Phoenix Center Students

I grew up in a loving household with my Mother, Step-Father, and Sister.  I began experimenting with drugs socially around the age of 15 years old.  My addiction began after my brother was shot and killed. My drug habit helped ease the pain of trauma. Recently I lost my home and was living out of my truck.  During this program I hope to learn how to walk with Jesus.  My hope since coming to Teen Challenge is that I will strengthen my mind, body, and soul, with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Favorite Scripture: Isaiah 48:10 See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

I grew up in a large home. I am the fourth child out of 11. I was homeschooled my whole life and very sheltered. The home I was raised in was a Christian home and I had both of my loving parents. At around 18 years old I started smoking weed. In the next five years I tried most drugs and ended up with a crippling cocaine addiction and alcoholism. I started using drugs and alcohol to fill the void that I had in my life and to fit in in a small town where friendships were built on drug and alcohol use.  I came to Teen Challenge to find new purpose and direction in my life and to build a relationship with God, to become a better father, son, and brother. My hope is to become more than sober and find the calling that God has put on my life and to walk it out.

Favorite Scripture: Romans 6:19 “I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.” ‭‬‬

Growing up I did not know my biological father. My biological mother committed suicide from drug addiction and depression. I was adopted by one of my uncles and his wife along with my older sister. They raised us as their own and they are mom and dad to us. My dad is a pastor and my mom is in HR. As children, we were given opportunities to do what we wanted in music, sports, church or almost whatever we wanted. It was a home filled with the presence of God, focused on loving us and teaching us how to live Biblically righteous lives. I came to Teen Challenge to strengthen my relationship with God and spend time reading His word, including prayer and being discipled. I hope to resolve relationship issues with my wife, and continually grow in my relationship with Jesus.  

Favorite Scripture: Isaiah 49:16 Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.

I couldn’t ask for a better childhood growing up. I had everything I needed. For me addiction didn’t begin until the age of 26. Mostly I was bored, and I turned to alcohol. Recently though I had been experimenting with meth and I knew I needed help. My hope is that I will no longer live an addicted life and I’ll be able to get back to work and have a place to live.

Favorite Scripture: 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 hope and a future.

Being adopted at the age of four, I felt abandoned by my mother. At the age of six I started huffing gasoline because I thought that was better than reality. My adopted parents filled that void in my heart for a while until they split up. So, I always felt like any woman I got close to was going to inevitably hurt me. I recognized that in my own behavior something was wrong, and I needed to change because I began pushing away the one woman who really loved me, my wife! After the birth of my children, my addiction manifested and took over control. I know that by the blood of Jesus Christ I’m here because of Gods agenda breaking generational curses through God who is stronger in me, than me in the world.

Favorite Scripture: Psalms 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

For me growing up I moved around a lot, staying with relatives on different Air Force Bases. Addiction first began as a teen in the form of alcohol. Later in life in my 30’s it grew to an addiction to narcotics. Before coming to Teen Challenge, I was on a binge and ended up in a place of complete loss and felt suicidal. I came to Teen Challenge to submit myself to Jesus and to let go of Mike-isms. My hope is to find a life of service, learn how to love others, and to develop a complete lifestyle of following Jesus.

Favorite Scripture: Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

Growing up for me was great as a child, but as I got older it was difficult to process. My parents divorced and addiction began at the age of 13. I believe I began using to escape reality and to feel a sense of excitement and being alive. Before coming to Teen Challenge, I was physically dependent upon alcohol and suicidal.  My hope now is to learn about Christianity and to be a good Christian and to use the values learned here to heal past hurts.  

Favorite Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:1 “You must love the Lord your God and always obey his requirements, decrees, regulations, and commands.

My life was really good until I began struggling with depression at the age of fifteen, then things began going downhill. 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 cover up 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.”

Growing up I was in foster care for three years and my mom was in and out of my life. Addiction for me started with the passing of my mother. I was lost and started smoking and causing trouble. For me my addiction was a way to block out the pain and to forget about my mother‘s passing. I came to Teen Challenge to grow closer to God to get to know him and understand him and have a relationship with him.  

Favorite Scripture: Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

I had a great childhood growing up. At a young age I was saved and encountered by the Holy Spirit. In my teens I began experimenting and learning the drug trade because of a desire to fit in with an older crowd. Since being delivered in 1987, I’ve had years of success and lived a faithful life to the ministry. Like many, there have been moments in life where I have struggled and have fallen, but have gotten back up. I came to Teen Challenge of Arizona from New York to be a part of a dynamic support system that has been so caring and loving and to further work and illuminate the hazards in my life that are keeping me from success. I will complete Teen Challenge; all glory be to God.  

Favorite Scripture: Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

For me growing up I moved around from place to place, mostly because of my actions. I was surrounded by many different things, both good and bad. In my younger years I would smoke black and mild’s, and then weed, and as I got older I got into many other different drugs. I would use narcotics to numb the pain and as a coping mechanism for dealing with the ups and downs and moods that I had in life on a daily basis. Recently becoming homeless because of my bad choices, I knew I needed to change. At Teen Challenge I hope to have a better relationship with God and to make and to change from my old mindset of not caring about anything and to become better through Jesus Christ and his word and loving my mind, body, and soul so I can better myself.

Favorite Scripture: Proverbs 11:14 For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.

My parents divorced when I was one.  Throughout the years I was physically abused.  Addiction for me began at the age of 22.  No longer wanting to feel abandoned, I turned to abusing substances.  It helped me to fit in and to feel accepted.  Recently I relapsed and came to Teen Challenge because they have one of the highest success rates of all programs in staying sober.  I am here to get closer to God.  

Favorite Scripture: Jeremiah 24:7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.