Pastor David Wilkerson, inspired and led by the Holy Spirit, founded and developed the ministry of Teen Challenge.
Teen Challenge started in Brooklyn, New York in 1958 by Rev. David Wilkerson. Wilkerson was a young country preacher pastoring a church in eastern Pennsylvania. One February afternoon, Wilkerson read an article in LIFE magazine about seven teenagers who were on trial for murder.
During a gang fight in Manhattan, these teens beat a young man to death. Troubled by what he read in the article, and sensing God wanted him to do something for the teens, Wilkerson made a trip from his hometown in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania to the urban area of New York City.
Sometime after this, Rev. Wilkerson resigned his church in Pennsylvania and moved to the New York City area to work full time with teenage gang members. This new work was eventually called “Teen Challenge.” Soon, Teen Challenge began to also offer help to those addicted to drugs and alcohol.
During these early years, a large home was obtained on Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn. A year-long residential discipleship program was started in this facility. This Teen Challenge program is still helping people change their lives in today! Due to its success, residential Teen Challenge centers began cropping up in cities all across America.
Most of the centers offer a 12-18 month residential program for men, women, boys, or girls. These centers are designed to help individuals learn how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and in turn, live drug-free lives. The programs offer a balance of Bible classes, work assignments, and recreation.
As of January 2002, at the beginning of the 45th year, there were 178 Teen Challenge programs in the United States and another 150 in other countries around the world.
The rest of the story of Teen Challenge is told in the best-selling book, The Cross and the Switchblade. This book has sold tens of millions of copies and has been translated into 35 different languages. Another exciting book that is available, Run Baby Run tells of notorious gang member Nicky Cruz who was one of David Wilkerson’ s early converts in New York City. Beyond the Cross and the Switchblade and The Cross is Still Mightier than the Switchblade also details important early history of Teen Challenge.
Teen Challenge has grown into one of the largest and most successful programs of its kind in the world. Our men's program in Colfax, Iowa is a year-long faith-based residential program for men ages 18 and older. Residents live in a structured, disciplined environment created to provide complete 180 degrees of life change!
Adult & Teen Challenge of the Midlands exists to be a catalyst for 180-degree life change in the addict.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a life-controlling problem, please call us today. There is no issue too big, no life too hopeless, no addiction too strong: there is HOPE in Jesus Christ!
To start the application process today, go to our "Admissions" tab to download all the required forms.
You may contact us at:
admissions@tcmid.org
(800) 718-8804
(515) 674-3713 Ext. 207
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