I am forever grateful for this program. Since I’ve graduated, I have been sober and living in prayer day by day. I just want to think the program and God for giving me a second chance. I’ve gotten my kids back and just living my best life day by day! – steffani

I am a graduate of this program. God used teen challenge to assist in changing my life. It wasn’t easy but it was worth it. I am forever grateful to this amazing program. -sydney

“I grew up in a very loving Christian family. I was very involved in church. In my senior year of high school, I started hanging out with the wrong group of people. Once I entered college, it got worse. One drug consumed my life, OxyContin, and any pain pill I could get my hands on. I lived for this drug day and night. My husband and I started to use this drug together. Even when I found out I was pregnant, the drug use worsened. I was so depressed, I had no hope. Eventually, I overdosed and ended up in a psych ward. We both decided to come to Teen Challenge Pensacola, and God has completely changed our lives. I have hope and a future now. I know that my son’s going to have godly parents now.”

–Jessica

“God has delivered me from the bondage of addiction, anger, fear, depression, and self-loathing. Teen Challenge Pensacola allowed me to lift my head with real hope for the future. I used to depend on the bottle in my hand for survival, but now I’ve thrown the bottle away, and I’m holding on to Jesus.”

–Tori

“I was not brought up as a Christian. Intelligence and education were stressed as the most important things in life, so I became a very good student and had big goals. At age 13, however, I was sexually assaulted. I became rebellious and started experimenting with drugs, which became my lifestyle. By age 24, I started using heroin, leading to a 20-year addiction and many psychological problems. My dreams faded away, and I was dying of addiction. I lost my will to live and was completely broken.

At age 44, I hit rock bottom and decided to attend Pensacola Teen Challenge. After a few months there, my life was permanently changed. I finally felt God’s presence there and accepted Christ into my heart. Today, I never wake up sad or depressed. I’m happy to be alive and have dedicated my life to serving Christ.”

–Lisa

“I was lost. I had no direction in life, no meaning. The life I knew was failing me. The things I loved to do became useless. I had begun selling myself as a prostitute to support my addiction. Accepting nothing but abuse my whole life, I knew I was worthless. I was searching, experimenting, and finding nothing but hurt and self-affliction, so I covered it up with drugs.

After coming to Pensacola Teen Challenge, I am filled with the joy of the Lord. I know my stains are wiped clean. Surrendering completely to Christ has been the best choice I’ve ever made. Everything I ask Him for help with, He has taken care of… most of all, He has restored me.”

–Callie

“I grew up in a blessed home with parents who loved and supported me. When I left for college, I rebelled. I wanted to be accepted so badly that I did anything to fit in. My priorities went down the drain, and I failed my freshman year. So, I joined the Coast Guard to escape my problems, but I got arrested twice and fell harder into my addiction. I moved back home and got into a toxic relationship; two months later, I found out I was pregnant, and the father fled. I was so lonely and lost and never thought I could have joy again. But I was wrong.

I came to Pensacola Teen Challenge, and now I have a relationship with God. He has shown me His faithfulness and is restoring my relationship with my family. I can now say that I have hope and a new outlook for the future!”

–Melinda

“I was adopted literally and figuratively. First, at age 3, I had a family that I felt never really accepted or approved of me. I felt different, unwanted, unloved, and unimportant. I thought of myself as a mistake and never good enough. My mother was never really happy with who I was. Everything she tried to force me to be or do, I did the opposite. I started making bad decisions and fell into partying and drug addiction. Then one night, I cried in bed, feeling sorry for myself. I heard the Lord speak to my heart, telling me I am more than this.

After coming to Pensacola Teen Challenge, I now live and breathe for God. I have a reason to get up in the mornings. Now I am a woman with a purpose, and that purpose is to live for HIM. I need his approval because on Christ the solid rock I stand.”

–Natalie