who comes to God must believe He exists and is a rewarder to those who earnestly seek Him.” Thank you for your support.

Anthony

I just wanted to say thank-you to everyone who has helped and supported Teen Challenge. You are truly a blessing to each one of our lives in so many ways. Without Teen Challenge and the fact it’s a free program, I would have never been able to receive the help I so desperately needed. I have a love for life that I never had before but more importantly, I have a relationship with Jesus Christ. I am forever thankful for everything Teen Challenge and its supporters has done in giving me my life back! Thank you so much!

- Ashley

I would like to say thank you so much for Teen Challenge and all the people that make it possible. To all the people that support financially and to the Ladies’ Guild, thank you so much for all you do. From keeping the doors open for free to helping find jobs and schools. It truly is a blessing. You make the time in T.C. so much better. Because of all of you and the work you put in, I have grown to have a close relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ!

Thank you so much!

God Bless You Always!

– Austin

I want to thank every donor from the bottom of my heart. All those who just started and those who’ve been here from the start,

Just know your donations had an impact in my life.

It paid for the process of the renewing of my mind.

Your simple act of kindness did more than you think.

It changed the life of an addict and he’s finally free.

With a thankful heart, I pray for you.

May God bless you in all you do.

Baltazer

To fit everything I’d like to say on this page is impossible. This place has meant so much to me and the experience is one I’ll have with me always. First off, I’d never have been able to do this if it’d cost me anything, because when I got accepted at 37 years old, my family and friends all had given up on me and I was incarcerated, looking at 10 years in prison. My family visited me today and let me spend my passes at their house.

I’ve got no career training or job experience but now, after working in the kitchen, I know how to cook, be responsible and have skills that will allow me to work a job someday. I only hope that this place keeps helping people like it’s helped me.

Sincerely, Branden

Thank You,

I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude for all you do to help us here at Teen Challenge! My life had hit rock bottom prior to coming through the doors of Shafter Teen Challenge. I had lost my wife and kids and my whole moral compass. But through this year I found God’s grace and mercy and He changed and transformed me starting at my heart. I have gradually had the things in life that mean the most to me come back into my life. I can now say that by God’s unfailing love He restored my family and gave me a new heart. God Bless You.

Brandon

I want to thank everyone who has contributed their time and money to Teen Challenge! I’m very grateful that this program was available for me when I so desperately needed help. God has blessed me so much throughout my stay here. My relationship with my family has been restored and the Lord has given me an entirely new perspective on life. I look forward to serving others and sharing what Jesus has done for me. My favorite verse is Philippians 3:13, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended: but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” My only desire is to continue moving forward, and growing as a Christian. And I thank you all for making that possible!

Sincerely,

Brandon W.

Teen Challenge has dramatically changed my life forever. For the first time in my life, I feel as if I belong. Not only have I gained my identity in Christ I have true friends and brothers and sisters in the faith. Thanks to all of the Ladies’ Guild members and volunteers I have obtained my G.E.D. and am now on the path of righteousness.

My family has been restored and I give all the glory to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you, Teen Challenge

for accepting and loving me!

Brennan

I am thankful because after coming to Teen Challenge God not only saved my life, He changed it. It was a life of despair with NO hope in a downward spiral, physically and mentally deteriorating. Three weeks into my program here, I gave my life over to my Savior Jesus Christ and was born again. I am a new creation and now with an open heart I have a relationship with God. I talk to Him every day and everything I do, I address it with God in mind. My decisions and actions now are based on what Jesus Christ would do and I try to emulate Him and walk as He does in a Christ-like fashion. God is my number one priority in my life and I know He has forgiven me for all my sins and died on the cross for me so I may have eternal life.

Thank you so much for all the volunteers and those who donated funds so I, and so many others at no charge, could get the help we need.

Thank You! Brian

Donors:

Thank you for all your donations and support to keep the doors open for Teen Challenge. Teen Challenge has not only saved my life, but my mind as well. I have gained a relationship with the Lord and have a secure foundation rooted in Christ. Because of Teen Challenge, I am able to truly heal and learn the Word of God and transform my mind. I now believe I have a hope and a future I never thought could be possible through Jesus Christ. I have experienced deliverance and healing through the power of the Holy Spirit. I am no longer afraid, hopeless or depressed. I stand on this verse daily:

2 Timothy 1:7—“For God has not given me a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.”

Thank you for all your support.

Brittany

I just want to give a special thank you to the donors who made this life changing opportunity possible for myself. I couldn’t have made this happen without your support and dedication to Teen Challenge. Teen Challenge has changed my life forever and the lives of my family as well. I now know what my purpose in life is and now I can help others, impact their lives, and be that light to them. Thank you.

Brittany F.

I am thankful for Teen Challenge because they have been a positive change in my life. Thru them I was able to get the help I needed.

I had learned a lot specially to get closer to God, because [of] continuously reading the Bible.

Thank you, Ladies’ Guild, for your letters and presents. I love everything you had done for me. You are my friends and sisters in Christ.

Thank you for all your blessings, work and support.

Carlos

Celena

So I just wanted to say how grateful I am to have come here, and to have stuck it out. It’s all God that I’ve made it this year here in Teen Challenge. I just want [to] say Thank You to all the staff, every volunteer, donor, etc.

Going through this process was probably one of the hardest things I’ve done. I wanted to leave before my blessings, but staying was my blessing. I feel so different. I could never say that through this program, but God has been working in me a lot more these last couple of months I’ve been here.

I’m so grateful to be alive and in my right mind today. I was in such a dark place the last 5 years. I couldn’t have gotten out of where I was if it wasn’t for the Lord and the people he put in my life. He used all of you as a vessel for me to know Him and build this amazing relationship I’ve always longed for with a human being. I know now I can’t do anything without Him, because He who lives in me is stronger. His grace and mercy is sufficient and He’s never gonna leave or forsake us.

There’s a verse that comes to me and I knew He wanted me where I am now. “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.” (Romans 10:20)

He met me right where I was at. He gave me a dream to a better life. He gave His Son for eternal life. I’m so grateful and thankful for everything and everyone. The LORD has made this program impact me greatly.

I know He has plans for me and I’m so ready for what He has for me. I know that He is the light of the world and whoever follows Him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. He tells us these things so that we have peace because in this world we will have trouble. But take heart, He has overcome the world.

Thank you so much again, for all your hard work and dedication. May the LORD be with you and bless you abundantly.

I would like to express my gratitude to the donors that keep the doors of Teen Challenge open. Without those provisions, T.C.’s mission is not possible. T.C. has brought me and so many others to Christ and cultivated that relationship, and for that I’m grateful!!

Thank you and God bless

Chaz

Dear Brother & Sister,

As students we cannot begin to thank you enough for all the time and effort you have put into our growth as new believers.

Hebrews 6:10 says, “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you helped His people and continue to help them.”

May God bless you as you have blessed the students of Teen Challenge.

Your Brother in Christ,

Christian

“No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength, it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice. For we trust His holy name. May your unfailing love be with us LORD, even as we put our hope in You.” Psalm 33:16–22

Rarely is anything of true significance the work of just one person or even a few, for that matter. Teen Challenge Southern California is certainly no exception. There are scores of donors and volunteers that have poured their money, countless hours, their muscle, resources, knowledge and their incredibly large hearts into keeping our doors open and making it possible to bring hope and a future into lives where there was nothing but despair.

It is in the spirit of sincere gratitude and of giving honor where honor is due that I wish to say “Thank You.” There is some good in this world, and it is worth fighting for. Thank you for saving my life, but ultimately, thank you for introducing me to my Savior, [without] whom none of this would be possible. Jesus, You have captured my heart.

With Love,

Christine

Dear most gracious donors of the Teen Challenge family,

Thank you for all the love and support you put into this place. If it wasn’t for you, this place wouldn’t be what it is today, so for that I am forever thankful that God has put it on your heart to contribute. Being at Teen Challenge, my life has changed completely. I am not the same lost and scared boy I once was but a man of God. He has renewed my mind so my thoughts aren’t the same and has put new desires in my heart, like to become a school teacher. After graduation I am doing an apprenticeship and after, I plan on going back to school and maybe playing baseball as well. One experience I’ve had at Teen Challenge that has made a difference in my life is really getting into His Word and really seeing how I can apply it to my life. The verse I stand on is Proverbs 3:5–6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.” I stand on this verse because I’m tired of doing things my way. It got me nowhere, so I trust and believe He will guide me as long as I stay in His will. Thank you again for all that you do.

You are Awesome!!! ~ Christopher

9/20/18

To Whom This May Concern:

First, giving honor to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for the blessings of the heart that God has blessed abundantly to be able to do what they have done for Teen Challenge over the years. You lovely people have been kind and faithful and I thank you so much.

Coming here to Teen Challenge has changed my heart, changing the way I think about myself, and has allowed me to develop a personal relationship with God, so that when I get back out there into the world, I will know who to trust and have faith in to call on when I need Him (God). I will be doing an apprenticeship, here in Ventura to give back and to practice what God has given me. I’m putting His work in me to work. So, again, I thank you. God bless each and every one of you and families.

Claudeen

Thank you for supporting Teen Challenge. Without you guys I wouldn’t have gotten a second chance at life. I can honestly say Teen Challenge has taught me how to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. I believe that I have the Holy Spirit to help guide my life to help me make good decisions. I currently have my family back in my life. I have been sober for over one year now all because I had a place to be able to get clean and sober. My verse I stand on is Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.

— Clinton

Cody

Before arriving at Teen Challenge I was homeless, living in my [car] and addicted to crystal meth. My family had given up on me and I was not allowed to see my beautiful daughter who was 1 year old at the time. On June 9th, 2017 I decided to surrender my life to God. I came into TC broken in every way, yet slowly but surely the Lord began to restore my family, my marriage. I am so grateful for CVTC and all those who make it possible for the doors of Teen Challenge to stay open year after year. I thank you all for a place to come and be healed. Thanks to volunteers and donors, my daughters have a dad, my wife has a husband back, and my parents have a son back.

John 13:5

“I am the vine; and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

I am so thankful for volunteers and those who have donated funds and time to keep our doors open. If it wasn’t for you and Teen Challenge, I wouldn’t of had a place to slow down long enough to hear, be found, and grow in Christ Jesus my Lord and Savior. Thank you.

In the past year God has done so much for me and my family. He took an angry, lost addict and transformed me into a son of a King. I’m so in love with Jesus and so thankful for all He’s done, thankful enough to want to share with others and help others who are coming into the program. I’m looking forward to my apprenticeship in Shafter and can’t wait to see where he leads me after.

Psalm 144:1—“Blessed is the Lord my Rock who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.” I stand on this verse. It is exactly what God has been doing to me this past year. I am confident that whatever battle or war comes my way I will go to my Rock for all I need.

Criston

To All the Amazing Volunteers and Donors,

Because of you, Teen Challenge is 60 years old and still strong as ever. This is certainly because of all your blood, sweat, tears and finances. I was blessed to [be] able to come to Southern Cal Teen Challenge via Sacramento Teen Challenge, where I had to come up with and pay $1,700 dollars every month for the program. Although it is worth every penny, there was no way I could ever come up with that amount of money each month. I had to ask my father, who is on a fixed income, to help me. Imagine the pressure and stress it put on us. I couldn’t even focus on the program. Thank God I was able to transfer to Southern Cal Teen Challenge because I am an alumni graduate.

Thanks to your volunteer work and all your countless donations, I was able to go through Riverside Teen Challenge—stress free—totally able to focus on changing my life through the structure of Teen Challenge and the power of God and the Holy Spirit.

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. All your hard work is a testament of God’s perfect love moving through you. God bless all of you and thank you.

Curtis

Dear Ladies’ Guild,

Thank you so very much for all the work and for all you ladies have done for me this year. Thank you for game night, ice cream day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. You have given me so much care and love. I can’t thank you guys enough. You all have been a true blessing in my life. You showed me how a true, mature, caring and loving Christian is supposed to look like. I learned a lot from you ladies. I learned how to be gentle, kind, caring, compassionate and loving. You all have very big hearts. While being at Teen Challenge, God has showed me to be patient, positive and to persevere. God has opened my eyes and is making me see life and live life just how Jesus did. God has showed me to be Christ-like, producing all the fruit of righteousness and fruit of the Spirit. He has made me focus on Him and surrender and submit to Him and do everything for His glory. I was blinded by the things of the world, but now I see Jesus through His Word. Now I am living for Jesus and not for the world. (Philippians 4:13—“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”) I believe anything is possible with Jesus.

Thank you again for everything, Ladies’ Guild!

Daniel

To Teen Challenge Donor/Volunteer:

Hello! I am a current student at Teen Challenge of Southern California and I just wanted to say Thank You! for being a donor and/or volunteer to Teen Challenge. This place helped change and save my life from a 6-year prescription pill and methamphetamine addiction I was going through. Being in Teen Challenge, I have been able to get out of the lifestyle I was living in and most of all I have found the love of the Lord and Jesus Christ since I have been in this great program. Being able to be in a place where I was able to cultivate a relationship with the Lord with no distractions has helped change my heart, mind and soul. Once again, Thank You so much for supporting Teen Challenge—a place that helped change my life!

— Daniel

Matthew 6:33—“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Thank you, Teen Challenge Donors.

When my life was a wreck and no one else would help, the doors of Teen Challenge were wide open and helped me begin the process of healing and accepting God into my life.

Now that I have a personal relationship with Christ, I can see and feel God’s presence in all areas of my life. Restoration with my close family began and doors continue to open for me.

This has been a very difficult and long process, but it was very necessary for me to change and grow as a man. I have so much gratitude and love for all that make this program possible. Thank you for helping save my life.

— Daniel

Dear Donors and Volunteers of Teen Challenge.

Thank you for supporting this Christian Discipleship School. It’s given me a complete different perspective on life through putting Jesus first. In my life before, I was lost. Through the entity of Teen Challenge, I now know a better way. Thank you for keeping these doors open and being faithful in the solution to the addiction epidemic which is Jesus. You are a key part of mine and so many other lost souls finding salvation. I can’t express what your contribution means to me, and all others, who come through these doors seeking change. It is your watering of the Seed in your support, which makes the transformation process work.

2 Corinthians 5:7—“We live by faith, not by sight.”

Thank you, Daniel

Thank you so very much to all of you who have volunteered and/or donated to the life-saving program of Teen Challenge. For the very first time in my life, I have peace in my heart and I owe it first to Jesus Christ and to all of you who continue to support men and women similar to me all over the world. At 47 years old, I am closer to my family than ever and a few months ago, my daughter birthed my first grandchild.

Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” I have sought Him with all I have and He is fulfilling all of my desires. Thanks to you all for giving me an opportunity to begin again.

God bless you,

David

God has gave me confidence. He has shown me unconditional love.

Now I can love, without being selfish.

I’m thankful for the brotherhood from the staff and the example they set for us on how to act.

Teen Challenge showed me what character is. It’s intellect, emotions, personality.

I’m also thankful for my advisors. How they allowed themselves to be used by God. I’m mostly thankful for T.C. being cost free.

Forever Grateful,

David

I would like to thank all the volunteers and those who have donated time and funds to keep the doors open to me for free. I know God used T.C. to save me from a life-long addiction and the leadership, staff and fellow brothers, have set me on a firm foundation that is the truth of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. I’ve learned things and gained spiritual tools that will help me be successful in life and any trial that comes my way. I stand on Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”

Thank you all and God bless you.

David

Thank you.

My year at Teen Challenge was a blessing. My life and my future are no longer my own, but the Lord’s. All my shame, fear and rage that I harbored are now at the foot of the cross. But this life-changing experience is only possible because of all the numerous donations from people. Your generous contribution to T.C. has brought me back to the Lord. I will always look back on my time here and remember that in a cruel world, we have shining lights showing the way to our Father above.

Thank you.

David

Thank you so much for donating to Teen Challenge. This program saved my life. I am 58 years old and I knew God my whole life but never walked with Him, or had a personal relationship with Him. Since I’ve come to Teen Challenge, I now have a relationship with Jesus. I’ve struggled with addiction since I was 12 years old with different drugs, but now I walk in freedom from addiction because of this program and people like you.

Your donations have kept the doors open. Thank you again.

Donna

Dear Staff,

Thank you so much for putting all your heart and effort into teaching me how to be a good follower of Jesus Christ. Being in this program has changed my life and you have helped give me a new sense of hope for life with Christ. You have helped me get as much as I could out of the Word and it is the greatest thing I could ever be a part of.

Sincerely, Dylan

Thank you,

Teen Challenge has given me the opportunity to know the God of the Bible. I grew in my prayer life and in my faith. I’ve now taken His Word to be number one. I desire His Word. It’s my spiritual milk that I need every day in my life. I seek His kingdom first and put my will and dreams aside. Thank you again. My life has been changed. I am that new creation. 2 Cor. 5:17

Eric

Thank you Ladies’ Guild and contributors of Teen Challenge. Your support throughout the year has helped me through a difficult but rewarding season in my life. If it was not for you and Teen Challenge, I do not know where I would be at in life, but thanks to your help, support and encouragement, I now have a hopeful life to look forward to with Jesus Christ. I have plans and goals and faith that God will bring me through every situation I am in. So, once again, I thank you and God bless.

— Eric

Dear Teen Challenge:

Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for opening the door to my heart to our Savior Jesus Christ. I’m so thankful there is a program like this and it’s free. I’m so thankful towards the Ladies’ Guild and my Prayer Mom for loving on us during our journey to salvation. My Prayer Mom’s prayers came at the right time when I really was down. So I thank her and have much love for her and this program.

Ernesto

Dear Donors and Volunteers,

I want to thank you for supporting Teen Challenge. I came into the doors of Teen Challenge uneducated and full of sorrow and loneliness. Thank you so much for helping me feel wanted and loved by so many—especially Jesus Christ. I got my G.E.D. here at Teen Challenge through the support of volunteers and the donors who paid for it. The ladies and gentlemen at the G.E.D. program were very kind and super-helpful in getting me ready to take the test and pass. I now have a verse I stand on—Galatians 5:13—“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” This verse helps me remember not to be selfish and give back to the ministry that saved me. God calls all of us to make disciples of all nations. So I will serve just as all of you helped me out by keeping the doors of Teen Challenge open so that God can work through me. Thank you.

May God bless you always,

Esteban

Hello. My name is Eva.

Thank you for your donated funds to keep Teen Challenge doors open. Thank you for the wonderful staff, who were there for my many trials. I have done my year in Teen Challenge. I love God for being there when I needed Him the most. Through my prayer I have surrendered my life to Him. He will never forsake me. I will always seek for His true Words, His help for me to walk to the right path serving Him. My Healer and Savior, Jesus Christ, will take control of my heart and new life. He has shown me to love and trust again. Before coming to Teen Challenge, I was in an 8-year relationship with a man who physically and emotionally abused me. I felt numb. I became a cutter. I’ve learned to forgive myself. I no longer feel unworthy or let down. My body, mind and soul have been renewed. Teen Challenge has saved my life and is restoring my life with my son, Enrique. Thank you.

Verse I stand on:

Proverbs 3:5

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

Thank you! I have been so blessed to have the opportunity to come to Teen Challenge and restore my relationship with Jesus Christ. I came to Teen Challenge very reluctant with so much guilt, shame and condemnation because I failed my Savior. I was the Judas that betrayed Him with a kiss; along with the crowd that spat on Him and yelled, Crucify Him. But God! When I received the love from staff that God was not punishing me, but God brought me here to hit a reset button. To restore, heal and redeem me through Jesus’ love, compassion, grace and mercy. He wants me to surrender all and walk in the joy, peace, victory and abundance He has for me through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Deuteronomy 1:6 — I have been on this mountain long enough. I no longer walk in a legalistic relationship or a wilderness mentality. I cannot express my gratitude enough for all donors. I am healed, delivered in Jesus’ name.

Gayla

Thank you for giving to the Lord.

I am a life that was changed!

I came to Teen Challenge in Dec. of 2016 to get to know Jesus better. My pastor brought me here and dropped me off. I was here in induction for 6 months before I went to Riverside to the Castle. The reason that I was at induction for so long was that my doctors thought that I might have had lung cancer, but thank God that I didn’t have it and so I was cleared to go on to the Castle. I’m so glad that I was able to go to the Castle because that’s where I got to begin my new relationship with Jesus. I’m so thankful for this. And, I am confident about my future. I want to take this time to thank everyone who helped me along the way!

Thank you! very much, Geoff

George

Thank You

Like to thank the people who take the time to donate to [this] program that helped save my life and reconciled my relationship with my parents and from not having a future to having a future. My one experience that I have had was to have a relationship with God, who is my Lord [and] Savior thanks through Teen Challenge. My favorite scripture that helps me daily is:

Philippians 1:6

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Dear Donor,

Hi. My name is Heather McCarthy and I am truly grateful for people like you who truly care for others and make a difference for Jesus. Because of you I can now be the mom I am called to be for my son, Adyn, who is 6 years old waiting for my return. I came to Teen Challenge so God could take all of the ugly out of my life to set a good example for Adyn, to give him my 120% that he deserves. Through this program I’ve been able to build a solid foundation, to hold fast to the truth that sets me free from the bondage of addiction. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life!!!

Sincerely,

Heather

My thanks to you all,

Praise be to God! He is good all the time!

My deepest gratitude to our Lord Jesus Christ, for He has softened my heart, and renewed my mind. I want to thank all the staff and volunteers who helped me in my recovery and my growing walk with Christ. Today I have a love in my heart I can share with my wife, family and all my brothers and sisters. Teen Challenge and Jesus Christ saved my life and brought me hope. I will be forever grateful.

Thank you very much!

Henry

For the donors and everyone that helped support Teen Challenge, I just want to thank you because without this program I would not have been introduced to Christ and would not have been aware of what true peace is. I also want to thank the Ladies’ Guild for all the events they throw for us (especially game night). Thank You.

— Ian

This past year has been one of the hardest of my entire life. But it has also been the best one too. I’m forever thankful for the force of people and loving groups like the Ladies’ Guild, that are able to make this place go round! I’m also thankful for the staff and the brothers here that [have] been helping the LORD refine me every day.

— Jaime

First I would like to thank my LORD and Savior Jesus Christ for saving my life. I really appreciate the volunteer donors of Teen Challenge for helping to keep providing a place for individuals to have somewhere to rest in the LORD and let Him work on bringing us closer to Him and for the necessary structure we all receive, which we didn’t have. For me, Teen Challenge was referred to me by a late friend who was sent by God to help me with my alcoholism. Since being here, I’ve had quite a lot of strife, but the LORD God has protected my family and me, and [has] seen my family through this time. Teen Challenge helped me place my focus on God, whom I trust with all my heart, who has taught me patience and surrender.

Thank you dearly!!

Jarrod

10-11-18

To all the volunteers, donors and Teen Challenge supporters,

With sincere gratitude, I thank you for your contribution and energy you’ve expended for this ministry and life-changing program. I’ve experienced and witnessed much change in many lives, including mine, and those of family members during my year. I was almost connected at the level the Lord wished for fellowship with, however see where the turns and choices I made caused difficulty and challenge in my life. These trials, although many times, painful and difficult, ultimately led me to TC and the much greater closeness I now share and walk with, in His presence daily. Through my prayer to the Father, in which I pray in His Son’s name—Christ Jesus—the Holy Spirit moves in me, directing my life in His will for the glory and honor of Him, all mighty God. My calling and how I will greatly honor Him for the glory of Him in all I do, clearly is my destiny [that] He chose for me long ago. Now I see and will act in confidence and certainty His will, for His good all that He asks of me and the gifts, blessings and grace I can bestow upon others, His children, my ministry. Thank you!!

Jeff

Dear Donors,

I would like to truly thank you for all that you do to keep the doors of Teen Challenge open. I think I would not be alive today if it were not for the donations you provide. Please keep up the good work. I appreciate it and I believe, so will all the other men and women who come through the doors as long as they stay open.

God bless,

Jeff

I am so thankful to the LORD and Savior of my life to have put it on peoples’ hearts to volunteer and donate time and money to an organization like Teen Challenge. Before coming to T.C., I had to pay to see my kids in a monitored setting. I was living with my dealer. My life was a mess. I am now an apprentice. I call my kids all the time. I am able to spend the night with them at my mom’s house. My goals are to complete my apprenticeship, start working, move into re-entry and eventually get custody back of my 3 beautiful children. I am looking forward to the future and am excited to see what the LORD has for my family and I. - Jessica

“God is within her. She will not fall. He will help her at break of day.” Psalm 46:5

Jessica

Dear Staff and Volunteers,

Thank you for all the hard work that you put into this life-changing ministry. March 9, 2017 I came into TC broken and lost in a terrible addiction. Today, my life is slowly being restored to the way God intended it to be. I am learning the way to live a Godly life and that I don’t need substance to sustain me. Thanks again for all the things you do to selflessly help those, who most of society has given up on.

Best Regards,

Joe

Thank You — Joe E.

Thank you so much for your unselfish giving, love and compassion. I heard a report that said 112 people die in America every day because of an opioid overdose. That is over 400,000 souls a year, that’s not counting alcohol and other drugs. Maybe you ask, “What’s the point of even trying?! We’re not even making a difference; we’re not even making a dent in the problem!” Well, all I can say is that you may not make a difference in the numbers, but you sure made a difference in my life. I can name you over 100 men that your gifts have made a difference in. I came into Teen Challenge to get off alcohol, but I found so much more. I found Jesus Christ. Some might say that I just traded one addiction for another one (Jesus). Well, I agree, but Jesus won’t ruin my health, break up my family, make my children not want to be around, make me lose a job I had for 28 years. So yes, I will gladly trade my addiction for Jesus Christ. Fact: If Teen Challenge would have charged to come here, then I could not have come. I’m going home next week to a wife that loves me and children that can’t wait to see me. All glory to God, and thank you for making it possible for me to come here.

Joe

Thank You — 6-14-18

For all the blessings that always seem to have come at just the right time. You are truly a reflection of God’s love and I know that there are many men who, without the blessings that you showered on us, would have not made [it], but because you do what is [in] your hearts, people like myself made it through.

Thank you and may God bless you all.

Joey

Thank you to those who make donations, for the donations that enabled me to attend Central Valley for one year.

In attending Teen Challenge. I have gained a fellowship in Jesus Christ, a deeper understanding of God’s Word.

Upon my completion of the program, I will be participating as an apprentice to help encourage the younger brothers in Christ and be a servant unto them. Then, I am planning to attend the Teen Challenge Ministry Institute in South Gate, California.

The verse I stand on is:

John 3:16—“For God gave His only [Son, with] whom I am well pleased.”

Thank you very much,

John

First off, I would like to thank the volunteers and those who have donated. Thank you by choosing to work and give to us without a fee. You have proven that your time and efforts are priceless. Thank you. I’m so grateful for Teen Challenge, the food and a peaceful environment. God has given me the gift of salvation. God has allowed me to lift my mind away from the terrible things that are happening in this world; away from my own personal success and failures. The fellowship and trust being in the presence of the Lord are just two experiences that have made a difference in my life. And one of my favorite scriptures [is] Psalms 46—“Be still and know that I am God.” This means to me, “Relax,” I’m not in control, the battle is the Lord’s, not mine: gives me peace.

— John

“IDENTITY’

This is who I am…

A child of the most high God, the head not the tail, blessed and highly favored, created in His image, peaceful, gentle, loving, forgiving, a reflector of who He is, obedient, honoring, justified, redeemed, an heir to His Kingdom, a good steward, a prince, healed, a dwelling place for His Spirit, anointed, triumphant, victorious, strong, content, courageous, faithful, kind, joyful, eager, persevering, longsuffering, royalty, renewed, powerful, righteous, a living stone, a soldier, set free, reconciled, united, confident, overcomer, truthful, faithful, diligent, perfected, eternal, seated in the Heavenly places, patient, ready, holy, loved, transformed, mature, vindicated, never the same, changed, changing. A new creation.

Thank you for helping me to see who I am in Christ.

Jon

I can never thank Teen Challenge enough for the love and help they have given me to overcome my addiction and, most of all, helped introduce me into a relationship with Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. I’m so grateful that God guided me into the doors of Teen Challenge and used this organization as a vessel to bring me close into His wonderful presence. I also want to thank the Ladies’ Guild for everything they do here in Teen Challenge and the devoting time they put in, in the letters I’ve received. Those letters encourage me so much! Thank you, Ladies’ Guild for your love and care.

Jonathan

Hi!

Thank you so much for this opportunity to get my life together and to build a relationship with Jesus Christ.

God has restored my family back together and has broken my chain of addiction.

Fundraising and going out to share my faith has really got me out of my comfort zone and has really changed my personality. I see life in a new way now.

Thank you,

Jonathan

I am really thankful that Teen Challenge is a free program. God has transformed me in a way that is indescribable with words. I am really thankful for all the donors and volunteers who have given of their finances and time. I have fond memories of Ladies’ Guild game nights that were extremely fun. I pray that God blesses you 100-fold for what you have generously gave to the ministry of Teen Challenge. I pray blessings upon your life.

Sincerely,

Joseph

5-17-18

I know that “Thank You!” is the first of many words to say for my appreciation. With that said, my heart also would be what feels this joy of forever grateful, for all the loyal and faith that is poured out of your hearts. Therefore, allowing these doors of Teen Challenge [to] open without your commitment of changing lives through Christ, I’d be unknown in myself. However, now I’m a son of God and I can’t [help but] stand firm with Jesus as my foundation. Romans 12:2 is something I meditate on and am in constant renewing my day with. God has opened my eyes to see with my spirit and that is one of my most valued blessings I’ve received.

Thank you and God bless.

Juan

I just want to give a big thanks to all the donors for their prayers and support. I just want to thank you because if it wasn’t for your prayers, support [and] the Teen Challenge program, I probably would not be here. I give all the praise and glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for putting you all in this amazing ministry.

Thanks, Justine

Walking into the doors of Teen Challenge one year ago and encountering God in a new and needed way, His unexplainable peace was the first gift I received. I couldn’t recall another time in my life that I had experienced any peace at all. As I continued to pursue a relationship with Jesus, His Spirit led in the renewal of my mind, the healing of my heart, and the filling of a hole that had never before been satisfied. God restored me to my family, to myself and to Himself—giving me hope and confidence in His gifts of salvation and forgiveness. A life that had been plagued by addiction, regret, shame, guilt, unforgiveness, selfishness, anxiety, depression, lust, idolatry and isolation has been transformed. I’ve been redeemed, restored, renewed and made whole in the holiness that is my Savior. I’ve found and felt the love I have spent my life searching for. Love that alone has the power to change me from the inside out and I know I will never be the same! Thank you for your support of the vessel of Teen Challenge that has made all of this possible.

Kalene

THANK

YOU

Dear Heavenly Father,

I want to thank you for every person who has volunteered to help make Teen Challenge a place where lives are changed. I want to thank you for helping make an atmosphere of love, healing, restoration, encouragement, praise and worship. The Holy Spirit has sparked a flame in my heart once again. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.

Danny

I would like to thank you for being a blessing to my life. Your generosity has been greatly appreciated. Before being led by the Lord to Teen Challenge, I was numbing all my pain from my past abuse, relationships, and the loss of my son returning to his father after a long battle in court. I was just existing. God was pursuing me to return to His loving arms and after 2 years, I finally arrived. Coming to TC has been the best decision of my life. After 35 years of using anything that would relieve my heartache I was instantly delivered and restored spiritually, physically and mentally. I stand on Luke 4:18–19. I know that God has called me to go to the highways and the byways to reach the ones that no one cares about, the ones that are forgotten, but God cares about the lost and He loves them. Because of kind people like yourselves, you will help me accomplish God’s plan and be a part of reaching the lost to the ends of the world.

Thank you and God bless.

Adriana

Jeremiah 29:11

My name is Amanda and I’m 25 years old. I came in the doors of Teen Challenge on October 10, 2017. I came in heartbroken and bitter, hated the world for all my past failures. I went through a lot in my life. At a young age I had my first son and built up to having four beautiful children. But as my life passed I had a bad relationship lead to heart broken and depression so I felt alone and I drink my life away. But as soon as I entered the doors of Teen Challenge my life changed. I didn’t know the Lord until TC showed me who he really was and bringing and putting him in my life has been the best thing ever. Realizing how faithful the Lord is and being still in unity of his presence. The verse I stand on is Isaiah 43:18–19. “Forget the former things, do not dwell in the past. See I am doing a new thing. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Because God made me new and took my past away, brought me into his light. So I’m blessed to have you guys for keeping the doors open of Teen Challenge. It changes the dead to life. Thank you.

I’m so grateful God has transformed dead to alive, through Teen Challenge. My heart cries out in thankfulness of the donated funds that changed my life, love and care of the Lady Guilds with Prayer Moms, always on time.

I’m always going to treasure the moments of choir outings, drama and moment to moment prayer unity circles for brothers in need while witnessing the change in them. Jesus is certainly all over the teachers, advisors, and volunteers!

Thank You,

Cody

Dear Teen Challenge Volunteers and Ladies’ Guild,

Thank you so much for donated funds to keep our doors open for the next brother.

I am thankful for the Christmas party gifts and the fun Game Nights!

God has reconciled me, and family, and gave me a new hope and a future going forward.

Sincerely,

Daniel

Greetings,

I am deeply obliged and immensely grateful to all volunteers and donors who have made it possible to keep the doors of Teen Challenge open. The LORD has used this program to save me from the darkness and bondage I was in.

Jesus is alive and active and dwelling deep inside my heart for eternity now and forevermore. I have hope, peace, the joy of the LORD, purpose, strength, truth, and most of all, a love that runs deeper than the deepest depths of the earth.

I look forward to my future as being a servant and follower of Jesus Christ for the rest of my days here on earth. The LORD has called me to minister to all the lost souls all around the world.

Daniel 12:3—“Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.”

Your love and support is deeply appreciated.

Sincerely,

Donika

WOW!

THANK YOU! GOD BLESS YOU!

2 Samuel 22:17-20—“He reached down from on high and took ahold of me. He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD is my support. He brought me into a spacious place because he delights in me.”

Teen Challenge is my spacious place and the LORD is the lamp to my feet and guide to my path. By the grace of God, I am 27 in 10 days, with a sober and sound mind. This time last year I was homeless and battling a 10-year drug and alcohol addiction. I did not know God, and was completely lost. Today I have a relationship with the LORD and I’m so excited to relentlessly pursue what the LORD has for me. There are many things I am still working through, but I have been delivered from drugs and alcohol. I have zero desire for the things of old and a true hunger and thirst for the LORD’s will. Coming from a world of chaos, I truly enjoy resting in the LORD’s presence. His peace that transcends all understanding and guards my heart and mind is like nothing I’ve ever known. I’m so blessed to be alive, saved, and to know my creator. All this … and it is only the beginning. Thank you so much for your donations, hard work and obedience to Christ. May God bless you 700-fold.

Your sister in Christ,

Libby

Thursday,

Sept. 20/18

Hello to all of our donors of Teen Challenge.

My name is HermeLinda. I am 53 years old and I am so very, very grateful to have finally been delivered from a lifestyle of shame and bitterness.

Before Teen Challenge, I was homeless, a drug dealer, and I had a 30-year meth addiction that was beyond my control. But Jeremiah 29:11 says that God does have a plan and a great purpose for me and so He did make a way for me. Through Teen Challenge I found the hope I needed.

God bless you all

forever. Amen.

Thank you to all the volunteers and donors for taking the time out of your lives to keep the doors of Teen Challenge opened.

What I have received from this program has changed my life.

I was a homeless, hopeless addict, coming to the point of accepting the way my life had become. I’m 21 and have my whole life ahead of me. The LORD has given me a hope for the future, plans to prosper me and also, He has given me a vision for my life of being the woman and mother that He has called me to be.

“Blessed is She

Who Believed

That the LORD

Would fulfill

His promises to her.”

Kayla

To those who give up their time, finances, services and in all other manners of ministry, I personally want to thank you for all that you do for us. Without your efforts and finances—and especially your devoted hearts in Christ’s service—we would be without a place to allow the Seed that was planted in us to grow or to bear fruit.

I was caught in an utter state of despair and hopelessness, sitting in a jail cell in Las Vegas and Teen Challenge gave me that purpose in life I was always seeking since I was a child. I am now going to T.C.M.I. in Brooklyn and pursuing ministry full time. I am looking forward to being the father to my beautiful daughter that she needs.

One of my favorite verses is I Corinthians 15:10— “…His grace towards me was not ineffective…”

Thank You, for your grace!

— Keith

“The Father of compassion and the God of all COMFORT, Who comforts us in ALL our troubles, so that we can comfort those in ANY trouble with the COMFORT we ourselves RECEIVE from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4)

There aren’t words enough to express my gratitude for what Teen Challenge has done for my life. I didn’t know God before TC. I was lost to the world—chasing anything and everything, nearing a point of no return in my desperate search for purpose. Thanks to the donors and many supporters of Teen Challenge, God was able to finally grab hold of my heart. He’s given me a new life worth living through Christ and the prospects of a future as staff for TC. He’s spoken into me the desire to become an advisor for the induction center in LA.

My heart is overwhelmed with thanksgiving as I’m completing this year and moving into an apprenticeship. My only hope is to continue overflowing the comfort He has given me through TC onto others as they begin their own journey in a new life with Christ.

THANK YOU!

Khristinah

Isaiah 41:9–10 “I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant;’ I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

After going through a 12-year drug and alcohol addiction, I had a love encounter with God because of Teen Challenge and my life will never be the same. I believe God called me out of the darkness and into Teen Challenge, not only to save my life from years of pain and abuse but to reach out and help others to do the same. My goal is to graduate TCMI and work in full-time ministry, helping lost souls have a love encounter with Jesus Christ. There are no words to describe how grateful I am to Teen Challenge and everyone who makes it possible. All praise and glory to God, my life is forever changed.

Love,

Laura

Thank you all for your hard work and dedication to support Teen Challenge.

Teen Challenge has been an amazing vessel the LORD has been able to use to save mine, and my sisters’ lives. I have been given the opportunity to find God here and form a solid relationship with Him. I am a happy, sober, strong and motivated woman today because of what He has done in my life. I have been shown my worth and how much I am loved, something I was never able to truly grasp in my past. I am now able to look forward to a future based on God’s promises, a future filled with hope, joy and success.

1 Corintians 15:20—“But by the grace of God, I am what I am and His grace to me is not without effect.”

I will never forget what He has done for me, and the woman He has allowed me to become.

Thank you for making this all possible.

– Margot

THANK YOU…

This is a place where God worked wonders in my life. He reminded me of who I am. He took away lies I believed about myself. I began to rebuild my life back on His firm foundation, not on this ever-changing world.

Isaiah 44:22 “…For I have paid the price to set you free.” It’s nothing I did or do, but everything Christ did on the cross and this year that truth became reality to me. He holds my world and I am now at peace with that. He is in control of every heartbeat and knows what is yet to come. I learned of His never-failing power and how He never lets go. I’m holding on till the end.

- Mia

To Our Beloved Donors,

Thank you for the generosity that you show this program. We wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for you. Teen Challenge is not just any program…we heal here; we become whole again…and we come to a place of serenity found only in Jesus Christ.

“May the LORD bless you and keep you.

May He make His face shine upon you

and be gracious to you.

May the LORD lift up His countenance upon you…

and give you peace.”

— Numbers 6:24–26 —

Samantha

Thank you from the bottom of my heart! If it wasn’t for the donated funds to keep Teen Challenge doors open, I would still be hopelessly lost out there. My life has drastically changed here at Teen Challenge. I found hope, peace and love. One of my favorite scriptures that I truly stand firm on is Jeremiah 29:11—“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” I have been able to receive the healing and restoration I really needed. I have begun to love myself and turn from my selfish ways, learning to love those around me. The best thing that has ever happened to me was walking through the doors of Teen Challenge. My life has been saved, all thanks to God and the donors who help keep the doors open.

Samantha

My name is Starr. I’m 34 years old. Before I came through the doors of Teen Challenge, I was so comfortable in bondage. I didn’t know any better. Now that I know the Lord, I am free from bondage. I’m so grateful for this program. I found my freedom in Christ. Thank you for your support. Without your support the doors of Teen Challenge would not have been open to me. Thank you so much. I am working on my high school diploma and I’m going to be an apprentice for Ventura Teen Challenge. I really don’t know what the Lord has in store for me, and as I continue within Teen Challenge, the Lord will continue to guide my next step into my future.

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.”

Blessed

Starr – 2018

Thank You—Thank you because you care.

Thank You—Thank you because you helped.

God has changed my heart and showed me to be thankful. I used to be homeless and had no one to help me. But because of donors like you, I feel like God was able to keep His arms open to me, and a safe place. I’m moving on from my past and going for what’s ahead of me.

“Forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on.” Philippians 3:13-14

Therefore…

Thank You—For helping me and making a difference.

and

Thank You—for helping to keep our doors open.

~ Stefany ~

Cole

Thank You!

For your generosity and contribution of time and resources. Teen Challenge introduced me to the good news and this is where I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord. It is beautiful to see the people like you who serve our wonderful God and others. I have now decided to be a servant as well and answer the call to serve. I was lost and felt hopeless before Teen Challenge opened their doors to me. I thought I was going to die. Now I feel so thankful and content and I know that He has plans for me (Jeremiah 29:11)…I am reborn, I’m a new creation and I choose to glorify the God that I love with all my heart and soul, mind and strength. I shall do things heartily as to Him and not men (Colossians 3:23)…Now my life with the center of the universe begins…God bless you all and thank you for everything.

Thank You

Love, Sasha

Before coming to Teen Challenge, I was constantly trying to fill the many voids in my life. All the while searching in all the wrong places. Yet I still found myself empty inside. Now I see how God finally orchestrated my entrance into Teen Challenge for my divine appointment with him. I thank God every day for the woman he has designed me to be, beautifully broken and to know I am the daughter of the most high King. Thank you for all your support and prayers. May God continue to bless you and your family abundantly for generations to come.

2 Corinthians 5:17—

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

John 8:36—

So who the Son sets free will be free indeed!

Proverbs 31:35

Philippians 4:13

My name is Katherine and before Teen Challenge, my life was going nowhere. All of my dreams were lost and I had no hope for the future. I had formed my life around a drug that only destroyed me from the inside out. I’ve known God my whole life, but I never had a true relationship with Him. Because of my addiction, I never believed I was good enough, let alone worthy to be saved. I was in a car accident due to substance abuse, and after that I knew my life had to change. I was prayed into Teen Challenge and now, I’m about to graduate. God has filled the cracks of my broken heart with His love and grace. He has shown me how much He loves me by saving my life, giving me my family back, and amazing new friends. He’s given me back my confidence and my self-worth. I’ve decided to go back to college. I got accepted to my dream university in the Spring of 2019 and all the glory is to God. God has saved my life and He did it using this wonderful program as a vessel. I’m forever thankful.

The verse I stand on is Psalm 37:4—“Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Thank you, donors and volunteers of Teen Challenge. Thank you for your support and hard work that keep the doors of Teen Challenge open and free of charge. Teen Challenge is a God-made ministry. Here is where I found out who I am, who God created me to be: Part of the body of Christ, like you all are. We are all His physical presence here on earth, to reveal His agape love and the works of His hands to one another and to everyone that is still stuck in sin and darkness. My favorite scripture is 2 Samuel 22:29—“You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.” God bless you all for being faithful to God’s calling in your lives.

Thank you, Kingdom Builders!

Keith

Hello, My name is Kendall and I shouldn’t be alive today, let alone in my right mind, but Jesus has great plans for my life. At 30 years old, I have spent most of my adult life addicted to something. Men, alcohol and heroin threatened to keep me in bondage or kill me, but the power of Jesus Christ and the work of Teen Challenge set me free. I am now walking with my head held high, no longer a slave to sin and shame. After graduation, I will return to my role as a mother and God has given me the desire to begin a ministry called REST. I know God wants me to comfort others with the same comfort He showed me. (2 Corinthians 1:4) With God as my strength, I have total faith and trust that He will fulfill His plans and purposes for my life. Thank you for all that you do to contribute to this amazing and life-changing ministry. I wouldn’t have had the chance to heal, change and grow if Teen Challenge So. Cal. wasn’t offered to me at no cost. I came here so broken, but I’m leaving here whole. Thank you again. God bless you!

I want to thank all the people who have donated their time and money to the ministry of Teen Challenge. This ministry has not only changed my life, it has also saved my life.

Through your contributions to Teen Challenge, I have been given the opportunity to devote an entire year of my life to God at no cost to me.

Kenneth

To Whom It May Concern,

I would like to thank you for all of your continued support to Teen Challenge. All the things you do for this program mean that another person will be able to come here and have his, and his family’s, changed. God has restored my relationship with my oldest son since I came here and my life is so much better than it was a year ago and I was lost in a 25-year battle with alcohol. After my graduation, I plan on coming back to be an apprentice. That is my way of giving back to Teen Challenge. I can’t narrow down one certain experience that has made a difference this year. The verse I stand on is Jeremiah 29:11.

Thank you!

Kevin

Hello, my name is Khrystina. I’m 27 years old. A little about me, I had a good childhood, but I always felt like I didn’t belong. At 13, I started rebelling, smoking weed, skipping school, then turned into a meth addict, from there, drinking, partying, dropped out of school, got married at 20 years old, and separated from my husband a week later because I was living a double life. (He didn’t know I was using until after.) I went to Orange County, became homeless and turned into a full-blown heroin IV user. I went on a 6-year run in and out of jail. I was lost and broken; stuck in utter darkness with no way out. I had overdosed 18 times. I shouldn’t be alive today, but God wasn’t ready for me. He had bigger things planned for me. He closed all the doors around me and opened the doors of Teen Challenge. Here I am 1 year later. I don’t carry any guilt or shame and my past does not define who I am anymore. I’m a new creation of Christ Jesus. I have the love of Christ. He never gave up on me and he loves me unconditionally. Ephesians 5:8, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” Thank you for your love and support to help Teen Challenge keep the doors open and save lives. God bless you all.

I’d like to thank all the donors and sponsors for all your support. If it wasn’t for the support of Teen Challenge, I wouldn’t be here had it not been a 100% free program. I had been addicted to meth for 20 years and couldn’t help myself. Had it not been for a loving pastor, who brought me to the doors of Teen Challenge, I still would have been addicted and probably incarcerated again. I will forever be grateful for this program and [for those] who sponsor and donate and will always be an advocate for how this program changed my life.

Thank you, Always,

Kimberly

Thank you for all the prayer cards and prayer. To all the Ladies’ Guild, thank you for all of the food at game night as well. All the time you ladies volunteer is amazing. Teen Challenge has taught me that God is enough. We are sinners saved by grace. God has changed my life in many ways. Spiritual Emphasis helped me grow a lot. It was really inspiring to see everyone. 2 Corinthians 5:17 means a lot, because we truly are new creations in Jesus Christ.

— Kory

Thank you so much for donating to Teen Challenge! This ministry provided a place for the most important thing to happen in my life—I fell in love with Jesus! Plus, the bonus of having a year to pursue this relationship in a protected space. This has changed my life in every way. I am free for the first time in 42 years. Delivered from compulsive behavior, bondage, generational curses, abuse and eternal death.

Upon completion, I’m blessed to be going to Youth With A Mission, where I will be taking the Compassion/Joshua track. From there, I will be out in the mission field within the next four months. The best part is I will also be earning my degree while serving the LORD.

God took ashes and turned them into something beautiful. Now I get to go into the nations and spread the Gospel. I have the honor of sharing how Jesus changed my life. There are no words … Thank You!

Grace, Peace, Love and Light in our Savior Christ Jesus,

Kristin

John 14:12–14

Matthew 28:16–20

To those of you who support Teen Challenge (TC),

Thank You!

My name is Laura. Mine is one of the many lives irrevocably changed by the TC ministry. The time afforded me to get to know God and who He created me to be has been nothing short of life changing.

I spent a large portion of my life being a successful, self-sufficient, worldly woman. I was a respected Montessori teacher. I even opened my own school. Not long after this, the economy tanked and very quickly my life did as well. Because I didn’t know the Holy Spirit, I turned to another spirit for solace. I did not find comfort in that battle of spirits—only self-destruction. I spent many years struggling to get my life back together. Short periods of sobriety through willpower and works inevitably landed me head first in the deep end of a bottle. My final attempt to do it myself ended on a mission trip in Romania. While there, it became abundantly clear, my marriage was over and I dove back into a bottle. It was there in Medgidia, Romania I learned about TC. The rest is “His Story!” I finally came to believe that God’s grace and promise for salvation was planned and designed for a sinner like me. This year at TC, the spirits of failure, loss, unworthiness and resentment have been broken. God stripped me down to rebuild me and make me a new creation.

The Ventura fire took everything I possessed, even the papers that claimed to hold my identity. But, what I gained is a true understanding of who I am—who God created me to be. I am a victorious child of God!

Thank you so much for all you have done to make this truth known to me.

Dearest Ladies’ Guild:

My name is Lenny Miranda. I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. The love that you ladies pour into us demonstrates the love of Christ.

The Christmas bag this year was a blessing that carried me through the whole year. I came in with nothing but God provided. He provided the Ladies’ Guild. Amen.

Thank you so much,

Lenny

Hello – My name is Leon B.

I would like to send out my greatest thanks to all the volunteers who have made it possible for me to stay here at Central Valley Teen Challenge for [the] 2017 and 2018 year. Before I came into TC, I had no relationship with God. I knew who He was, but did not know how to read the Bible. Coming to TC and seeing it through to the end, I have made friends with people who never on the streets I would have given the time of day to. I now have HOPE in my life and can’t wait to see what God is going to do in my life after I graduate.

Jeremiah 29:11—“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give hope and a future.”

Hello, Donors and Volunteers!

I want to thank you very much for helping Southern California Teen Challenge by keeping the ministry free.

If wasn’t for your support, I wouldn’t have come here to build a relationship with our Father. God has opened my eyes to see and my ears to hear. He is so faithful and loving to me by not letting my addiction get any worse. I am 19 years old. My addiction wasn’t so long, but it got to a point that [I] needed to know [God] is the truth, the way, and the light. The devil came to kill, steal and destroy, but he didn’t win. God already knew where I needed to go to be able to remove my heart of stone and to give me a heart of flesh. Teen Challenge has given me home; a great, healthy friendship with my sisters here. I have learned how to enjoy to be by myself at times and to trust God on whatever trial I face. Isaiah 42:16

Thank you again for supporting us.

Leslie

I’d like to start by thanking all volunteers and all who were able to donate funds. Without your support, I would never [have] known a sober Christian life. My favorite scripture is Psalms 40:1–3. One year ago, all my hope was in this scripture. One year later, with the help of Teen Challenge, I left my gang lifestyle, recovered from a serious drug addiction and began a life-long relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I no longer dwell on my past but look forward to becoming the Christian father, brother, son and husband my family has seen grow this past year. Today I walk with [God] by my side and in my heart.

Once again, I thank everyone who make this life change possible.

Marcos

Thank you for everything that you have done for us students at Teen Challenge. The time, different sacrifices and prayers are very much appreciated. Your diligence has helped me transform my life. I have returned to Jesus, renewed my relationship with Him. I have stepped into the calling that He has placed on my life in music. I’m looking forward to living out my new found experiences in Christ and living as a living epistle. The verse I stand on is Romans 6:6, which will help me walking in the Gospel.

— Marcus

To Whom it May Concern,

I would like to say I am very grateful to have been given this opportunity to sit at Jesus’ feet for a full year and heal from a 36-year addiction. It would have never have been possible if it wasn’t for people like you, who love us enough to donate funds to keep this program going. This program has saved my life and allowed me to rebuild a relationship with my three grown children and for that, I am so very grateful. I am able to do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

Thank you, and

God bless. Maria

Marquiz

I will like to thank the volunteers and all the people for their time and money. For the things that help me meet my goals, it lets me know that God has sent people with good hearts and pure love to do the things that no one else will do. God has moved in my life in ways that only He can do. To be able to sing, to learn to talk to people and meet new people and to learn how to help the people who need and want to be saved.

John 3:16—“God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whoever believes in Him shall not die but have eternal life.”

Thank you, to all of the people and companies who have been sending donations and supporting the Reedley [Central Valley] Teen Challenge center. Without the generosity of you all, it would be impossible to keep the Teen Challenge doors open.

I am very thankful to have been able to spend a year here, getting my life repaired. Years of alcohol and drug use brought me here to Teen Challenge, where I was able to let God come into my heart and start to repair my damaged life. I have learned most of all to love again: Love myself, my wife, and all my family, but most important, to love God!

Gal. 6:9, “And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season, we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.”

Martin

Dear Volunteer and/or Donor,

Thank you so much for your participation in helping keep the doors of Teen Challenge open. If it weren’t for your help, I would not have found hope. Before coming into Teen Challenge, I had no plan for my future, and I had given up on ever having one. However, I am now looking forward to graduating Teen Challenge and continuing on to TCMI. God has completely restored my relationship with my family—something I believed could never happen. I am so thankful for Teen Challenge and what it has shown me about myself, and the LORD. Instead of looking back and dwelling on the mistakes I’ve made, I look forward to my new life in Christ. One of the scriptures I stand on is Philippians 3:13-14, “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Thank You!

Sincerely,

Mary-Catherine

I, Matthew Ortega, would like to thank you for giving out of the kindness of your heart so that I can better know Jesus. Because of your obedience to God and your kind heart I not only have a strong relationship with Christ, but I also have a real chance at life and am full of hope, when in the past I had lost hope. So, thank you for giving me a real chance at hope.

God has not only filled my heart with joy and cleaned me from the inside out, He’s also restored my brain and I am now for the first time making good decisions.

My life has changed a lot. In the past I was doing a lot of drugs and had lost hope and just wanted to die, but thanks to God and your giving heart, I now have a future and am looking forward to a Bible college Teen Challenge has to offer, called TCMI, that I would have never thought possible.

One experience I can say that changed me was going to churches and giving my testimony. Saying it over and over again really healed me…and the scripture I stand on is:

“Above all else, guard your

heart for everything you do

flows from it.”

Matt

Thank you so much for your support! I was lost in addiction, street life and prison for the last 15 years. If it wasn’t for Teen Challenge, I don’t know where I would be. But, I do know where I am now. Because of T.C., I have been able to build an amazing relationship with Jesus Christ! I have a true identity now and it rests in the Lord. I have truly been transformed and I am excited for the future. If it wasn’t for your support, I would have never had this opportunity. I am so thankful—words can’t even express it! I am made new because of Christ and this program, Teen Challenge, [that] God has used as a vessel.

Matthew

Just wanted to say thank you so much to all of the volunteers who have so generously sacrificed their time and resources as well as those who have donated funds that help keep the doors of T.C. open and free of charge.

God has taught me that giving thanks in everything shows a heart of faith that God is bigger than our difficulties and if I approach Him with the right heart and spirit, will use them for my good and for His glory.

Matthew

Maurice

I just want to say thank you to the volunteers for donating your time and money. Since we been here, God has restored my marriage and my life. I had no hope before I came here and now, through the Lord, I have peace. “Letting go and letting God” has been the best experience.

First, I would like to give a massive thank you to every single person who gives their time and money to keep this place running the way it does. The fact that I haven’t had to pay anything for this year is still astounding to me. Since I entered this program, God has revealed Himself to me more than ever before in my life. He has opened doors for me and has blessed me with the reconciliation of my family. Before I came to Teen Challenge, I was broke, I had lost everything, including my car I was living in and I had constant anxiety. Now, I am looking forward to a solid job at a diagnostics company and gaining back everything I lost and more. Something I experienced that made a difference in my life was getting moved out of the kitchen and that taught me to be content in every situation and that sometimes, the best thing for me is a change. One of my favorite scriptures is Proverbs 14:23. The meaning I get from it is, “don’t simply talk about it, be about it.” Once again, thank you for everything.

— Michael

Hi!

I am most thankful for being able to be in a place called Teen Challenge, where I am able to grow more in understanding and knowing His Word.

He has given me a new future and a hope. Before, I felt that I spent countless years wandering in darkness and He called me out of that darkness then brought me onto His path. For I need not be afraid of the dark for His light overcomes all darkness.

Now I see and understand that I am not alone.

Isaiah 43:2—whatever deep waters I go through, He won’t ever let me down, for He will always be with me.

I know He is with me and I should not be afraid anymore.

From,

Michael

To Teen Challenge Supporters:

As a student here at Teen Challenge I would like to thank you all for supporting the ministry with your love and donations and helping to continue to keep the doors of Teen Challenge open. Before coming to Teen Challenge, I was tired and ready to submit to the life that the world had for me, of drug addiction, and depression, and returning multiple times to jail and prison. Since coming to Teen Challenge and building my foundation in Christ Jesus He has restored the happiness, love, peace and purpose back to my life, as well as the relationships in my family. So, thank you for being part of the reason for giving me an opportunity to build and focus on my relationship with the Lord.

— Micheal

To Our Volunteers and Donors,

I want to say thank you for your help and kindness in helping keep the doors of Teen Challenge open for people like myself. I am so thankful to God for the change that has taken place while I’ve been here at Teen Challenge. My heart has changed about the way I look at life. God has taken my heart of stone and turned it into a heart of flesh. My family is being restored. I was a hopeless addict, but now I’m a Teen Challenge graduate with a huge love for God and I’m looking forward to going to T.C.M.I. I have felt the love of God as I have walked through this. The scripture I stand on is Psalm 91. I pray this over my life and others.

— Michelle —

Miguel

Thank you for everything you done to help keep this place open. If it weren’t for your donations, I wouldn’t come to this program for free.

I was in a very dark place before I came here. Drug was the only thing I knew. But now I have Jesus and by me being obedient to Him, I still have my wife, my family and most important, my salvation and now I’m a new creation.

Thank you and God bless you for everything you done.

Dear Volunteers and Donors,

Thank you for the time and resources that you contribute to Teen Challenge. I am one of the students that has had my life changed by Jesus Christ through the ministry of Teen Challenge. I am personally thankful for all of the small things that let us know along the way that someone cares about us, like the gift-bag we all receive upon entering. R.T.C. [Riverside] and the letters we receive along the way, letting us know that someone is praying for us. These are the things that make a difference in peoples’ lives and I know I am not the only one who is thankful for them.

— Milo

I would like to thank this past year of my life-changing experience to God for using Teen Challenge as a vessel to help me when I was broken and lost. Because of God and the prayers of family, friends, churches and volunteers, I have been able to overcome many of my fears and addictions.

There has been tremendous healing in my mental, physical, emotional and spiritual being that I could ever have.

Thank you to all who have donated to keep the doors open and possible to all who need help and rest.

Thank you,

Monica

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged; for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Hi,

My name is Monique. I want to thank you for donating to Teen Challenge Ventura. You are a blessing to me because this program helped me transition to a new way to life.

2 Corinthians 5:17—“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” The verse I stand on is Philippians 4:13—“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength,” because I know without Christ, I wouldn’t have the strength. I will be forever grateful for what this program has done.

The Lord has delivered me from a 24-year addiction of meth. I would like to thank all of the Teen Challenge donors who have made it possible to keep the doors open for free. May God bless you all.

Thank you, Nakia

Romans 11:29—“For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.”

I am thankful for the opportunity to find my true identity in Christ. You have helped tremendously to keep Teen Challenge open and further our sobriety and spiritual growth.

God has changed me from the inside out. Through fundraising, He has helped me get out of my comfort zone and helped me overcome a lot of anxiety and gave me people skills. He has given me my family back and gave me a new perspective on life.

Before Teen Challenge, I was lost and broken, with no sense of direction. I had no clue what to do with my life, and had tired of letting myself, and my family down. Teen Challenge changed me in the best way. Now I have a relationship with my Savior, who will guide me through the rest of my life.

Thank you,

Nathan

I would like to start off by thanking you from the bottom of my heart for donating the funds necessary to keep the doors of Teen Challenge open. With God and the help of Teen Challenge, I have been given the hope of a new life free from addiction and the life of sin that I was living in. God has also restored the relationships that I had burned with my families. The verse I stand on is Philippians 4:13—“I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me.”

Nick

To all Teen Challenge Volunteers and Donors,

I want to say thank you for supporting this program that has allowed me to change my life and introduced me to Jesus Christ.

God has done a major work in my life and He is continuing to mold me daily. I have been delivered from the bondage of addiction as well as [He] brought me from the street life, jail and prison.

I am now looking forward to continuing my sober life and hopefully attend college to get my degree and play baseball.

Job 19:25 says, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end, He will stand on the earth.”

Thank you again for all you do and may God bless you for your service.

Noah

I would like to thank you all for donating to Teen Challenge. I’m a life that has been changed. Your investment has given me an opportunity to live in a safe place for one year. In this one-year commitment, God has opened up my eyes to see how much He truly loves me. God has restored my relationship with my loved ones. Not only that, but He has transformed my life while in T.C. After completing T.C., my goal is to reach out to teens and point them to our Lord and Savior, Jesus. The verse I stand on is Philippians 3:13-14, “Of course, my brothers, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God’s call through Christ Jesus to the life above.” All glory to our LORD Jesus Christ.

Otoniel

I am grateful to God and the ministry of Teen Challenge. The Holy Spirit re-directed my steps from a world of darkness and idolatry. The structured setting—consisting of daily Bible reading, scripture memorization and chapel classes—helped to realign me with my destiny and all God has planned for my life. The servant leaders of TC have open, yielded hearts. You feel the love (sometimes tough). In the end every decision is based on the will of God. My eyes, now flooded with tears…there are not enough words to describe how grateful I am for 365 days of restoration. As I continue my TC journey (apprenticeship and TCMI), God is strengthening me in my weakest areas and equipping me for full time world ministry—I am grateful.

Patricia

Proverbs 16:9

Proverbs 27:17

Thank you for the ministry of Teen Challenge, for this program has helped me grow closer to God. I love how the structure and the discipline the program has.

I also have the true care and concern for all the advisers, and the way the Ladies’ Guild wrote letters to me. I will continue to persevere with the program.

Patrick

6-14-18

I highly appreciate every single one of you volunteers and donors that support Teen Challenge financially. I absolutely did not have the finances to attend this Christian life school. I was very close to committing suicide. I truly thank you for being an active supporter for Teen Challenge. Teen Challenge has been a blessing of newness and breath of a fresh spirit to me. Since I’ve been here at Teen Challenge, I have felt God’s love and presence towards me, which in turn, caused me to develop a very intimate relationship with Christ. How I thought had a big influence on my terrible life style. So now I lean on Romans 12:1–2. I now present myself mature and acceptable to God. I’m allowing Christ to transform me daily to renew my mind and thinking. Thank you again. My life has been transformed.

Patrick

Dear Ladies’ Guild,

I would like to take this time to thank each and every one of you for all that you have done for a perfect stranger. God had brought such wonderful ladies into the lives of some of the nastiest men and made us feel loved.

I would also like to thank you for the game night you put on for us, also for all the supplies that we received upon coming here to Riverside.

I also want to thank my Prayer Mother for all the letters that she sent me. They meant a lot, so a special Thank You and love you all.

Sincerely,

Paul

July 15, Grad

P.S.

Wishing you a light heart, a brighter day,

A smile to chase your cares away…

Glad thoughts to keep your spirits high.

That’s what you’re wished as days go by.

To all who have helped to keep this place called Teen Challenge open and [are] having a hand in all areas of wanting Teen Challenge to be a blessing for so many this past year. A blessing it was, and will continue to be as I do my apprenticeship, to continue to be disciple just as Jesus would want me to be. Before coming to Teen Challenge, I lost all hope—even in God. I didn’t even want to be productive in society anymore. I was okay with living on the streets. But God had much more better plans with me and did not give up on me. He put a youth pastor in my path that was, and still is faithful to Him and His Word and helped lead me to Teen Challenge. As the year went on I regained hope for my life. I gained so much encouragement while here in so many different ways. The encouragement I received will be the same, and more that I will give to others as they go through their season here in Teen Challenge. Thank you so much for your blessings and may God bless you all. Philippians 4:6–7 helped me regain that hope in God.

Phillip – 6/12/18

Dear Volunteers and Donors of CVTC,

Thank you for your support. This letter cannot express how much CVTC has impacted my life and the lives of those around me. I came to the Lord broken and lost, in darkness and with no hope in myself. He said, Now you are ready, and He wrapped His arms around me.

Teen Challenge was a tool used by God to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Since being here, God has dramatically restored me and my family, my wife, Natalie, and my daughter, Elaina. Thank you for answering the call. This is working!

Randall

Hi. My name is Randy.

I just want to say [thank] you supporters [for all you] have done for Teen Challenge by you supporting us. It has changed my life completely. Since I’ve been here at Teen Challenge, it has changed my life dramatically. I’ve learned a lot here—how to deal with my anger, and not turn to drugs. Another thing I’ve learned here is dealing with my anger and submitting to my authority. James 1:2-4 means everything we go through is to help us for our good.

To the volunteers and those who have donated funds for me to be here for free all year, thank you with all my heart for making this possible for me. I found God again and He is restoring my life again. Before I came into Teen Challenge, I used drugs every day and I would steal from different places or people to support my habit. After graduation, I plan on going to Central Valley School of Ministry so I can do prison ministry someday as a pastor. Teen Challenge has showed me that God will make us new again so He can use us to reach others that need help for His glory—not us—and a verse that I stand on is Matthew 16:33 and what it means to me is that Satan will put stumbling blocks in our way to make us fail in life, but God will get us through if we stay in His Word.

Thanks again,

Ricardo, AKA Rico

When I first got saved I thought I was OK. I thought I was good to go, but it wasn’t until I got to Teen Challenge that I saw how lost I truly was and I’d like to thank all of the staff and Ladies’ Guild that helped me find my way back to the path I was meant to be on: the path that leads to God.

Thank you all.

From, Richard

To the ones who cared even when I didn’t:

I would like to thank all of you who donated and volunteered your time. It means more to me than I can explain in words.

Since I’ve been in Teen Challenge, I’ve gotten my family, my self-respect, and my relationship with God back.

I was a heartless gang member before I came, and now I have more heart than I know what to do with. There’s not one experience that had changed me, but it’s the whole experience that has changed my life forever.

2 Timothy 2:3—“Come and endure hardship with us as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” I am now a soldier of Christ.

Rob

Salutations!

I would like to thank you wholeheartedly for your partaking in helping our centers stay open. Teen Challenge is a place that provides a safe environment to be vulnerable and to get to know the Lord for Who He really is. I’m so grateful.

Poem:

I wish this bliss, would never end.

Who, my friend?

How could fate send

This invisible Hand

That land

in this existence of mine?

This sign,

Continued to shine…

My one kind

Ain’t no more blind

Everlasting essence—

Brought me my priceless presents.

---------------

My verse: Romans 8:31

Sincerely Humble,

— Rochel

3/2/18

Teen Challenge has been the place God used to rescue me from myself. I’m eternally thankful to all the people that make it possible for a person like myself to have a new life in Christ. All the cheerful givers give life to the lost with their contributions. I’ve experienced things at Teen Challenge that I otherwise never would have experienced, allowing me to live a fuller life, as described in the scriptures. Who would have thought a street gang member, drug dealer and 18+ year convict would be walking a runway at a fashion show at Fashion Island, Newport Beach, CA. THANK YOU!!

Roger

Thank you.

Because of your love and commitment, the doors here at Teen Challenge were open to help me solve my problem with addiction. Since being here, my relationship with God has been restored. I feel confident going back into the world and putting into practice everything I have learned during this year. I can be the father my two kids deserve, and be a productive member of society. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.

Love,

Roman

I’m thankful for the Lord’s forgiveness, and how I got to witness firsthand Him in my life. In 2017 I came to the program at Teen Challenge and this was the 4 walls God provided for me to get to know Him personally through His Word. It’s life changing since I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and getting to walk with the Creator every day. I’m not entirely sure how He operates, but I’m positive He used Teen Challenge to reach out to me and get to be reconciled through Jesus Christ. Thank you for reading!

— Romo

My name is Ryan and I am scheduled to graduate Teen Challenge at the Reedley, CA center on June 17, 2018. Thanks to your support for the Reedley Center, I can boast in the Lord for partaking in a ministry that facilitated the necessary transformation that God is doing in my life. My experiences, though difficult, were necessary and essential in allowing me through God’s grace to turn away from previous failures and learn self-control. This is an ongoing process that I will continue with the Lord even after graduation. The Bible encourages us in 2 Timothy 2:1 to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. It is here that I have been exposed to this truth. I intend with God’s help to move on after graduation to live life the way He created me to live. At the least, I desire and plan to do what I failed to do before I came to Teen Challenge. That is to live a successful, Christian life of self-control and being empowered by His grace.

Thank you for everything, you guys. By volunteering your time and donations to Teen Challenge and keeping the doors open for the next person to come in and see what God can do in their life and the restoration that can come along with as well. I am thankful that God led me to such an amazing place like Teen Challenge to get the help that I desperately needed and also, by joining Teen Challenge, I am now a believer in Christ and proud to call myself a Christian. God has fully restored the relationship I had with my parents, because for the last 6 years of my life, running around, strung out on meth, broke every bridge I had in my family and it was the worst times I’ve lived. An experience I’ve had at Teen Challenge would have to be when I asked God to come into my life, would have to be the best experience I’ve had while being here in Teen Challenge. My favorite scripture I like is Numbers 6:24–26. “May the Lord bless you and keep you, May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you, May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”

This scripture kept me from leaving one day and I’m grateful I never left. Thank you for everything you guys do.

—Ryan

I’m so thankful for all the volunteers and everything that you guys do. I’m thankful for the Ladies’ Guild that supports us and makes us feel loved and cared for. God has truly changed me through this ministry and I want to help the broken and hurting. I want to go to T.C.M.I and go into full time ministry. The Ladies’ Guild was a big part of my walk here at Teen Challenge and really made me feel loved. Without the donors and volunteers, this place wouldn’t be open for free. You guys are awesome. 1 Corinthians 16:13–14—“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.”

You guys are awesome.

Sam

Hello…My name is Sandra.

First of all, I want to start by thanking all the volunteers and people that donated funds to keep our doors open here in Teen Challenge.

This amazing program has saved my life and my brother’s as well. He will be graduating a month after I do.

Before coming to Teen Challenge, I was in a deep depression, in a very dark place.

The reason I was in that depression is because 16 years ago, my sister, Ericka, committed suicide and that’s why I end up suicidal and wanting to end my life like she did, living with unforgiveness, angry at her, and at God.

Teen Challenge has helped me restore my life with God and my family.

This program helped me to make the decision that, with God’s help, we can be the person He intended us to be; and we will have the life He wants us to have.

Now I am a new creation woman of God that will put smiles on people’s faces, encourage, edify, lift up, comfort, help, give hope, relieve pain and lift burdens.

Forgiving: Makes room for freedom…It doesn’t take the pain right away, but is a process to let things go and start living!

My favorite verse is Proverbs 1:7—“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

“Thank you”

I am so thankful to Teen Challenge and all the wonderful, caring donors who support us students through our year-long discipleship in the program. When I entered the doors of Teen Challenge a year ago, I was broken in both body and spirit. Through the healing grace of Jesus Christ and the loving care of the advisors and senior staff at all the centers I have been privileged to attend, I have become a new person. I’ve been made whole and healed from my addiction to alcohol. I have found renewal of my faith and the beautiful peace of God that transcends all understanding. When I look to my future, I have the assurance of hope and purpose. Wherever the Lord leads me, I know I have the strength and perseverance to see it through to the finish line. This confidence I have is through the power of the Holy Spirit and the tools and resources I learned through the program of Teen Challenge. I am so grateful for this year of sobriety and walking in God’s Word. I will take with me that quiet spirit of hope and peace when I re-enter this chaotic world we call our temporary home on earth. I lift my gaze heavenward in praise and thanksgiving to the new life I am blessed to receive. Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”

God bless,

Sandra B.

Donors:

Thank you so much to all the volunteers and generous donors. While being in Teen Challenge, God has done some amazing things. He has restored my mind. God has also shown me how to love myself as well as how to love others. Before coming into Teen Challenge, I was so broken and lost. I was slowly losing everything, but God took my hand and pulled me out. Without Teen Challenge and God’s anointing on Teen Challenge, I honestly don’t know where I would be. One experience that we had with Teen Challenge is going out into the community to fundraise so more people like me could come into the program. Philippians 4:13—“I can do all things through Christ, Who gives me strength.” That scripture has helped me to keep moving forward. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.

— Sarah

To the Donors and Volunteers of Teen Challenge:

I came into Teen Challenge broken and full of fear. Anxiety and depression were the voices I couldn’t quiet. I saw no hope for my life. But God used this year to break chains. He gave me His love presented as a gift and He never took it back. He opened my eyes to His Truth about who I really am. Today I stand strong and victorious in Christ.

Thank you for your donations and volunteered time. This year was the perfect opportunity for God to work in my life. Thank you for making Teen Challenge possible. Without you, this program wouldn’t be free, and I wouldn’t be where I stand today.

I thank God for your gracious and selfless hearts every day. As it is written,

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” [Psalm 112:9] 2 Corinthians 8:9

God bless,

Savannah

Dear Volunteers,

From the bottom of my heart I thank you for changing my life. Even though we may have not personally met, you have made a huge impact on me that I could never repay. I am thankful that I had a place to go, free of charge, where I could “be still” (Psalm 46:10) and allow Christ to mold me into what God had intended before the foundations of the world were created. Since being here, God has restored a broken marriage and am getting re-married HERE next month. I am enrolled in Bible college and have 2 jobs, which one is working for a church in Clovis called Grace Place. My life before was a mess. I’ve been state-raised in mental institutions, group homes, juvenile hall, boot camps, and 10 years in prison, and now I can use my testimony to overcome the enemy and share the message of hope in Jesus to those who have hurt just like me (Revelation 12:11). Thank you for all of your support and I pray God’s blessings on you all.

— Sean

THE WILL OF GOD WILL NOT TAKE YOU WHERE THE GRACE OF GOD CANNOT KEEP YOU.

I’ve had good days here at Teen Challenge and I’ve had bad days. But at the end of whatever type of day it was, I felt loved and cherished—whether it was because I had a warm bed at no charge, a fulfilling meal, or a card in the mail at just the right time!

Thank you, Scott

I would like to thank all that have donated funds to keep Teen Challenge open. It has given me time, that I never thought possible, to get closer to God. I feel God has completely changed my heart; I’m no longer the same person that I was. I now have a peace I never thought possible. One of my favorite scriptures is Galatians 5:22, 23, for I know this is what is happening to me.

Shane

Thank you for…

I just want to give a big thank you to the donors who help and support Teen Challenge. I now know this was God’s plan for me. He wanted me to build an even closer relationship with Him, and not only that, He also wanted me to look at myself the way He’s always seen me, beautiful on the inside as well as on the outside. Being in Teen Challenge has given me the courage to want to go back to school and pursue my career as a pastry chef. I want to specialize in wedding cakes and be that one to make someone’s wedding even more special. I would also like to get involved with the youth by going to middle schools and high schools, being like a motivational speaker to them, to make sure that they don’t end up on drugs and alcohol. I want to open up a non-profit baking school for young people who aspire to work in that type of industry. Teen Challenge is always going to hold a special place in my heart. Not only did this program bring me back to God, I’ve now got an even closer relationship with Him. It is because of Him that I am redeemed and know my self-worth. The scripture I stand on is Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and future.”

Thank you again for

all your support.

Love, Shanita

I was so broken and lost.

You allowed me a chance to reconnect with my Savior and feel His love again.

At a time I felt complete defeat, you helped pave my way to restoration.

I am a trophy of His grace.

I am forever grateful.

Thank You!

Shawna

Jeremiah 15:19

“If you return to me, I will restore you, so you can continue to serve me.

If you speak good words, rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman.

You must influence them. Do not let them influence you.”

I would like to say thank you to everyone who has donated their time and/or funds to help Teen Challenge continue to change lives. I myself am thankful that such a program exists. It has saved my life. To be able to take a year and concentrate putting my life back on track has been a blessing. Your time and money keep it going. Thank you for your generous hearts. This year has been one experience that has made all of the difference in my life. I am a walking testimony of God’s grace and mercy. God has opened my eyes and my heart.

Galatians 5:22–23

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

A wonderful way in which to live my life.

Stephanie

Hello. My name is Stephen Palmer and I am very thankful for you coming and taking time out of your day to teach me and my brothers the Word of God. Also to those that have blessed this ministry through donated funds, I am very grateful because when I came in, I had next to nothing. Now I [am] leaving not ashamed of who I am. Through God and Teen Challenge, I have become the man, husband and father I was truly meant to be.

From Steven –

I would like to thank you!

This is a shout out of thanks to our volunteers and our donors who have blessed Teen Challenge by helping for a good cause that saves lives! Teen Challenge Riverside is where God has chosen to allow me a new life in Him. I give my prayers to Him because I know that He is capable of all things. There is a victory through the process of Teen Challenge, where freedom lives. The transformation of many lives and the Holy Spirit has driven me back to believing in God's great, miraculous power. It is not popular to be a Christian…but this is what I want to do…Heaven is where I want to go…True life through Christ!

Heaven Bound!

Acts 9:4—Everyone has a road to Damascus.

Dear T.C. Donors,

Thank you for supporting T.C. This is truly where the healing began for me. Since being here, I have learned that if you do not make Jesus Lord of your life, something else will be. Before coming here, mine had become alcohol. Not anymore! Now Jesus is not only my Savior, He is the Leader of my life. I’ve learned to model my beliefs and base my decisions on Biblical principles. I’ve learned to move through my failures and not remain stuck in them. I’ve allowed Jesus Christ to turn my pain into inspiration. I’ve tasted and seen that the Lord is good and I’m never going back. I’ve learned to take my thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. I no longer live under condemnation, but under the care and correction of the Lord. I recognize my Father’s voice, the voice of truth. I’ve made some mistakes but I’m no longer defined by them—I am refined by them. I thank T.C. for this opportunity to just “be still.”

Sincerely,

Nicole

I am thankful that people would show us love and allow themselves to be vessels for God to use to help us in our time of need, and during our spiritual birth and growth. Like the song says, “This we don’t deserve…” (definitely not). We couldn’t earn it either. For people to put their time and money into anyone, let alone us, is something that usually would be beyond my recognition. I see the joy [that] helping and being a servant brings and it’s something that truly does inspire. My own mother has been convinced Ladies’ Guild is something she’d like to take part of during her new retirement.

So thank you for all you do.

— Steven

Revelation 21:5—“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’”

Thank you to everyone who has made this year possible. Thank you for being a part of a ministry that has given me a new beginning to start over. I’ve had a 12-year drug addiction and I’m now 26 days away of celebrating my one-year, drug free.

God has chased me down and has truly captured my heart. I have eyes that see, and ears that hear…the truth. I am loved more than I can even write in words. God is so faithful.

Thank you again for being a part of saving my life.

October Graduate

“2018”

Tamara

“Set Free”

I first of all, would like to thank all of Teen Challenge and the staff that put so much of their time into the well-being of the students. I am extremely thankful for all of the support Teen Challenge receives from the Ladies’ Guild and other sponsors because of the position I was in before, as far as having nothing. We were given the necessities to live a good life like hygiene products and even clothes. What affected me the most in this program is the love that is shown from Jesus through other believers. God really does move here and change peoples’ lives for the better. I plan on dedicating my life to showing God’s love the best I can to others, whether I’m here in Teen Challenge or elsewhere.

Taylor

Hello,

I can’t say enough just how thankful I am for your contributions to Teen Challenge. Without your obedience to the LORD through your gift of giving, I may not have had the opportunity to sit with God for a whole year and allow Him to heal my brokenness. I know now God’s plan was always to get me to Teen Challenge and I am grateful every day this ministry extends to adult women. I have learned I am a precious daughter of the King, that God has not, and will not, ever give up on me. He has begun a good work in me, including forgiveness, healing, restoration, renewing my self-worth and giving me hope. Here in Teen Challenge, God got a hold of me and pulled me out of the pit I was stuck in. The verse I stand on is Psalm 116:1—“I love the LORD for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy.” It is because of God’s faithfulness and the faithfulness of believers like you that I live each day eager and excited to see what my faithful Savior has in store for me.

Thank you, eternally, Thank You,

— Terry

Tina

John 21:25

“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

Thank you! I could never capture in this one letter how Jesus uses the Teen Challenge ministry to heal and save His sons and daughters. I can only tell you in a very short period of time He has delivered me from a lifetime of struggles from abuse (of all kinds) and addictions, strongholds and pits. My life has been blessed. My heart has been healed. I am walking into a restored future, restored marriage, and a life of hope built on my love for the Lord and His Word.

Thank you! for everything you do. It keeps the doors to Teen Challenge open. For an entire year the love of God, and the body of Christ completely sustained my every need while the Lord healed me. In countless ways, miracles and the glory of God were revealed to me and I now have a testimony that says I am a child of God.

To Whom It May Concern,

First and foremost, thank you so much for all your giving. This experience isn’t possible without sponsors, and I know that this last year, He’s saved my life. I walked into this program broken and dead on the inside. Over 28 years of addiction and 17 years behind bars hadn’t taught me a lesson. When God brought me to Teen Challenge, and showed me that I could lose my 2-year-old daughter, He taught me a real lesson. Today I’m ready to step out into the world and be a father. To show my little angel what living the good life really means. It’s all because of God’s grace and mercy that I’ve got another chance. He’s never given up on me, even when I’d given up on myself. All of this wouldn’t be possible without sponsors and donors, so I thank you all so much for your giving and blessings. Joshua 24:15 says, “If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves today whom you will serve. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” I stand on that verse because it is exactly what will happen wherever my head is laying down.

Sincerely, Tony

Thank God for Teen Challenge, a place where I got awesome help, where I found my identity in Jesus Christ. I love how Teen Challenge helps you out with having a relationship with God. Thank God for my advisor, Mr. Tijerina, for always being there for me in my ups and downs. May God continue to bless this ministry and keep on saving people just like He did to me.

Tony

Tyler

• I would like to thank the donors for giving of their money to serve God and help people like me. I’m thankful for your selflessness.

• God has completely transformed my heart and my mind to make me more like Him.

• In a nutshell, my life was just selfish and without love or purpose. I now have Christ, love for myself, and others, and I’m looking forward to serving God.t

• I’ve learned humility through the trials here and realized God is all that matters.

Jeremiah 9:23–24

This verse showed me to be humble because I am nothing, but I can be proud and boast about God and what He has done for me.

Thank you so very much to those of you that have donated money. If it wasn’t for you I know that I wouldn’t be alive right now. I never saved up the funds to get any sort of help, but because of you, I now have a relationship with my family again. But more importantly, I can now say that Jesus Christ is my “Bestest Friend.” I was once lost in a deep, dark pit, but Jesus has lifted me out of there. Ever since being here at T.C., I feel that I have a purpose again and that I can do anything with God by my side. I plan on showing the love of God to all those that need it because I was once in need of that. But now I’m free. Just like 2nd Corinthians says, therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone. The new is here.

– Jacob

To Whom It May Concern,

I would like to thank you all for your consistent dedication to this facility and the lives directly, and indirectly, affected. I was in a pit of misery and despair, stuck with no hope of recovery. The Lord brought me here using one individual’s testimony and has used TC to facilitate my transformation and new life opportunities. Each contribution has been used to save my life, you are each used heavily by the Almighty in His economy. Thank you.

Jeremiah 33:3—“Call unto Me, and I will answer you and tell you great and hidden things, which you do not know.”

Would like to thank all of the volunteers and donors that have helped me be able to live and be a student at Teen Challenge. It has been a very big help in my life to be able to have the time to learn and meditate on God’s living Word. I have been transformed as a person in Christ—living a Christ-like life, knowing how to live this life for Christ. Thank you so much for all that you volunteers and donors do here at Teen Challenge. It makes a difference in my life.

Thank you, Teen Challenge!

This place has blessed me. I have found my home amongst the fellow-believers. I’ve been changed. Jesus has revealed Himself to me here.

The Ladies’ Guild is the best! Thank you for their hard work. What a safe haven this place was. So grateful. I’ll never [be able to] pay them back for what they have done.

Teen Challenge is a miracle!

Thanks to all the people who have donated both your time and money to the ministry of Teen Challenge! It has been my privilege to complete a whole year of Christ’s teaching! It has been a unique experience to watch lives change [and] men grow in their spiritual maturity and relationships with Christ, to seek God earnestly and learn that God restores broken relationships.

Matthew 6:33—Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all else shall be provided!

Thank you for all your support.

Walt

Wesley

To Whom It May Concern:

I’d like to thank the donations to keep this place going. I’m thankful it changed my life and brought me closer to Christ. God has made me into a person who cares about brothers and to just love on everyone. My life has changed so much, such as I’ve learned to hold back from back-talk and encourage new brother[s] that come in. I’m excited to be doing my apprenticeship and will be going to school to become an EMT to care for people in hurt, and maybe tell them how Christ saved me. Lastly, Teen Challenge has made a difference in my life in that I’ve learned patience and love.

Proverbs 3:5–6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not lean on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do and He will direct your path.”

My warmest and deepest appreciation is extended to all of yout who have not only donated financially to this ministry, but have also donated your time volunteering. Henry Ford has been quoted saying: “Failure is an opportunity to start again more intelligently.” I, as well as many other students here in Teen Challenge have had multiple attempts in trying to correct our lives our way, only to quickly fail. It is because of all of you interceding to society on our behalf that allows us to use a full year towards the reconciliation and mending of our broken relationship of our Heavenly Father. The graduating students of Teen Challenge are beautiful examples of the living hope God promises. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. For He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)

It is with this, that I am able to resume my position as leader of my household with confidence, living my life according to His will with joy, and continuing the rest of my days with an attitude of expectancy.

Zander.

This year has been amazing. God has allowed me to let the Holy Spirit work in my life. I thank you personally for donating funds to this place. Teen Challenge helped me to develop life coping skills through the Word of God. My life used to be a wreck, but Jesus Christ changed it. (Romans 8:31)

“If God is for us, who can be against us?...”

Jonathan

Dear Volunteers,

I would like to thank all the people who donate to Teen Challenge for making it possible to enter the doors free of charge and help me strengthen my relationship with God.

Thanks to the staff and especially my advisor, for his compassion and care when I’ve gone through difficult times in TC. I learned how to be humble in the face of adversity.

A very special thanks to the Ladies’ Guild, whose tireless work and compassion shows through each and every one of them. Thanks, Prayer Mom, for always knowing just what to say to lift me up.

Most of all, thank you, God, for absolutely everything You do in my life. I will learn.

Thanks.

Steve

How can a person begin to say thank you when what he has received is the very life he believed was dead forever?

Teen Challenge has restored a foundation of my faith in Jesus Christ and has allowed the Holy Spirit to build upon that foundation. All that once seemed lost forever has been restored. My relationship with parent, children and friends have all been given back to me stronger than ever. My call to serve Jesus Christ with my life has been restored as God has blessed me with a ministry position at my church, serving a pastor I greatly respect. The church has even given me their house to live in. A true miracle. My thanks go out to all who support Teen Challenge. Without your faithful support this man would still be lost in sin. You have blessed me.

Thank you, Kurt

Transforming from a hopeless mess of sin and struggle to a God-loving and fearing man. I cannot thank you enough for seeing that you’ve been blessed by God and are being used to make this kind of transformation possible over and over again. I was a nonbelieving addict for nearly ten years and I am now strong in my faith, have learned to cook and lead worship on a daily basis.

You are truly chosen.

Psalm 37:4—Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Brice

Kyle

I cannot express enough through words how grateful I am to the Ladies Guild and Each and Every Donor of TC individually.

God has taken my calloused heart and given me a heart of flesh again.

Before coming back to TC my life was a living “meth induced hell” but now I have Jehovah’s peace that passes all human understanding (no anxiety).

I am staying to do a 4-month apprenticeship, then I plan on going to TCMI.

The thing that made and makes a huge difference in my life is praise and worship. It sets the tone for our day and ultimately our lives.

Philippians 3:13–14—“Brothers, I do not claim to have taken ahold of it yet, but one thing I do, forget what is behind and strain forward to what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

This means to me, “Don’t dwell on the past.”

Dear Supporters of Teen Challenge,

Teen Challenge is only made possible because of you! You guys have kept a 60-year-old dream alive and have changed countless lives, mine being just one of them. Teen Challenge has given me a new lease on life and has given me a new determination to believe in myself and to never give up in achieving my hopes and dreams. I used to always give up, but now I trust in God’s promises in my life and he is already starting to prosper me. Thank you for keeping CVTC free for us who need free grace.

Proverbs 16:9—“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”

I have a set goal, and God has guided my every step, and it has turned out so much sweeter than I could have ever planned myself.

— Aaron

First, I’m thankful for all the donors and volunteers who serve Teen Challenge. I love and appreciate you guys so much. The biggest thing I’m grateful for is the adviser/teachers. They’ve taught me how to stand on God’s word, live by faith. Without their teaching I would be dead. The word of God changed my life, the Holy Spirit broke me down emotionally by cleaning out my heart.

One experience I’ve felt through this ordeal here at Teen Challenge—God’s been with me the whole time. Scripture verse I stand on is Ezekiel 36:25—“I will sprinkle clean water on you, I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.”

Rudy

I just wanted to say thank you for everything you guys do to support us girls. To sit here today, 11 months sober, is “all God,” for sure! I’ve tried plenty of times to get sober but somehow I would go back to my old ways sooner or later. I didn’t believe in God; yes, I knew there was a higher power, but that’s all. But as of today my God is my Father and my Savior. My Father has taught me to finally be able to love who He made me to be in this life. He’s made my heart full again and brought my family back to me and my life that I live now is all His. I plan to do His will and not my own.

Kara

November 2018

James 1:2–4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Growing up in a home with abuse and neglect was traumatic for me. I vowed to never let anyone hurt me once I was out of the house. Running from reality was a tool I learned at a young age, to survive my home life. As an adult, this was no longer a tool, but a weapon of complete destruction for my broken heart. But Jesus spoke to my broken heart and illuminated every dark place I was hiding. Teen Challenge has allowed Jesus to heal and restore my mind, body and soul. Trials no longer scare me and cause me to flee. I am a child of God with hope for my future in Christ. Thank you for being part of this process in Teen Challenge Southern California.

Blessings,

Brandi

06-13-18

First and foremost I extend my hand to you all for being wonderful people of God; for being there for every single individual that has had an opportunity to come through the doors of Teen Challenge. This place is where I came to have a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior. Not only that, but to learn the amazing grace God has for all His children. Getting the curriculum in our study makes it easy to understand God’s love letter to us all. I came from a gang environment, prison life and a meth addiction since 16 years old. God has delivered me from it all and has extended His love and kindness. The life I walk is not by sight but by faith. The verse I love (Psalm 23).

Santos

Artwork below by Santos Padera, Jr.

.

THE POEMS

Lost

They used to call me lost

They used to call me shame

When I would listen to the devil

He would say I had no game

But I opened up my ears

I opened up my eyes

All I hear is God say, “Don’t believe the lies.”

Found

Now I know the truth

The Lord tells me I’m found

I’m no longer lost

To pick my head up off the ground

That He will light my path

And show me the way

Tomorrow is a brighter day

- Brittany Watson

***

Strong is like a lion,

fighting for the animals in his kingdom

Fast like an eagle high above the sky

Bond that is as strong as the grave but

stronger is He who is in a throne

Jesus Christ whose love covers all sin

Who will be strong when I fall

Fiercer than my trials

I trust Who will hold me

- Alex Fajardo

***

God’s love gives me strength

His power He does not waste

With His plans, He set out for me

His will becomes my destiny

God’s love keeps me strong

His vision of me is never wrong

With His blood, I am set free

His son has allowed me to see

God’s love is my song

God’s love keeps me strong

- Andrew Clark

***

Let me tell you about strength

Though it won’t be at great length

Strong in body means workout is your hobby

Strong in spirit means you praise God

so people can hear it

Strong in your mind means you keep your faculties in line

All in all, strength is important

But strength without God is useless

Ask God for strength and He’ll deliver

And not even the devil can make you quiver

- Alfredo Calderon

***

When my back is against the wall

And throwing in the flag is my next call

When my will is at a test

And my mind is telling me to rest

It’s then when I reach deep within

And hold on to that thing that won’t let me give in

The thought of Christ, Who died for our sin

To just keep pushing not win

For the victory is not mine to claim

It’s of Jesus Who takes my pain

So I can carry on

And stay strong

- Michael Mathison

***

So many ways to be strong

To be transparent, to be open

Ready and willing for any task

Efficient and effective/effort

Never backing down

Giving all you got

Trusting and to be trusted

He gives me strength

To persevere, to carry on

You are my war drum, You are my song

- Peter Riojas

***

Lord, turn my weakness upside down

For only in Your kingdom work will I ever see a crown

I need Your strength to be my guide

For only in Your shadow will I hide

My days on earth are numbered by quality

For only in Your righteousness should I see me

My flesh is weak, my thoughts often fail

For only by Your grace will my ship sail

On Galatians 2:20 will I forever stand

For only by faith will I ever be a strong man

- Kurt Gregory

***

Will I?

(Keith’s Psalm)

Will I not grow weary in doing good?

Will I continue to find my hope, comfort and trust in you my God?

When the storms in life come down on me and trials come my way, and they will.

Will I run to you, Father, and Your Word for peace, comfort and direction?

Will I be able to trust completely in You when everything in this life and my circumstances tell me, “Why should I?”

Will I allow this world to beat me down?

Or Will I allow myself to see Your hand at work through everything and everyone to reveal my true character? And when I see things in me that are not of you?

Will I trust and put my faith in You always?

To walk with me and talk with me and help me to change.

And when I get discouraged, help me, Father, to not look at how far I have to go, but to see how far you have brought me, and how far I have to come.

***

The Castle

There’s a Castle in our midst

that sits along a riverside.

Up on a slope,

it’s become a home

to all who dwell inside.

With walls made of stone,

it’s become a home

of warriors on The Way;

equipping them with a power

to bring a brighter day

to a world hurting.

With love,

their power comes from above

and resting upon them like doves,

wielding a sword in every hand

and bring a hope to a dry and thirsty land…

THE CASTLE,

giving the Key to everything.

Thank you so very much of all that you do.

I am forever grateful.

- Jon

***

Thank You

Thank you for all that you do

With all the blessings, God made us new.

My life will be great from here on out,

From now till the end, God’s name we will shout.

I’ve learned so much from this place,

The light of Jesus shines from my face

For all to see and for all to hear

His love I take when I leave from here.

Because of you, we have a roof

Over our heads as living proof –

A shelter of love, and a shining light,

I will praise God both day and night.

May God bless you for all your days.

We are redeemed for what Jesus paid.

A great ransom we will never forget

And stay true to the path God has set.

God bless

- Ryan

Table of Contents

ThankYou-2018-ebook