GLOBAL TEEN CHALLENGE
Years ago, the story of David Wilkerson and Teen Challenge was chronicled in the multimillion-copy best-seller book and movie entitled “The Cross and the Switchblade”.
2008 marks the 50th anniversary of Teen Challenge International – with celebrations scheduled for June 2008 in New York City. Alumni from around the world will be gathering in New York City to celebrate God’s goodness in their lives and to mark this important milestone in the ministry of Teen Challenge. For more information, visit the Global Teen Challenge website.
Back in 1958, David Wilkerson, a young Pastor from Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania, felt called to New York City to reach out to troubled youth on the streets. After reaching hundreds who wanted help, he found that many needed long term residential care and mentoring. It was then that Teen Challenge was formed to provide a structured faith-based residential program for those with life controlling drug and alcohol problems. This is how the ministry of Teen Challenge began and has spread literally around the world today.
Today, Teen Challenge is a non-profit, interdenominational, faith-based program operating in 82 countries, with over 510 autonomous locations internationally, and continues to grow at a dramatic pace worldwide.
Teen Challenge in Canada was founded as a Canadian registered charity - for the express purpose of meeting the needs of the Canadian drug abuse problem. The Teen Challenge centers in Canada have never received financial support from its American counterpart peer organizations.
Global Teen Challenge is located in Columbus, GA, USA and helps plan, coordinate and approve new Teen Challenge ministries in third world countries. It has no control or jurisdiction over Canadian operations.
TEEN CHALLENGE FARM - LONDON, ON
Teen Challenge started its first outreach in 1973 as a small coffee house outreach in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, with a goal to reach out to young people who were struggling with life-controlling problems – including drugs and alcohol. This approach reaped positive results which precipitated the need to open a full-fledged Teen Challenge residential program in the early 80s.
In 1982, as a result of the generosity of a local church, Teen Challenge was able to purchase a permanent 18 bed residential facility in Hamilton, Ontario as its new base of operations. During this time, the most significant development in the ministry was the establishment of a residential induction program which was a precursor to the farm program.
As Teen Challenge continued to grow, it became evident that larger rurally-located facilities were need to help more young men in need. Subsequently, the Hamilton facility was sold and in 1989 Teen Challenge purchased a former nursing home near the town of Lambeth, Ontario. On July 28, 1990, the Teen Challenge Farm was officially dedicated and opened.
This new facility, now called the ‘Teen Challenge Farm’, tripled the capacity of the program and provided a rural environment more conducive to rehabilitation. A variety of training programs such as commercial food preparation, laundry and maintenance, construction, small engine repair, farming, etc. began, and to this day, continues to be a valuable part providing training to young men (and adults) coming to the farm for help.
Since those days, the Teen Challenge Farm has continued to grow and most importantly, countless numbers of lives have been permanently changed and set free from their former way of life! The farm, as it is often known, has been instrumental in helping open and/or establish most of the Teen Challenge centres across Canada.
TEEN CHALLENGE INC. (CANADA)
Teen Challenge Farm is owned and operated as a registered charity by Teen Challenge Inc (Canada) which also operates six other locations across Canada with additional centres planned for opening across Canada in 2008 - 2010.
SUCCESS RATE
There have been several University level surveys conducted on the success rate of the Teen Challenge model, with studies showing that over 70% of the program’s graduates remain clean and drug-free when surveyed five years later. This is compared to the national cure rate average of secular drug treatment programs which is approximately 10%.
MISSION STATEMENT
To provide faith-based residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres funded entirely by donations providing spiritual, academic and vocational training, equipping individuals to return to society as responsible citizens.
CORE VALUES
Years ago, the story of David Wilkerson and Teen Challenge was chronicled in the multimillion-copy best-seller book and movie entitled “The Cross and the Switchblade”.
2008 marks the 50th anniversary of Teen Challenge International – with celebrations scheduled for June 2008 in New York City. Alumni from around the world will be gathering in New York City to celebrate God’s goodness in their lives and to mark this important milestone in the ministry of Teen Challenge. For more information, visit the Global Teen Challenge website.
Back in 1958, David Wilkerson, a young Pastor from Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania, felt called to New York City to reach out to troubled youth on the streets. After reaching hundreds who wanted help, he found that many needed long term residential care and mentoring. It was then that Teen Challenge was formed to provide a structured faith-based residential program for those with life controlling drug and alcohol problems. This is how the ministry of Teen Challenge began and has spread literally around the world today.
Today, Teen Challenge is a non-profit, interdenominational, faith-based program operating in 82 countries, with over 510 autonomous locations internationally, and continues to grow at a dramatic pace worldwide.
Teen Challenge in Canada was founded as a Canadian registered charity - for the express purpose of meeting the needs of the Canadian drug abuse problem. The Teen Challenge centers in Canada have never received financial support from its American counterpart peer organizations.
Global Teen Challenge is located in Columbus, GA, USA and helps plan, coordinate and approve new Teen Challenge ministries in third world countries. It has no control or jurisdiction over Canadian operations.
TEEN CHALLENGE FARM - LONDON, ON
Teen Challenge started its first outreach in 1973 as a small coffee house outreach in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, with a goal to reach out to young people who were struggling with life-controlling problems – including drugs and alcohol. This approach reaped positive results which precipitated the need to open a full-fledged Teen Challenge residential program in the early 80s.
In 1982, as a result of the generosity of a local church, Teen Challenge was able to purchase a permanent 18 bed residential facility in Hamilton, Ontario as its new base of operations. During this time, the most significant development in the ministry was the establishment of a residential induction program which was a precursor to the farm program.
As Teen Challenge continued to grow, it became evident that larger rurally-located facilities were need to help more young men in need. Subsequently, the Hamilton facility was sold and in 1989 Teen Challenge purchased a former nursing home near the town of Lambeth, Ontario. On July 28, 1990, the Teen Challenge Farm was officially dedicated and opened.
This new facility, now called the ‘Teen Challenge Farm’, tripled the capacity of the program and provided a rural environment more conducive to rehabilitation. A variety of training programs such as commercial food preparation, laundry and maintenance, construction, small engine repair, farming, etc. began, and to this day, continues to be a valuable part providing training to young men (and adults) coming to the farm for help.
Since those days, the Teen Challenge Farm has continued to grow and most importantly, countless numbers of lives have been permanently changed and set free from their former way of life! The farm, as it is often known, has been instrumental in helping open and/or establish most of the Teen Challenge centres across Canada.
TEEN CHALLENGE INC. (CANADA)
Teen Challenge Farm is owned and operated as a registered charity by Teen Challenge Inc (Canada) which also operates six other locations across Canada with additional centres planned for opening across Canada in 2008 - 2010.
Teen Challenge Farm - London, ONFor more information, please visit the Teen Challenge Canada website.
Teen Challenge Alberta - Priddis, AB
Teen Challenge Saskatchewan - Saskatoon, SK
Teen Challenge North - Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Teen Challenge Greater Toronto Area - King City, ON
Teen Challenge Atlantic - Memramcook, NB
SUCCESS RATE
There have been several University level surveys conducted on the success rate of the Teen Challenge model, with studies showing that over 70% of the program’s graduates remain clean and drug-free when surveyed five years later. This is compared to the national cure rate average of secular drug treatment programs which is approximately 10%.
MISSION STATEMENT
To provide faith-based residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres funded entirely by donations providing spiritual, academic and vocational training, equipping individuals to return to society as responsible citizens.
CORE VALUES
- We believe that the transformation process happens best in a long-term residential setting for people with substance abuse problems.
- We believe that all life-controlling drug addiction problems can be permanently overcome.
- We believe that a balance of love and accountability needs to permeate every aspect of the Teen Challenge residential setting for the individual to succeed in the program – and subsequently in society.
- We believe that God is the catalyst for change for people with life-controlling drug and alcohol problems.
- We believe that excellence best serves the people we help and therefore we are committed to excellence in everything we do.
- We believe that the people we serve are best helped with team work from all sectors of society including the staff, volunteers, government and the community at large.
