Phoenix Center Students

I got along with my family well, obeyed orders and respected authority. My parents were divorced but got along, and all of them worked for a living. I was around 13 when I picked up alcohol from my father and that was my gateway drug. I couch surfed all throughout my teenage years. I liked to relieve stress by means of weekend parties and events. This gave me a boost in confidence that helped me socialize. In the meantime, I was getting hooked on this false sense of confidence because I believed myself to be socially awkward. I committed crimes by chasing an adrenaline rush. I dishonored my own mother, which was displeasing to the Lord God, who brought me here to deliver me out of sentencing. I am probated here and want to learn more about  God’s Word. I want to commit to graduating as well as learn God’s will for my life.

Favorite Scripture: James 1:19 “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”

My mom died when I was 11years old. I grew up with hatred and was cold hearted. I was always into narcotics and mafia like lifestyle. I was in prison. I was a lost soul. I started my addiction at 15 years old. I self-medicated to not feel anything, I wanted to escape. I felt lonely, my wife left me, my brother died, and CPS took my kids because of my addiction. I couldn’t accept this. I am here to work on myself and have a relationship with God. I want to become a new father, a good husband, and to have a better relationship with God, and to reunite my family.

Favorite Scripture: Judges 16:29 Then Samson called to the LORD and said, "O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

Growing up, life was fairly easy, and good. I was raised in a Christian household and was supported by my family. My addiction began at the age of 21. I used alcohol to forget about the pain I caused when I was younger. A recent crisis that brought me here to Teen Challenge of Arizona was me drinking daily, constantly, with no regard to myself or others. I am here at Teen Challenge of Arizona to reconnect with the Lord and overcome my addiction.

Favorite Scripture: Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

When I was growing up, I was a part of a Christian household until I turned 18. My addiction began in 2020 when my father passed away and I was feeling a lot of sorrow. I used alcohol to help me forget about all the hurtful things my father did and said to me. I had recently been to jail for a DUI and my mom asked me if I wanted to get help, so I said yes. I originally came here to get clean from alcohol, but now I am staying to rebuild my faith in Jesus Christ. I hope to learn how to walk with God every day, because I need His help through my struggles.

Favorite Scripture: Psalm 68:5 “A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in His holy habitation.”

Growing up, life was pretty difficult for me. I was bullied throughout middle school and felt as if I did not belong. My addiction initially began when I was introduced to smoking marijuana. This lasted for some time, but I eventually started smoking crack-cocaine. This is where my drug addiction seemed to really spiral out of control. I found that drugs and alcohol allowed me to temporarily forget about the pain of my childhood and past, as well as take away any fear or anxiety I had for the time being. Just prior to coming into Teen Challenge, I was baptized at a local church. I was coming down from an intense high, but felt as if the Lord had a plan for my life. A few days later, I found myself as a student in the program. I am here to establish a firm connection with my heavenly Father, as well as find a new identity. I hope to learn to view life’s problems through a new perspective and forgive myself and others for what has been done. I look forward to the new life that awaits me in Christ!

Favorite Scripture: Psalms 139:14 “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. marvelous are your works, my soul knows it very well.”

I had a great family growing up, with great parents. I had guidance and I  grew up in church. When I was 12 I began to drink and use drugs. I used to fit in, then I became addicted and it got out of control fast. I had a recent close encounter with death and that is what brought me here to Teen Challenge. I hope to become closer to God and to start my walk with Him. I want to change my life in every area possible for myself, but mostly for God. 

Favorite Scripture: 1 John 3:16 “This is how we know what love is, Jesus laid down his life for us so we ought to lay ours down for our brothers and sisters.”

I had lots of friends in high school, I got married and had two kids and eventually split up with my wife. I went on a party spree and got addicted to drugs. My addiction began when I left my wife. I believe I used drugs because of the pain that was caused from me being married and separated young. I came to Teen Challenge because I couldn’t hold a job and I was always chasing my next high. I am here to get sober, but most importantly to get closer and connect to our Father God amen. I hope to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.

Favorite Scripture: Proverbs 20:2 “Those who anger him forfeit their lives, a kings wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion.”

Growing up I had loving and married parents, I was raised Lutheran. We were financially free and blessed. I started abusing alcohol and hiding/lying about it 5 years ago. At first, I used to get drunk and have fun with friends. Then boredom, then to cover up pain and hurt. I was in the 4th cycle of destructive drinking, I was losing jobs, and now I was married and had a kid on the way. I had a child 3 weeks into the program. I am here to rebuild my relationship with Christ. If it's within God’s plan for my life, I want to continue my role as a husband and father to my baby daughter.

Favorite Scripture: James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, for when he has withstood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

I grew up in a divorced family. My mother had us in church multiple days a week. I was herald of the year multiple times (it was like the boy scouts of church). My first drink was at 16 years old, and I’ve always had it in my life socially but when it got out of hand it was really just a blur. I used alcohol out of boredom and as a numbing agent to distract me. I was stuck in a loop, and I ended up coming to Teen Challenge to break out of the cycle I’ve been in for so long. I am here at Teen Challenge to answer the calling that God has on my life in ministry and because I need to heal from all of my own junk. God is using this so that I may be of help to others. He has a purpose for all of us, but if we just want to “do me” and wallow in our muck, then we can never truly receive the joy Jesus Christ has for us.

Favorite Scripture: Isaiah 40:31 For those who hope in the Lord renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Life was good growing up, but I didn’t listen to my mother or father. They tried to teach me how important it was to do the right things. I was 12 years old when my addiction began. I was curious what it would be like to feel nothing. By the end of it, I was tired of my addiction. I was being selfish and was abandoning my responsibilities of taking care of my family. I came to Teen Challenge to find myself and find Jesus. I hope to live the right way in dealing with the load of life while also leading my family down the right path.

Favorite Scripture: Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

My life growing up was adventurous but traumatic. Being raised by both parents serving in the U.S. Army meant moving A LOT. Excelling in academics and sports was my therapy, but it was still tough being uprooted all the time. When I was 16, I stayed with my grandparents in the summer. Out of reach from my parents I partied, drank, smoked, rebelled and I enjoyed it. That’s when my addiction began. I didn’t know the love of Christ; my father was distant, and my stepmom was busy as a drill-sergeant. I turned to drugs and the party lifestyle to cope with the stresses of life. My last time using led to a near death experience. I spent 24 days in the hospital because my kidneys totally shut down. I cried out to the Lord to save me, forgive me, and to heal me. And HE did!  My doctors deemed it a miracle. This pushed me to seek long term help. I uprooted from my home state of IN on a mission led by the Holy Spirit. My pastors and the Indiana Teen Challenge Director gave their blessings and recommendation for the Teen Challenge of Arizona. My ultimate goal and desire is to be made WHOLE by Christ and EQUIPPED to do the work of an evangelist.

Favorite Scripture: Ezra 7:10 Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

My childhood was filled with confusion and I was frustrated, tired and annoyed. I had two lives because my parents were divorced when I was 2 years old. They lived over 1,000 miles apart. My addiction began when I was 12. My rage started when my oldest brother left our dad without saying anything. At 15 years old, I began using drugs and alcohol after my second brother left our dad. I was then left all alone with him. I used drugs and alcohol to feel numb, experience pleasure and to forget. I came here because I had no faith in anything, lost my car, got kicked out, and my daughter saw me drunk. I am here because my drinking got out of control and I stopped going to church. I hope to reconnect with my family and Lord.

Favorite Scripture: Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Growing up I had loving and married parents, I was raised Lutheran. We were financially free and blessed. I started abusing alcohol and hiding/lying about it 5 years ago. At first, I used to get drunk and have fun with friends. Then boredom, then to cover up pain and hurt. I was in the 4th cycle of destructive drinking, I was losing jobs, and now I was married and had a kid on the way. I had a child 3 weeks into the program. I am here to rebuild my relationship with Christ. If it's within God’s plan for my life, I want to continue my role as a husband and father to my baby daughter.

Favorite Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

I’ve spent most of my life going in and out of jail. My addiction began when I was 17, and I used alcohol and drugs because of a bad relationship with my mother and father who were bad influences. A recent crisis that brought me to Teen Challenge was a binge that I barely survived and I knew I needed help. I am here at Teen Challenge to get away from addiction and I hope to learn to read and write while I am here.

Favorite Scripture: John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Growing up, my mom and dad divorced when I was 5 years old. I was pretty much raised by my grandma, and my older sister. My addiction began when I was 11. I loved getting drunk and stoned. Drugs and alcohol, along with speed and pot were all things that made me end up coming to Teen Challenge. I am here to get closer to God and work on myself, and to be a good dad and grandpa. I hope to learn patience and manners, self-control, and when to talk. 

Favorite Scripture: Luke 6:31 Treat others the way you wish to be treated.

I lived in a loving home, but it was broken home while I was growing up. I was bullied during most of school and didn’t feel like I fit in. When I was in 6^th grade, I started smoking cigarettes to see what it was like and try to be accepted. I used substances in order to mask my feelings of abandonment and feeling like I don’t belong. I felt helpless in my addiction, falling deeper into cocaine and meth use. I was isolating from everyone and ended up in depression. I came to Teen Challenge to find a new life with Christ and find breakthrough with my mental strongholds. I hope to restore my relationship with my family and make life-long friends and grow as much as I can spiritually.

Favorite Scripture: Romans 12:9 “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

My parents separated when I was a child, my mom worked and my dad was a drug dealer. My addiction began when I was 15 years old. I started drinking and using lots of different drugs, mainly pills and opioids. I didn’t have value in my own life or really love myself so I was in the habit of not feeling anything and even overdosing. I came to Teen Challenge due to relapse. I was drinking and snorting my paychecks, and I was just miserable and thinking of suicide. I'm here because Teen Challenge has helped me to find peace and joy in the Lord and not in some bottle or baggie. I hope to have long term peace, to develop my relationship with the Lord and build a strong foundation as to know how to handle and overcome struggles and hardships.

Favorite Scripture: Romans 12:9-10 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.