Teen Challenge: “Land of New Beginnings”

Teen Challenge: “Land of New Beginnings” John R. Petrilli For decades American youth have been ensnared, trapped, beaten down and defeated by addictions of all kinds. From the alcohol-consuming 40’s, to the pill-popping 50’s, to the psychedelics of the 60’s, to the heroin wave of the 70’s, to the crack craze of the 80’s, to the designer drugs of the 90’s, to the current widespread addiction to pain-killing medications, drugs have found their way into the hearts, bodies and minds of our youth. The consequences have been catastrophic in terms of the physical, emotional, social, psychological and spiritual damage inflicted on those who fail to break free of addiction’s shackles. Now the good news! Just when it looked like drugs and alcohol would get complete victory over our young people, God set in motion a victorious recovery plan of His own. That plan involved two brothers who would catch a vision for bringing forgiveness, healing, restoration and purpose into the lives of thousands of lost youth. That plan, known as Teen Challenge, began in the early sixties and has blossomed into the nation’s (and world’s) most successful drug and alcohol rehab program, hands down. With its ballpark 85% success rate, judges, probation officers and counselors alike have come to respect and rely upon Teen Challenge to deliver statistical, lasting results that no secular program can touch. God has seen fit to bless the ministry by expanding it into over 50 countries via over 1,000 recovery centers. The secret is found in its unique rehab model. It begins with the participant establishing a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, but by no means ends there. Having made that initial commitment to the Lord, the program participant is walked through a series of Bible studies that identify, address and correct the core character and emotional issues that led to the addictive behaviors. It’s what I would call “discipleship at its very best”. On May 5 Teen Challenge held its annual banquet at Driver’s Village. A robust crowd numbering in the hundreds enjoyed delicious fare, great fellowship, uplifting music and a stirring message from Teen Challenge co-founder Don Wilkerson. Syracuse Teen Challenge Executive Director David Pilch opened with a moving story of how the Lord resurrected the Syracuse Teen Challenge back in the early seventies. Then Pastor Wilkerson shared a reading of Psalms 107, rehearsing how it was that God birthed the dynamic ministry many decades ago. “America has had a forty-plus year war on drugs, and sad to say, the war is over. Not because it’s been won, but because it’s been lost. As a nation and as a society we have raised the white flag of surrender to addiction. Addiction is now called a disease, confining the addict to a lifetime of treatment. I do believe some people do have a propensity toward addiction, but we need to do better than to tell addicts that the only hope they have is that the disease goes into remission. This confines them to a lifetime of addiction. I know whereof I speak when I say, it’s a curable disease (loud applause), as you can see demonstrated here today. We’ve also surrendered to the war on drugs by advocating the legalization of certain drugs. Europe has legalized many of the (addictive) drugs and America is heading that way. Historically, when societies and nations cannot control their vices they legalize them, if, for no other reason, to collect the tax money on them. But there is one place where the war on drugs is being won, thank God. When you come into the center here in Syracuse you would see that the war on drugs is being won one person at a time, one day at a time, one miracle at a time. Quoting from a poem by Lewis Fletcher Tarkington, Wilkerson likened Teen Challenge to the poet’s fictional place called a Land of Beginning Again, “a wonderful place where all of our mistakes, all of our heartaches and all of our selfish grief could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door and never picked up again.” “There is a place called ‘The Land of Beginning Again’, and it’s called Teen Challenge, where new beginnings start. As much as we thank God for Teen Challenge, it’s at the cross of Jesus Christ where the Land of Beginning Again is found, and where inward change begins. Thank God that, after 55 years, we can still say that Teen Challenge is a Christ-centered program. Teen Challenge is a Christ-centered program and thank God we’re not compromising that (loud applause). The cross is still mightier than the switchblade or the narcotic needle or the bottle of booze, or whatever it might be!” Sharing a favorite quote from his brother, the late evangelist Rev. David Wilkerson, Pastor Don Wilkerson stated, “Certainly we cannot claim a magical cure for addiction. The devil which hides in the needle and the pills and the powder is deadly strong and any such claim would be foolish. All we can say is that we have found a power that captures a person more strongly than narcotics, but it captures only to liberate. God gives us power to have power over power. Narcotics are all about power, but greater is He that is within you than he that’s within the vial of dope!” (loud applause). Syracuse program graduate Scott Martin shared his personal testimony of complete recovery with an appreciative audience. Master of Ceremonies Ryan Frantzis once again ably kept the event moving along smoothly with just the right touch of grace and good humor. Music by the Mission Syracuse Band provided a pleasant backdrop for the dinner hour as well as worship and celebration throughout the event. A 20-man choir of current program participants sang midway through the program, then a 40-man choir including program alumni closed the afternoon with a rousing rendition of Ray Boltz’ song, “Take Up Your Cross!” The numbers speak for themselves. This is one ministry that deserves serious consideration for financial and prayer support. Indeed, God is using Teen Challenge to make huge inroads into the enemy territory known as drug and alcohol addiction. Let’s be part of that victorious army! You can’t argue with success … so why not support it? For more information on the program or donation opportunities contact David Pilch at Syracuse Teen Challenge, 315-478-4139.