Tucson Center Students

So I had a pretty rough up-bringing. I grew up in a dysfunctional home, drugs and alcohol seem to be the way of life. Mom and Pops seem to be constantly entertaining some type of chaotic party, whether it was at home or them vanishing to take part in. They were kids with kids, so that explains a lot of it. My personal addiction began as a young adult, trying to escape the faces of reality, I was about 17ish when I started drinking to socialize with the crowd. It made everything easier and less thoughtful to compromise and justify my irrational behavior and drug use. Even though I witnessed my parents fall victim to alcohol and drugs and thought I knew better, I was following the same road. I thought I was invincible and would not run into the same problems. But I fell victim as well and my life quickly became unmanageable and I was lucky to find Teen Challenge and start this journey to sobriety and graciously walk in spiritual growth. This is going to help me be the father and role model I desire to be for my kids.

Favorite Scripture: Proverbs 21:2 Even though we think we are always right God thoroughly examines our true motives.

So I wasn’t raised in a Christian home…and it was very broken to say the least. I was born again at the age of 26 though… only by the Lords mercy. I was helping in several areas of kingdom work within a period of a couple of years and knew I was “called” to that. Unfortunately, I went back to some fleshly choices and went through a Teen Challenge years ago and felt like I had found “my place” to serve. It just didn’t work out though. Through several more heartbreaking situations a few years ago, I once again struggled with alcohol and was in great despair. Now I’m here wanting to gain complete freedom….and “regain a vision” for my life!!!  

Favorite Scripture: Hosea 6:3 So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn, and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.

All throughout my childhood I experienced very traumatic things. I grew up never knowing who my real father was. I also grew up around every drug you can think of. I was a victim of sexual abuse for years as a young child. I held that guilt and shame in for 15 years until I finally opened up to my wife about it. My addiction started heavy around 2021. I believe I started using drugs to cover up my scars, wounds, and pain from my childhood. I’m here at Teen Challenge to build my relationship stronger with God and to learn how to become a spiritual leader for my wife and daughter. I really want to learn while I’m in the program how to become the man of God that the Lord has called me to be, but also learn how to walk it out.

Favorite Scripture: Matthew 6:33 But first seek the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

Growing up I was fortunate to have lived in a very loving home. At the age of 19 I started with the City of Bisbee as a Police Dispatcher. I soon became a Police Officer at the age of 21.  My addiction started after several traumatic events that I had to deal with and I turned to alcohol to escape. I think the reason that I started drinking was to forget things and to numb the pain.  I came to Teen Challenge after a long time of running from God and trying to get sober my way. I have seen great growth in the short time that I have been a student at Teen Challenge. I plan to go to Bible School after completing the program.

Favorite Scripture: Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourself.

Life growing up as a child was lonely for me. Throughout school I was pulled for resource in a special class which made me feel different and embarrassed. My parents were divorced and I was living with my dad who sadly was dying from congestive heart failure but trying so hard to stay alive until I was at least 18. In the 6^th grade I was introduced to weed and that quickly led to heroin use. I believe I liked the drugs because it helped me not to feel so lonely and I was able to check out from life problems. My dad passed away when I turned 18 and it was “off to the races” with drugs. I didn’t care anymore. I found myself homeless in Colorado, broken down. My sister who is a graduate of Teen Challenge, came to Colorado and pulled me back to reality and brought me here where I found God. I am now letting God through this program refine me in to the type of person He wants me to be.  

Favorite Scripture: Isaiah 43:1 But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, he who formed you “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”

Growing up my youth was rough in an abusive house while at my Dads. At my Mothers on the other hand, it was great, and that’s the only reason I know what love is. I started going to parties at a young age and soon found alcohol to be my best friend and ‘solution to my hurt’. Suicide attempt number 1 at age 18. Little did I know that was just the start. May of 2022 I accepted the Lord back into my life and I can now say for the first time since age 12 that I’m truly happy. Here at Teen Challenge, I plan to further my walk with the Lord to be able to eventually help others find the Lord and hurt no more.

Favorite Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:36 How foolish. What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.

About 10 years ago, my wife passed away from kidney cancer, and we had three children in their late teens and early 20s. Her passing led me to drink more heavily and smoke marijuana. Due to my addictions, my relationship with my children specifically my daughter, caused me to end up in jail multiple times. I was just in a broken, lost state. I also kept failing probation in attempt to move from state to state.  This was due to failed job attempts in Florida and back in Michigan where I’m from. I started to see how bad it could get; to the point of ending up homeless and such. The last time I got released from jail was in October of this year, 2022. I was blessed with an early inheritance from my parents and I bought plane tickets.!!! Plane tickets to Phoenix for a job. I relapsed again and knew I had to go back to Teen Challenge where I was 20 years ago. God brought me to Tucson, Arizona and on the way here I saw a rainbow over the exit sign and knew I had made the right decision.

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

Growing up going to church every Sunday, I thought I knew Christ. As I got older, I started wanting to discover myself. Getting into drugs and relationships, I thought I had found my identity in gangs and the lifestyle I chose. When I found myself waking up under bridges and in hospitals for overdoses, I knew I had to make a change. I believed Christ could make that change, and so I started investigating. Today I am developing a relationship with Jesus Christ through his word and prayer. Learning to be a servant to many people that come through the doors and humbling myself. My pride is being stripped away and I’m no longer a self-centered man.  I can now rely on the word of God to make me stronger than I ever thought I was in jail or gangs. Teen Challenge saved my life.

Favorite Scripture: Amos 9:15 And I will plant them upon their land and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them saith the Lord thy God.

Growing up I got involved in a gang at an early age because I couldn’t stand my family life. I began using heroin at the age of 17 after I started dating a girl that I was selling drugs to. I found an immediate escape. I’ve been in and out of prison and I was in the gang till my mid 40’s. I am here at Teen Challenge because it was my last resort before divorce. Ever since I got on the plane, my marriage has been restored.  God has been working in my life so much. Coming to Teen Challenge was the best decision I could have ever made. I have been redeemed and I am not ashamed anymore…  

Favorite Scripture: Psalm 107:2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so who he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy.

I was raised with good morals and high standards. Our family never struggled financially and I was always given good counsel. When I turned 21, I dove deep into drinking and it took a grip on my life. For me alcohol was a way to fit in during my time in service in the Marine Corps. I’ve tried to do this on my own including going to AA thinking that it would be my savior. I came to Teen Challenge for a genuine relationship with God, and for my heart to be healed. My hope is that I will grow in the plan that God has for me.

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.

I believe I had a normal, happy childhood. I grew up in a loving, Christian family. However, when I moved away to college, I started drinking heavily. I believe I used alcohol as a way to deal with self-diagnosed social anxiety, as well as a way to get out of my head and escape my tendency to overanalyze everything. Over the next 18 years, I became less and less interested in holding down a job or paying rent. I prioritized getting drunk over everything else. Recently, when I was facing eviction and homelessness yet again, some tough love from my family finally prompted me to seek help and break the cycle. I truly believe God has brought me to Teen Challenge to rest in His presence, listen to what He wants to teach me, and restore a relationship with Him that I walked away from so many years ago. I can’t wait to discover my new identity in Christ – an identity that doesn’t need alcohol!

Favorite Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

I started using tobacco and weed at the age of 13 and started drinking shortly after that. I experimented with other drugs but eventually just drank and drank pretty heavily when I did drink. I ended up getting my knees scoped (surgery) and was ascribed Percocet for my knees and eventually my doctor cut me off.  I ended up turning to the street to get my fix. I have been in and out of the 30 day rehabs a few times. My family has always tried to talk me into Teen Challenge, but I always had a reason not to go. I always used shortly after getting out of all the rehabs I was in. I ended up going to jail for 5 months and when I came out I had nothing but the clothes on my back and an ID. My sister ended up getting me a bed at Teen Challenge and for the first time I had no excuse not to come into Teen Challenge. I was able to finally stop running.

Favorite Scripture: Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall run and not faint.

I had a rather fortunate life as a young kid. As I grew up with a loving caring nurturing family we for sure had our fair share of struggles. I started to get into smoking cigarettes at a young age ultimately giving way to alcohol and smoking weed. My addiction really spiraled out of control when I lost my mom when I was 23. I lost all self-control because of her death, a piece of me went with her. I lost my job, my apartment, and my relationship with my family. My best friend’s wife introduced me to Teen Challenge, so I made the executive decision to sit down and finally get the help I have waited years to receive. The Lord has blessed me with a beautiful wife, to who I married the day before induction, two beautiful daughters and a new beginning at life.

Favorite Scripture: Isaiah 6:8 The Lord asked, “And whom shall I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” And I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

Growing up I had what most people would consider to be a decent childhood. I was very sheltered until the end of my high school years. Around the eleventh grade is when I started using nicotine and in the twelfth grade I began smoking marijuana. The next few years after that was when the hard drugs came in and at first it was merely just for the sake of trying something new, but I soon realized I was running away from depression and the mistakes I seemed to make of always letting down the people that I cared about. This spiraled into a never ending cycle of addiction, failure, and regrets and a couple years ago I found myself here at Teen Challenge. I was faced with an ultimatum my first try in the program, but this being my third attempt to finish, it’s solely for the purpose of getting closer with God and being the man I’ve been struggling to become over the last few years. I hope to become a Godly man, one who sticks to his word and can stay sober to be around for my family to lead them into the kingdom of God and to see what gifts I have to offer and bring others closer to God. I’ve realized that first starts with me.

Favorite Scripture: 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.

I grew up in a broken home. My dad struggled with addiction and was in and out of jail and rehabs, while my mom worked to provide for us. My addiction started after my dad was killed in 2014. I began taking painkillers and my addiction grew for the next 4 years. In 2018, I turned to fentanyl. In Nov 2018, my wife overdosed and passed away, which led into deeper drug use for me. I found myself in a cycle of addiction. Since then I’ve been trying to escape my reality. On a recent “binge” I had a mental breakdown and began hallucinating. I felt I was going to lose my life if I didn’t seek help. God used this scare to call me back into Teen Challenge. In this season, I need to allow time for God to restore me and renew my mind. My desire is to grow deeper in my faith. To grow in self-discipline and character, and to become a better father.

Favorite Scripture: Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again to a yoke of bondage.

Growing up I always had support from a very loving family.  I have always had the ability to overcome any problems or issues that I faced. I believe that my addiction started when I was around 14 years old when I started hanging out with a friend from school, we were always doing irresponsible things with our time.  He introduced me to meth and that’s where my life started to take off in the WRONG direction.  I continued to use this meth through everything I did.  My family started to get tired off my issues and continuously tried to help me.  I would just run back to this addiction time and time again. That is until my Grandmother and Pastor told me about a great place where I could build a solid foundation through Christ with the help and structure of Teen Challenge. Now I know how to build a greater relationship with my heavenly Father.

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

Growing up I had a fairly good childhood. My mom did have me at a pretty young age and she and my father quickly separated. My mother worked hard to provide me with the things I needed, but in my free time I was left to my own devices. After school I would run around with other kids in the neighborhood and they felt like family. I always wanted to be accepted so when alcohol and drugs were being used I quickly fell into peer pressure. By the age of 12, I drank alcohol and smoked marijuana. I loved playing sports, especially football. I had a great time in athletics but it also lead me to opiates. Painkillers were heavily used by many of my fellow teammates. In college and afterword my addiction just continued to progress. This eventually led to my arrest, which brought me to Teen Challenge to better of my life and my families.  

Favorite Scripture: Philippians 1:19 As you pray for me and as the spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.

My childhood was good. I didn’t want for anything. I just didn’t have my mom growing up. I had to learn how to let her go because it was a major downfall in my life. After I lost my daughter, when she passed at the age of 23, it was really hard on me. I had a lot of things going on and anger towards the situation, so I learned to cope with it by doing things on my own because a lot of people I loved were already out of my life. I always looked for love in the wrong places. I finally turned to God. He helped me realize he loved me and even through my daughter’s death, I know that she’s with him and taken care of. Teen Challenge has helped me slowly learn how to open up and understand that no matter the circumstance, God gives me a second chance to be a father to my new son that I had just a year ago. I get to be the father I have not had the chance to be.

Favorite Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:1-2 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger man as brothers, older woman as mothers, and younger woman as sisters in all purity.