Teen Challenge Instead of Ten
Years
Testimony of Andrew P.
 I
grew up in Iowa in a Christian home. My parents divorced when
I was eleven, and I started to rebel against everything. Since
my mom was basically raising me and my sister alone, she had
to get a job and I was left to do more and more of whatever
I wanted. I ended up smoking, drinking, and doing drugs. By
age 13, I was smoking pot every day and doing other drugs
when I got the chance.
I got into trouble living with my mom so I would move in
with my dad. For a couple of years I went back and forth until
I decided to run away. I got caught and was ordered to attend
Tarkio Academy. I was there for eight months. I got out shortly
after my sixteenth birthday and the court emancipated me.
I continued to get high and move around a lot. I would stay
somewhere until I didn’t like it anymore or until I
wore out my welcome, then I would go somewhere else. I supported
myself mainly by selling drugs.
In 2001, I met my wife but continued to smoke pot and do
drugs. In 2003, my wife and I were arrested for growing pot.
I went to rehab and stayed clean for one year thinking I had
it whipped. I started smoking pot again which led me into
the meth scene more than ever before. I got sent to prison
for 120-day drug treatment. Needless to say, it didn’t
work. I got out and was worse. My life was more of a mess
than ever before. I started cooking meth full-time and got
busted a few months later. Now I was in jail thinking that
this was the end of my life.
That’s when the jailer, who I had gone to school with,
started talking to me about God. She gave me a bible and asked
her pastor to come see me. I started reading the Bible and
praying. Even with all these negative things happening to
me, I had a sense of hope that I never had before. The pastor
led me to the Lord while I was in jail and mentioned Teen
Challenge. He brought me the rules and the application. I
filled them out and was accepted. I went to court facing ten
years, but the judge told me that I could go to Teen Challenge.
I’m still facing sentencing on two other felonies, but
I’m not worried.
God has changed me in a lot of ways and continues to show
me areas in my life that need work. I’m learning to
trust in God and know that He will do what is right for me…whether
I understand it or not. My goal is to complete Teen Challenge
and be the best father and husband I can be. I would also
like to help others who struggle with drugs and that lifestyle
come to Christ.
Joy That Money Can’t Buy
Testimony of Nick S.
 Well,
it all started when I was very young, thirteen years old to
be exact. I got into drinking and drugs, and I spent all this
time and effort and a lot of money trying to make me happy,
and it just never happened.
One scripture that I have found says, “Don’t
you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose
to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death,
or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living”
(Romans 6:16, NLT). I was a slave to everything I did, but
I didn’t realize it or realize the pain I caused.
Now I have given my life to Jesus Christ and guess what.
It didn’t cost a thing. All that money I spent on trying
to make me happy didn’t work. Romans 6:23 (NLT) says,
“For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of
God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Eternal life doesn’t start after we die; it starts when
we give our lives to the Lord so we can do His will instead
of ours.
Philippians 4:13 (NLT) says, “I can do everything through
Christ, who gives me strength.” What I’m trying
to say is that we don’t have to be slaves to anything
anymore. Just trust God. I did. Now I am in His will and have
joy that all the money in the world can’t buy.
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