Teen Challenge was started in 1958 by David Wilkerson. He went to New York City to help drug addicts and gang members. He started a home called Teen Challenge to help these people grow stronger in their relationship with God. Teen Challenge expanded to more than 120 centers throughout the United States and over 150 centers in other countries.

Teen Challenge was started in 1961 in San Francisco. Street rallies and evangelism was conducted in San Francisco during its early years. Teen Challenge was legally incorporated in Northern Califonia in 1964. Teen Challenge ministries sprang up throughout the Northern California area over the next several years. Teen Challenge was started in Sacramento in 1965, Oakland in 1967, San Jose in 1971 and Las Vegas in early 1980's. Many thousands of lives have been touched by the Teen Challenge ministry.