Phoenix Center Students

I grew up with no father, my mother was only 17 when she had me.  My grandfather was my father figure until I was 14 years old. My addictions began at the age of 19. I used many different drugs socially, then it turned into isolated use to relax me. I was in active psychosis when I entered Teen Challenge. I'm here to become a disciple of Christ, to become whole and healthy. I hope to learn and memorize scripture, become physically fit, and get closer to God.

Favorite Scripture: I grew up with no father, my mother was only 17 when she had me. My grandfather was my father figure until I was 14 years old. My addictions began at the age of 19. I used many different drugs socially, then it turned into isolated use to relax me. I was in active psychosis when I entered Teen Challenge. I'm here to become a disciple of Christ, to become whole and healthy. I hope to learn and memorize scripture, become physically fit, and get closer to God.

I don’t know or remember my childhood or even when my addiction began. I know that I used drugs and alcohol to cope with depression. I came to Teen Challenge to break the cycle of addiction and change my life. I hope to know Jesus better and to receive the fullness of God in my life.

Favorite Scripture: Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'"

Growing up was confusing being shuffled back and forth between parents. I was isolated and had some mental issues. I began smoking, drinking and doing drugs at 15 to cope with mental, physical and spiritual pain. I was stranded and homeless when I found Teen Challenge. I want to become a better person and figure out how to move forward in life. I want a relationship with Jesus Christ, learn the gospel and have peace in my heart and learn how to live!

Favorite Scripture: Psalm 91:1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Growing up was tough. My parents were strict military parents, and my father was a functional alcoholic and even led me to drink alcohol around 5 years old.  I was athletic and was an honor student but the physical and mental abuse led me to the streets and active gang life at 16. The violence claimed many of the gang members. After my brother's accident I began heavily using drugs and alcohol to escape the stress of the gang war and to push down the pain.  I was soon facing life in prison if things didn’t change. I managed to turn things around but couldn’t shake the addiction to alcohol that was tearing my family apart. My pastor found Teen Challenge and now I am committed to turning things around for my family. I hope to get closer to God and learn and apply the teachings of Jesus, so that I may live longer and be a better man for my family. 

Favorite Scripture: Mark 10:27 “Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

My siblings and I had a good life while we were growing up.  Unfortunately, at the age of 16 my uncle gave me my first drink and that started it all. By age 28 I was addicted. I used alcohol to cope with stress and escape my problems. My addiction escalated to greater lengths while I was in recovery from an injury. I’m at Teen Challenge to get my life back on track with the Lord and live a sober life. I hope to get healthy and strong minded by getting closer to the God and change my way of living.

Favorite Scripture: Psalm 32:1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Life growing up for me was pretty normal, but my addiction began after my divorce 26 years ago. I had too much time on my hands, I was bored with life and wanted a different reality. I found myself running out of money and soon would be homeless. I am here at Teen Challenge for renewal of my faith and shelter. I hope to accomplish a new direction for my life and to help others.

Favorite Scripture: Matthew 6:25 Jesus instructs, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

I was taken at birth by my father in Puerto Rico and sent to an orphanage in New York City. My addiction started at 15 and progressed as time went on. Drugs and alcohol were a major part of my life. The harsh streets and not having not been accepted by others only made worse. I struggled with anger and violent tendencies after a threat on my life. I decided to come to Teen Challenge. I had met two students at the hospital and they convinced me to get closer to the Lord. I'm here to get right with God and live a free life with Jesus as my guide.

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

I grew up in a loving and respectful family. They encouraged me and disciplined me when I acted up. My addiction started at age 8. It made me feel good, but my addiction led me to homelessness; that is how I ended up here. I am here to get back on the narrow path and find freedom. My hope is to live the life God had intended for me to live.  

Favorite Scripture: "Matthew 6:3-4 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Life for me growing up was actually pretty great. I feel that I had a normal childhood for the most part. When I became a little older, I began prioritizing things that I wanted to do over things that needed to get done, like responsibilities and life’s demands. I never struggled with substance abuse, but I found myself looking for love and acceptance in all of the wrong places. I developed unhealthy spending habits, as well as lived for the approval of others. This addiction mainly served the purpose of receiving the love that I felt I did not receive from my parents and family members. Right before entering Teen Challenge, I left another program that I did not see helping me in the same way Teen Challenge could. I hope to acquire a strong and foundational relationship with Christ, and live a completely different life. 

Favorite Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:18 “The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow.”

I lived a fun life with lots of good times. At age 22 I became addicted to cocaine after my body began to hurt and my feet hurt real bad. It would numb the pain. I came to Teen Challenge to escape the darkness and shame of my addiction. My hope is to learn from the Lord about living for him and only him. I want to live without relying on drugs and to live only for God.   

Favorite Scripture: Psalm 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life, whom shall I dread?”

Growing up I was the middle of 8 children in a very violent household and my father was the root of the abuse. My addiction to drugs and alcohol started at the age of twenty-eight.  At first it was fun, but I was quickly deceived into thinking that it could mask the emotional pain I was experiencing. After an attempt on my life, I called out to the Lord and He saved me. I’m here at Teen Challenge to become a new creation and learn how to control my emotions and be free from anger.

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."

Life was good till I was 10 years old, then I became an introvert and everyone was telling me I couldn’t do anything, then the problems began. My addiction began when I was 20 years old. I didn’t use drugs or alcohol but using porn gave me an outlet away from a lonely life. My parents died July of 2021 and since they took care and sheltered me my whole life, I found out I couldn’t take care of myself and spent all of my inheritance in 2 years. I was homeless and totally alone, I am here to work on a close, intimate relationship with God.

Favorite Scripture: Isaiah 41:13- For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

I grew up in a household that was dysfunctional and divided. Physical and mental abuse were part of our lives. Manipulation at its worst. I sought the streets to escape. My addictions really started at 12 years old with soft drugs. Then, later in life, came the hard drugs. The reason I used was my acceptance into the streets. My father wouldn’t accept me, so I looked everywhere else for it. I fell back into my desire for my sins. Every temporary desire and pleasure the world had to offer began to torment me. I'm at Teen Challenge to become grounded and rooted in my faith through Jesus  Christ by his love. I hope to build a firm and rooted relationship with Christ.

Favorite Scripture: Romans 12:2 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Growing up was worldly good but not fulfilling. My addiction began at the age of 13, it made me feel like I was all that and a bag of chips. The crisis that brought me here to Teen Challenge was my wife and I being hooked on heroin. I am here to let God get the Egyptian mentality out of me. I’m tired of running back to my sin. I want to let God get glory out of my life.

Favorite Scripture: Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Growing up, my abusive father used to yell and beat me up. In the 90s, my addiction started after a few years of sobriety picked up again in 2020. I used drugs and alcohol to take my mind off the stresses and ease pain. Due to homelessness and drug use, my pastor and a mentor told me about Teen Challenge. I'm here to clean up and get close to the Lord, and to break free from the chains of addiction. I need a better future! My goal here is to love the Lord, learn to cook, and to be a better, happier person.

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.”

I grew up in a militant, structured, faith-based household. Later in life, I felt shame, and my addictive personality led me into drugs. Drugs were a Band-Aid for my problems, like putting lipstick on a pig. My marriage is on the rocks due to my choices. I turned to Teen Challenge for help. God closed the doors to 3 other programs that I was accepted to.  Now I need to trust God completely so that I may lead. I want to love my wife the way Christ loves the church.

Favorite Scripture: Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding.