Teen Challenge
This past Friday night my wife and I were invited to the Minnesota Teen Challenge Banquet at the Minneapolis HIlton. We didn’t know what to expect and were really unaware of what Teen Challenge was all about. We were so impressed. MN Teen Challenge is one of the largest residential drug and alcohol treatment programs in the State of Minnesota. And for about 3 hours, the 2000 or more persons in attendance heard powerful, heart wrenching testimony from more than a dozen young men and women who have struggled with addiction for most of their lives. Consider one example:
“Hi. I’m Sheri. I used drugs for more than 20 years. I manufactured drugs, sold drugs, and committed crimes to make my living. My ex-husband was physically violent towards me, and we were in constant punching matches, which I would always lose. My eyes were often black, my nose was broken twice, and the only way he found he could keep me from going to work was to break my fingers. Eventually, he broke all of them. I lost countless jobs, and found a way to make money by selling drugs. One night during his violence, I stabbed him with a pair of scissors and fled for my life. But, even after leaving him, I found that the drugs still controlled my life. My brother kept praying for me to come to Teen Challenge, and finally I did. I am a life that has been changed, and I am experiencing God’s unconditional love.” Sheri graduated in the spring of 2003 and is now working at Illinois Teen Challenge.
The name Teen Challenge is is somewhat of a misnomer. Most of the 450 persons enrolled in this faith based program ranged in ages from 14 to 40. One of the highlights of the evening was seeing all 450 on stage singing several inspirational songs throughout the program. Governor Pawlenty delivered the keynote address, but the real stars of the evening were the young men and women who have found a way to break free from the endless cycle of addiction.
