Phoenix Center Students

In a house where I was being raised by my Dad and step Mother, I was always getting into some type of trouble. My addiction first began at eleven years old. I started off abusing substances as a means of dealing with stress. Eventually my addiction took me to the point to where I was kicked out of my parent’s house and ended up here at Teen Challenge with nowhere else to go. Being here my hope is to get as close to God as possible as well as have a life that produces fruit that can only come through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Favorite Scripture: Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Throughout my life I had many struggles. My mom was a meth addict and Dad was never really there for me. At the age of 16 I was diagnosed with mental illness. At that same age I began experimenting with drugs, which continued to progress to harder substances which began to take over my life. The whole time I was attempting to fill a void that only ever seemed to grow deeper. After a lifetime of growing confusion and hopelessness I came to Teen Challenge. Being here I know that the only thing that can change me is a life being transformed through a relationship with Christ. Everyday my focus is to know and glorify Him more.

Favorite Scripture: Philippians 3:13 “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 was raised in a Christian home until my mom died at the age of seven. After her passing I moved around a lot from place to place and was abused by family members. This ultimately led to a depression that I tried to find solace from in drug use at the age of twelve. What began as an escape as something that numbed my pain, eventually consumed me. I was at a point in my life where I believed I wanted to die until I actually did, and over dosed. God used this event to open my eyes and lead me to Teen Challenge where I found the Savior of my soul. My only aim in being here is to pursue God and the plans that He has for me. Every day here I seek to die to myself, and put all my focus on Christ, who is the only true source of peace.

Favorite Scripture: Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me”

I was brought up in hard times as a child. At the age of 12, I was already involved with gangs and drugs. Feeling the need to fit in with other people, I was constantly defending myself. Eventually I came to a place in my life where I was able to stop doing drugs. Unfortunately I remained in bondage to the use of alcohol. I’ve found Teen Challenge to be my only chance for a change in life. While I’m here I hope to gain self respect, and to make amends to all those I’ve hurt. My desire is to regain my belief in God because I know that He will help me change my life.   

Favorite Scripture: John 8:32 “Therefore you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

 

Favorite Scripture: Zechariah 3:2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”

I was blessed with a fun and exciting life growing up. I was well respected and always filled with joy. I first used drugs at the age of 19 as a means to have fun with friends. Not knowing the severity of using, I was led down a horrifying path. I wandered from the streets to shelters and eventually found myself in jail. At that time I knew I needed help so I came to Teen Challenge to get my life back on track. My hope is to increase my knowledge and to acquire good character qualities along the way. I am determined to work hard to graduate successfully and live a better life. 

Favorite Scripture: Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

I had the privilege of being raised by both my mother and father in a drug-free home.  I was blessed with athletic talent that took me where I wanted to be in life.  My addiction began when I broke up with the love of my life.  I fell into the party scene which turned me into a monster. I thought partying would help me get over someone, but it only made it worse physically and mentally. I came to Teen Challenge at first just to get sober, go back to college and play the game I love.  Now it’s about growing my relationship with the man above. I want to grow more in my character, endure wisdom and walk close to God.  I will be patient for what He has in store for my future! Favorite Scripture - 2 Corinthians 12:9

Favorite Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

My life growing up could be summed up in one word, ‘rough’. I grew up in the foster care system, and eventually was adopted. After the adoption I lacked consistency and moved to six homes in the span of eighteen years. At the age of seventeen I began drinking and self-medicating to numb my feelings of being abandoned. After a night of binge drinking and what I thought would be a final suicide attempt, the Lord brought me to Teen Challenge. Being here my hope is to truly get to know the Lord, myself and my five year old daughter, as well as to finally step into my calling which I know is ministry.

Favorite Scripture: Exodus 14:14 “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Growing up in a Catholic home with two parents who were perfectionists, I had the idea that in order to find love from my parents or God I also had to be perfect. At the age of ten my parents separated, then trying to cope with that and the negative influence of some older kids on my hockey team, my addiction began. I used my addiction to escape reality, and my feelings of failure. After the COVID19 epidemic began I really fell into my addiction. I began isolating, and knew I needed help. I’ve come to Teen Challenge to learn to love myself, others, and Christ while learning to live a life that follows after Him. The only thing I am seeking to find at the end of all of this here is a lasting, loving, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

Favorite Scripture: 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. “

I was super blessed growing up with a strong Christian upbringing.  Peer pressure was the starting influence of my addiction. In school my friends were all into partying and drinking, unfortunately peer pressure got the best of me and I gave in. Eventually my alcohol use took over my life. Coming here to Teen Challenge my goal is to be able to have a normal life. This of course will only be possible by focusing on my relationship with God, and by His power, overcome my addiction.

Favorite Scripture: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that if you believe in Him you will not perish but have ever lasting life.”

I grew up in a Christian home. My grandpa was a pastor, and my mom and dad were missionaries. I started using drugs in my early teens. I was a musician and would sometimes get payed in drugs. I fell fully into that lifestyle, destroying everything in my life. I am here at Teen Challenge because I want to gain freedom from addiction. I know I can get that through a relationship with God. It is an everyday struggle that I am ready to take on. With Jesus I hope to be able to use my musical gift for Gods Kingdom.  

Favorite Scripture - Ephesians 5:5

Favorite Scripture: Ephesians 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Growing up my life was a constant battle. At only eleven years old my addiction began. Through a constant desire to numb the pain of the past, it continued to push me down further and further into a pit of darkness. Finally God got my attention. I overdosed, and this was the wake-up call I needed to come to Teen Challenge. I know that it is by God’s grace that I am here today, and to answer the calling He has on my life. My entire focus and only goal being here now is to continue on this journey in having a stronger relationship with our marvelous King.

Favorite Scripture: Deuteronomy 28:9 “The Lord will establish you as His holy people, if you follow the commands of the Lord your God and walk in His ways.”

My mother and father were associate pastors at an Assemblies of God church in California. I’m the middle of two siblings; I have an older brother and a younger sister. My life growing up was literally wonderful. At the age of fifteen in ninth grade is when my addiction began, as what I thought was a way to socialize. My life after that became a life of fear. God always seemed like some far off distant person that I would never be good enough for. I came to Teen Challenge because I heard that this is a safe place where God heals and restores people, and my hope is exactly that; I want to become whole, complete, established, and restored.

Favorite Scripture: Isaiah 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. “

My life was okay growing up until my Mom went to prison and I was forced to live with a Dad that doesn’t like me. My addiction began right after my Mom got out of prison and decided to leave me and my siblings behind. I didn’t know how to cope with the depression I was feeling so I suppressed it with drugs. After burning so many bridges from letting my addiction run my life, I finally found Teen Challenge. I am here now to restore my relationship with God and to recover from my addiction. My hope is that I accomplish a sense of purpose and a better understanding of our world.

Favorite Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

At a young age I started forming unhealthy habits. Growing up with depression from lost loved ones, I began to feel unworthy. In the midst of my depression I started to use drugs and alcohol to cope with all my troubles in life. I even became violent and got put in jail. From jail I came to Teen Challenge to seek God and to experience change in my life. My hope is to accomplish a genuine relationship with God.

Favorite Scripture: John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing.

I lived a pretty normal life as a kid. My addiction didn’t start until my late 20’s early 30’s. Even though my life was normal growing up, I had a void in my heart that couldn’t be filled with the love of my family. So eventually I turned to drugs and alcohol and I found that getting high wasn’t enough either. It became an addiction. At last the Lord has brought me to Teen Challenge to find a purpose through my faith in him and not drugs. My goal here is to not only accomplish sobriety but a better relationship with Jesus Christ.  

Favorite Scripture: Proverbs 19:1 Better is the poor man who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

My life was really good until I began struggling with depression at the age of fifteen, then things began going down-hill. At the age of sixteen I started smoking weed, which eventually progressed into harder drugs. I continued to medicate in order to avoid my problems and all the hurt I had inside. I wanted to feel good even when I wasn’t good. God’s hand really began working in my life after I over dosed, and He began moving things to bring me here to Teen Challenge. I’m here at Teen Challenge to get closer to the Lord every day and work on becoming the man God always meant for me to be.

Favorite Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but a spirit of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline.”

Favorite Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

I was raised by my Mom growing up. Due to not having a Dad, I did a lot of fighting as a boy. At the age of 14 years old I began using drugs to escape from reality. Eventually I started using intravenously and I ended up damaging my arm so badly that I needed surgery. Having no place to go, I found Teen Challenge and was provided with the opportunity to not only have my surgery done but have a place to get sober and grow closer to God. Through the help of Teen Challenge, I hope to stay connected with God through good relationships with other Christian brothers. 

Favorite Scripture: Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

My entire child hood was spent growing up in different foster homes. Around the age of seventeen, I started battling depression which eventually led me to my addiction. This all culminated in an overdose that really woke me up. I came to Teen Challenge because I truly want to turn my life around and get away from my drug addiction. I know being here, if I pursue a relationship with Christ, will turn into a life of sobriety and peace that can only be found in Him.

Favorite Scripture: Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

My life was filled with good times and bad times. Growing up I had two older sisters that were always getting into trouble. Hanging around older kids, I was influenced early on at the age of 9 to smoke cigarettes. Then by 11 years old I started smoking marijuana.  Eventually I started using harder stuff at the age of 16. As I got older, my addiction started to affect my life in my marriage and my relationship with Jesus. God has called me to Teen Challenge. This program is the process necessary for me to overcome my giants. My hope is to accomplish perfect communion with my father in heaven and to have freedom from addiction.

Favorite Scripture: 1 John 4:17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.

My life growing up was rather good. I had a great childhood riding dirt bikes, camping, hunting and lots of sports. I was popular in high school because of my athleticism. My addiction began when I was 14 years old. My father sent my brother to the military and that caused me to start acting out and I ended up moving out at the age of 15. I started using because I was hurt, angry, confused and alone. I tried to numb myself and hurt myself. I was suicidal when I came to Teen Challenge. I couldn’t take living anymore. I seek freedom, restoration and purpose here. I need God to help me with my character and integrity.

Favorite Scripture: Psalm 16:11 Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.