I sold other drugs to keep up my own habit. I kept getting in trouble with the law and was in and out of jail. Then one day I was arrested with a lot of drugs and the judge gave me 10 years. I was 27 years old.

Well, a girl I asked to party with, told me about this program called Teen Challenge and would I be willing to go if the judge okayed it. Well, the Lord got me in and after 3 weeks of listening to God's Word and others praying for me I felt cornered by the Holy Spirit, who I felt was saying, "It's now or never!"

I got down on my knees, while crying and accepted the Lord into my heart in an old dilapidated house in Buffalo, NY. I went to teen Challenge. The 10 months I spent there went by like a flash!

I could say much, much more, but it's been 20 years since that day, and I've never regretted my decisions to: #1 go to Teen Challenge, and #2 accept the Lord as my Savior.

I've had ups and downs through the years, had 4 kids, graduated from college, went to Bible school, on missions trips, gotten scrapes and bruises etc. But as the Word says, "Though we fall, we shall not be cut down, for the Lord upholds us with His hand."

I am proud, but much more thankful to say that I walk in the light today. Jesus continues to work on my life, doing miracle after miracle. He has changed my life, and He is now building me up to be the man of God that He wants me to be. I am going to share a few key points in my life that stick out when I share my testimony. I'm going to talk about when I got saved, the messes I got myself into, and the new beginnings and hope I now have in Jesus!

I got saved when I was seven years old. It's kind of a funny story. I really like to suck my thumb when I was a kid. I gave my heart to the Lord in Sunday School one morning, and my mother still tells me this story today: When I came out of the class, I told her I didn't need to suck my thumb anymore because Jesus was in my heart. I was truly delivered. I never sucked my thumb again.

I look back and realize that the love of Christ has surrounded me all the days of my life. The Lord placed two Christian parents in my life who loved me and did their very best for me always. Through their commitment, support, comfort, honesty, encouragement, and discipline, they showed me what good parenting is all about. But, I wanted to listen to the lies of this world. I wanted to have fun. I wanted to be cool. I thought I knew everything there was to know. I rebelled against everything my parents said. The truth was that I was very immature, confused, and stupid. The world gradually swallowed me up in all my selfishness and completely blinded my eyes to the truth. I hit that brick wall pretty hard.

I started doing drugs in my junior year of high school. I was addicted to drugs for six years. My family life was torn apart. I caused my parents a lot of pain. I would scream and curse at them. I would break things at times. I would get violent, and the cops were frequently at my house. I have been involved in many drunk driving accidents where I could have been killed or even killed somebody else. As I got older, I got into more and more fights. I was locked up a few times, and the list goes on and on. I looked to drugs for my escape, but the reality was that my bills, my problems, my anger, and my depression were just piling up. I ran away from everything. I quit everything. The devil had a strong hold on my life. My life focus was…wait, I had no focus. My life's concentration was on the material things of this world. I thought that if I looked nice or had a lot of nice things that I would be happy. I was so wrong. I had the car with rims, a model for a girlfriend, a good job, money, jewelry, and drugs. But, I still didn't know who I was. These things made me, or so I thought. But, in reality I hated myself.

About two months before I came into Teen Challenge, I lost everything. I crashed my car, my girlfriend dumped me, I got fired from my job, I dropped out of school, I lost all my money, and I was kicked out of my house for the last time. I was now homeless; but, God had a plan for my life.

I was walking on the street one day, and I ran into this little old Jamaican lady from Brooklyn. She was my godmother. I had not seen her in 10 years because she had moved to Minnesota. The first thing she told me when she was me was that God had told her to go to New York. She said she didn't know why at first, but she realized it was to talk to me. She then told me about Teen Challenge.

After talking to her, I entered Teen Challenge. It was there that I rededicated my life to the Lord. I knew I needed help, and I was open for change. Jesus came in like a flood. He took my broken heart and just filled me with such a joy and peace I cannot explain. He began to teach me and gently guide me through each day. After the first week at Teen Challenge, God told me, "Look what I have done in such a short period of time. Just imagine what I will do in the long run. Rely on me for I am with you." I will never forget it!

God has also restored my family back to me, and now I try to show them as much love as I can. God is good! When we spit on Him, when we cursed Him, when we lied and cheated, when we were dead in our sins, He loved us and forgave us. When I needed Him the most, He was there. I thank God for Teen Challenge. I no longer feel like I'm in a program; it's more like I'm part of a ministry that is doing the Lord's work. After I finish the program, the Lord has opened the door for me and given me the opportunity to go on to Bible College in August! He has truly done a work in my life, changing me and taking me out of the mess I was in. I am so thankful for what Jesus has done!

2 Timothy 2:21 says, "If a man cleanses himself from his past, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the master and prepared to do any good work."

What we did see were the tears and pain that clouded her eyes and anguish we knew only God could heal. In a hundred ways, we showed her that we loved her and God did too. As her trust slowly built, Cindy poured out her sad, awful story.

When she was just a little girl, someone in her family brutally robbed Cindy of the precious gift of purity given to all children. Sadly, the sexual abuse happened not once, not twice but too many times to count for horrible years.

Would it surprise you if I told you that almost 8O% of our female students here in Teen Challenge of Southern California have suffered from sexual abuse and almost 50% of our male students? It's true.

Every time it happened to little Cindy, she felt dirty inside. Ugly. Worthless. Year after year, her fragile emotions grew more and more scarred. By the time she reached the tender age of nine, Cindy wanted to kill herself.

All too often, sexual abuse drives young people like Cindy to frantically search for "real love" -- just like a blow to the stomach leaves you gasping for oxygen.

However, with no guidance, these kids look for love in the worst places. Many turn to promiscuity, drugs and alcohol.

That is what Cindy did. Tragically, she never found the genuine affection she craved.

Instead, she was raped at 14 . . . got pregnant . . . lost her child . . . was "jumped" by gang members . . . and overdosed on drugs. All before dropping out of 10th grade.

Not surprisingly, Cindy told us, "I was an emotional wreck, ready to give up, and I wanted to die."

But you know what? God specializes in hopeless cases- people who hit rock bottom, like Cindy.

Through Teen Challenge, she began to experience the Holy Spirit's incredible healing power. She let God's Word wash over her soothing her soul and cleansing away the deep-rooted pain and anguish locked up inside.

We call this process "Emotional Healing." It's the critical second step after our students accept Jesus. It must happen for a young person to succeed.

No matter how messy or ugly a young person 's past has been, emotional healing can take place, but it requires prayer and support from friends like you.

In fact, I had always been told just how easy I had it by my older brothers and sisters- they are all ten years older than me.

The truth was that I was sexually assaulted at the age of five by a neighbor and again by an uncle when I was eight. I never told anyone because I was confused, ashamed and afraid.

At the age of fourteen, my mother told me that she had cancer. She was my best friend and the rock of my family. She seemed to be the glue that held us together. When she was really sick she asked me that when she died to not let another woman come into our home and take over. At that time I didn't really understand what she was telling me. While she was dying in the hospital, I wasn't allowed to see her until the very end. I was angry and hurt, and I began to drink to deal with all the pain and grief.

Within one month of my mother's death, my father had a woman move into our home, and later on he married her. The home I had thought was a happy and stable one was to be no more. I began to be mentally abused by my stepmother and within a year I moved out to live with my sister and her family.

At sixteen while getting a ride home from school from a "friend," I was beaten and raped. Again, I told no one.

After graduating from high school, I was married to a wonderful man and had two children. When my husband's mother died, my husband and I both asked God into our lives and began going to church. Although we attended church, I didn't really have a relationship with God.

When my father told me that he had cancer, I helped care for him until he passed away. After my father's death, all the things I was hiding couldn't be pushed aside any longer and my drinking became uncontrollable. My husband and my church tried to help, and I went to many secular programs with no results. Then I got into trouble with the law when I received a DUI. As a result, I went to jail. It was there that I cried out to God for help because I knew I couldn't help myself. I asked forgiveness and by his grace He opened the doors to Sacramento Valley Teen Challenge. I entered the Alpha Henson Women's Center and learned that with God I could face my past. It's been painful to be honest with others, and myself, but it's more painful to pretend that I had everything under control. God has really blessed me by putting me in a safe place to heal and come closer to Him. It was there that I developed the close personal relationship that I needed. I now have put Him in control of my life and He has given me a whole new beginning.

Now that I am home again, I'm hoping to use my experiences to help others in my church and community, to be an example to my children, and to be a light to others.

Tommy's case is in no way exception. In 2000, 2.4 million people used marijuana for the first time. In 1998 and 1999, over one fourth of the people trying marijuana for the first time were under the age of 14. Young people across America are looking to drugs and alcohol to escape from their daily life. Teenagers account for nearly 20% of the alcohol consumed in the United States every year.

According to the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 15.9 million Americans used an illicit drug during the month prior to their interview. Over 8 million people reported using ecstasy at least once in their lifetime. The rate of alcohol use and the number of drinkers increased from the previous year. 10.1 million people age 12-20, reported current use of alcohol. This represents 28.5% of the age group. The rate of driving under the influence also increased between 2000 and 2001.

Tommy waited 2 years before he began smoking marijuana on a regular basis. It was easy to slip some from their friends' parent's supply whenever they wanted it. As Tommy's need for a joint increased, he moved into the role of a dealer to support his habit. This eventually resulted in his arrest. Since it was his first time in trouble with the law, they released him with 3 years on probation. . . but that did nothing to stop his need to get high. Smoking marijuana was impossible because of the regular drug tests by the Probation Department. Marijuana stays in a person's system too long for the drug testing. It didn't take long for a &quotfriend" to tell Tommy he could do cocaine instead. . .it would clean out of his system in three days, in time to test clean when he checked in with his probation officer.

For a brief time life ran smoothly for a while for Tommy and his group of "friends." A "friend," who was also on probation, got arrested on a drug charge. In an effort to lighten his sentence, he agreed to cooperate with the law that involved his providing the police information they wanted. The end result was that his "friend" set him up and Tommy was sentenced back to jail on a probation violation. Sitting in that jail cell, he prayed and asked God what he should do.

Tommy began attending a Bible study with four other inmates and found comfort and encouragement. His brother contacted Teen Challenge in an effort to try to get him help. Tommy mentioned Teen Challenge at the bible study and one of the guys said, "Hey, I just got an application for Teen Challenge!" He immediately asked him how much he wanted for the application. He thought a minute and responded. "I'll trade it for your cookie!". . .and a quick trade was made.

Little did he know that the cookie trade was about to change his life. Tommy completed the application and mailed it to Teen Challenge in Cincinnati. Fifteen days later, friends bailed him out of jail and he called the Cincinnati Teen Challenge center. Tommy toured the center on Wednesday and by the following Monday he was enrolled at Teen Challenge. Three weeks later, Tommy had to appear in court. The judge's decision was that Tommy had to complete the Teen Challenge program and would be on probation for 6 years. No prison time!

The very next day the judge called the Teen Challenge center and said he didn't know what had come over him. He should never have agreed to allow him to go to Teen Challenge and that if he ever tried to leave he would send him to prison in a heartbeat!

Tommy didn't leave Teen Challenge. Two weeks after arriving he gave his heart to Jesus and He began to change him in ways that still are amazing to Tommy. He finished the program and stayed an additional 6 months for Re-Entry that Teen Challenge offers. God has taught him to be an honorable and responsible man. He went home and repaid his debts to friends. Now Tommy works part-time with Teen Challenge allowing God to use him to bless the men who are going through the same issues and situations that he had experienced.

Tommy states, "Jesus' love is greater than any drug I have ever experienced. I thank God for a Christian mother who never gave up praying for me. Teen Challenge has been such a blessing to me, but most of all I thank Jesus Christ for saving me and dying on the cross. His blessings never stop!"

But God had another plan for John's life, one that would take him around the world in both service to his nation, and in service to his God. His transformation included a call for ministry as a chaplain in the US Army.

Nicky Cruz, the first gang member won to the Lord in the beginning days of Teen Challenge (as told in the best-selling book, The Cross and the Switchblade, and in Nicky's autobiography, Run Baby Run), met John at a Teen Challenge evangelistic rally in a gang infested neighborhood. They became friends as John poured out his troubled heart and Nicky poured in God's hope and love. Nicky brought John to Teen Challenge where a brand new life began.

"I was at church and they served communion. It was an incredible highlight. I had never taken communion before, I felt the presence and reality of God for the first time in my life," says John.

John continued to work for Teen Challenge for several years after he completed the program. It was during this time that he met his wife Nancy, who was working for Teen Challenge as the secretary for then Executive Director, Don Wilkerson.

Early in his walk with the Lord, he had felt he wanted to be a military chaplain. He learned what he needed to do to prepare, so he went to college and then through Fuller Seminary.

When he came to present his credentials and application, the doors seemed virtually closed to him because of his past. Then, a general in the Pentagon looked over all his information, including the obvious demonstration that John had truly changed his life. And then the general spoke six words that opened the doors to the fulfillment of John's dreams, "Let's give the man a chance&quot.

So, just as God gave John a second chance more than 38 years ago, a general in the Pentagon gave him a chance to follow God's plan for his life.

He has served in many locations around the world. He has developed a widely respected program that helps military families cope with their unique challenges in staying together. And in the process over these twenty-five years of military service, his life has been a shining example of God's power to lift and redeem.

He served in the Gulf War in Kuwait, and later in Bosnia. His role was not to carry a gun, but to help wage spiritual warfare for the hearts of America's sons and daughters serving in the middle of these wars.

When John served during Desert Storm, the Persian Gulf War, he recalled how he mentally relived his days in Teen Challenge. Sleepless nights laying out on a desert floor with rockets zooming overhead became a spiritual retreat as John thought through his life and how faithful and loving God has been to him throughout these years.

As Lt. Colonel Melendez enters retirement from the US Army, he's overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude. "God has been so good to me. I'm thankful for my family, the opportunity to serve my country, and for the ministry of Teen Challenge where my life was turned around".

John and his wife, Nancy, have been married for over 30 years. His son is married and has one child and currently serves in the Air Force. His two daughters are completing Bible School and will both be married this summer.

Teen Challenge salutes our American hero Lt. Colonel John Melendez.

By JILL ZAREND-KUBATKO, Valley Life Editor June 28, 2005

April 22, 2004, she was in jail for breaking her fourth probation by testing positive for drugs. Her probations stem from a series of drug use and prescription fraud arrests.

June 3, 2004, she entered Home of Hope, part of Teen Challenge of Arizona.

Teen Challenge is a worldwide organization dedicated to rehabilitating individuals who struggle with life-controlling addictions. Since 1965, Teen Challenge of Arizona has been combating the drug and alcohol problem in the state with a documented success rate of 86 percent, says Diane Hernbrode, director of Home of Hope, the 35,000-square-foot facility housing 38 recovering women and their children in Casa Grande.

Hernbrode, a registered nurse since 1986, graduated from the University of Arizona nursing program. She is married to Allen Hernbrode, children's pastor at First Assembly of God in Casa Grande, and has two children. She joined the Teen Challenge staff in February 2003 to help open Home of Hope. They found a senior living facility on Casa Grande Avenue that had been closed for seven years. Renovations took six months by a group of volunteers. The 50-apartment building was completed and dedicated in June 2003. "We tried to make it look as uninstitutionalized as possible," she says.

Home of Hope's first 14 "students" as they are called by the staff, came in July 2003. Ten staff members also reside at the facility.

Home of Hope is a nonprofit residential program that receives no government grants. It is supported by donations from churches, civic and business organizations and individuals. It costs $3,000 per month per family at Home of Hope and the annual budget is almost $600,000.

Women who are in the one-year program were addicted to alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin or prescription drugs. Some of these women were facing time in prison or had spent time in prison because their drug addiction led them to illegal activities in order to get the drugs they craved.

Some have master's degrees while others never finished high school. They come from all over the country, from as far away as Maine, Colorado, Kansas and California.

Some had their children taken away from them because of their addictive-drug lifestyle. Many were caught up in abusive relationships. All of them knew they needed help to be drug or alcohol free. The Casa Grande location is only the second in the nation (the other is in San Jose, Calif.) to offer child care in its program. The goal of the women with children is to stay clean and find a way to keep or be reunited with their sons and daughters. Two-thirds of the women at Home of Hope are mothers.

Absolute wreck
Jennifer's life was an "absolute wreck," she says. Her parents were together when she was a child, but her father was an alcoholic. He stopped drinking when she was 13. As a teen she began to rebel and dabbled in the occult, started smoking pot, drinking alcohol and eventually took LSD and used cocaine.

At 19 she was sneaking medication from her parents. "They could take them, but I couldn't handle them," she says of the adult-prescribed medicine.

Jennifer began stealing more prescription drugs from her father, taking morphine and Vicodin. "I would take them from my father's lockbox," she adds.

Jennifer was able to hold down a job but was not free from her depression and addictions. She met her children's father at her work place and was taking Vicodin, one of the strongest pain killers on the market, when she became pregnant.

"From there it got worse," Jennifer says. In order to try and keep up with her many duties as a new mom and employee, she began taking diet pills. "It was legal speed. I took Meridia and others," she says.

Being a drug addict was a full-time job in itself.

"I was so desperate to get high every day," she says. "I began pretending to be doctor's assistants and called pharmacists to get prescriptions. I knew it was wrong."

Jennifer also went to weight-loss centers and specialists to feed her addiction. "Being a drug addict, you find a way," Jennifer says. "You can't control it and that's scary. People would say to me 'why can't you just stop?' It was horrific; I didn't want to live. I did not know how not to use."

Jennifer found herself in and out of court, jail and drug programs. She says some of the programs were helpful, but she could not stay clean. She was told by state Child Protective Services there was "no way the children would be placed in her care" because of her extensive drug history. Her daughter had been living with the father and her son was taken by CPS shortly after birth.

"No daughter, no son. My family was broken," she says, tears welling in her eyes. She was given a psychological evaluation and was told she wasn't a "changeable person."

Her last time in a Tucson jail she was granted a hearing before a judge. An aunt who had been caring for her son had researched information on Teen Challenge of Arizona and wanted to help Jennifer get her life back on track and eventually have her children returned to her care. The judge released Jennifer, but also gave her a warning: "The next time you drop dirty, you go to prison."

Her aunt helped her get into the rehabilitation program at Home of Hope. "I was very fortunate. I had the grace of God in my life," Jennifer says.

Upon entering Home of Hope, she was in her early 20s with rotted teeth from the drug abuse and hard living. Her hair was drab, her thin face was gaunt, her eyes vacant.

While there, a dentist offered to contribute free dental work to help one woman at the facility. Jennifer was chosen to have work done on her teeth. Home of Hope has its own "beauty shop," and area salon volunteers give make-overs to the women to improve their self-esteem.

Today Jennifer's teeth are a beautiful white and straight. She shows them off with a glowing smile. Her hair is healthy and shines, her voice strong and her words intelligent and hopeful.

There is a peaceful aura surrounding Jennifer. She has had many successes since coming to Home of Hope. After a year of working hard on becoming a confident, non-addicted woman, she has completed her GED and graduated from Home of Hope this month.

Life-changing experience

Teen Challenge's Home of Hope is not another rehab center. Home of Hope is a life-changing experience, according to its Web site.

"A year at this center involves developing a relationship with Jesus Christ, facing addictions, learning life skills, healing broken family relationships, restoring families, continuing education, developing job skills and much more," it reads.

The program is structured and demanding yet highly successful, according to Hernbrode. The concept breaks down into different focuses and phases: basic education, crisis intervention, induction, training and re-entry.

The students must be out of bed by 6 a.m., clean their rooms and themselves and have breakfast in the cafeteria by 7 a.m. They attend classes at 8 or go to their prescribed jobs. On Sundays they attend church and can have family visits.

For the first five months, during the induction phase, the women cannot leave the property unsupervised. They have minimal privileges, no phone calls, their mail is read and they have to prove accountability before they are allowed to proceed to the next level.

Between six and nine months, they are given responsibilities such as learning to be leaders of a group. The women can leave the facility for doctor's appointments and other obligations. Jobs at the center include working in the kitchen and running the day care. Child care is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., so the women attend to their responsibilities and educational classes.

Other jobs include laundry; setting up the bi-weekly yard sales; working in the store that contains household items and clothing for the women and children; writing letters to prospective donors; and working in the front office to obtain clerical skills. Many women come to Home of Hope a size 1 or 2, Hernbrode says of the women abusing drugs. "When they leave here, they are size 12 to 14," she says of the healthy weight gain in the program.

The last few months is a re-entry period where residents are allowed to seek employment and gain more education for their futures.

During the year they are taught basic education for a GED, computer training, life skills and vocational training. The women learn to dress professionally, grooming, nutrition and parenting skills. Central Arizona College has set up a career day for the women to learn about college and other job skills necessary to be a success in the working world.

Living quarters

Women live in studio apartments with a bathroom, kitchen, walk-in closet and space for children's beds and toys. Many of the living quarters have been "adopted" by various churches or civic organizations in the community. They furnish each room with a table, chairs, beds and a refrigerator. The volunteers decorate each new "home" so it has its own character or theme. "Every room is different, and they each have their own personality," Hernbrode says.

A day room is available for television viewing, complete with a DVD and VCR, as well as a place for visiting with guests.

Down the hall is a craft room where women learn to sew, crochet and do other projects. They take turns working in the kitchen and learn to put together menus and to cook and store food.

A conference room is used for Bible studies, chapel services and other events. Home of Hope has its own boutique filled with donated clothing and household items. Clothing and items not used are sold at the yard sales the first and third weekends of the month.

"Every little bit of money helps," Hernbrode says.

Drug-addicted parents

Shirley was 12 years old when she left her California home. Her parents were meth addicts. Her father beat her mother, who in turn cheated on him with truckers passing through. Her mother eventually took the children to live in a hotel but would leave with truckers for days at a time.

A young Shirley met 21-year-old "Mark," and at 16 was pregnant with a son. Mark continued the cycle she had known growing up in an abusive household. He physically and emotionally abused the teen, even as she abused meth.

Shirley ended up on the streets with her baby. Living day-to-day off scraps and trying to find a place to sleep with her child, Shirley and her boyfriend eked out a nefarious existence. When her second son was born, he immediately was taken by CPS. When her oldest son was 1' years old, he also was placed with CPS.

"They took him at the hospital," says Shirley, still a teenager. "I had crystal meth in my system. I was high both times I had my babies."

Mark ended up in jail and Shirley was alone. Shirley realized she couldn't help herself and called her CPS case worker. She entered Springboard, another Teen Challenge program based in Tucson, where she graduated from the three-month program. Shirley asked to be transferred to Home of Hope. After successfully completing her year, she graduates in July. She's working on her GED and hopes to attend college.

Shirley, as well as Jennifer, has made many friends at Home of Hope. "With the grace of God, the women remind me that I've come so far and 'don't give up now,'" Shirley says of the support system they have created. "Out in the world I couldn't trust a lot of women. But we build each other up and I've made some lifelong friends."

On the other hand, she jokes, "try living with 25 other women, all craving chocolate, all going through the same things."

Her mother is proud of her. Now living in Pennsylvania as a truck driver, her mother is "just blown away that I gave up Mark and the drugs. ... She asks me questions about God. She is interested in what I am doing. She's still all tied up in all sorts of problems and uses drugs occasionally and doesn't think there is anything wrong with it. I continue to pray for her," says Shirley, now 18.

Children Returned

Jennifer's "job" was to work in child care at Home of Hope. At first she was afraid to be in an authoritative position. "I started loving the kids and it made it easier on me. I was sad mine were not here too," she says. So Jennifer began writing letters to CPS and getting recommendations to return Joshua to her. She also petitioned to have her daughter, Jenna, live with her. She got her son back, permanently, in April.

"I don't ever want to lose them again. They (Home of Hope staff) taught me discipline and patience. That I can be trustworthy and dependable. That I have a future and hope," she says. Joshua and Jenna now live in her apartment at Home of Hope. She is seeking a clerical job there so she can begin her new life with her children.

"I asked him for help and his grace is good enough to help you no matter what you've been through or done," she says of her new-found peace with God. She has broken away from her past and has a mutual agreement with the father of her children. "I am praying we will help each other."

The transition for mother and children has been relatively smooth, but Jennifer says she can sense her son's feelings of abandonment. "He's still looking to trust," she says. "But he's home now."

Shirley also was reunited with her children this spring. "It's been awesome. The kids love it here. The women love them," Shirley says of her children Adrian, 2, and Timmy, 11 months.

"We're so proud of her," Hernbrode says.

©Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc. 2005

I ran away from the foster home and went to live with my parents. My parents introduced me to heroine and crack cocaine. There I started using the needle with them and the rest of my family. Things got worse, I got pregnant four times. Because of my drug addiction these four children were taken away. Three were adopted into Christian homes and one is in long term foster care. Every time they took a child I sank deeper into drugs. I began selling my body on the streets for money to support my habit. For 4 years I lived on the streets of Oakland, California being beat by men and by my pimps who were supposed to take care of me. When I got pregnant with my 5th child I was in such a pit I knew I had to get help or I would die. An uncle I didn't even know found me through the newspaper and told me about Teen Challenge. When I called they told me to come in.

Since I have been there the Lord has healed many of my hurts. I have been delivered from drugs and He has healed my anger. God has taught me how to love and to forgive. I now have discipline and structure in my life. I am no longer a prostitute. I am now a responsible mother of a four-month old baby boy dealing with things instead of running from them. God has given me strength to get through all of this. He has had mercy and grace for my children and myself. I give Him all the glory for my life and all that happens in my life. "I will repay you for everything the locusts have taken." Job 2:25

Just two years ago, Scottie was determined to be the "party animal" of his school. He was a teenage boy given to extremes. He regularly abused drugs and lived a reckless lifestyle, but soon his dangerous living would take him too far.

On May 25, 2001, Scottie decided to set a new school record. He was not competing in an athletic event. No, he was taking on a very different kind of challenge. He was trying to set a record for the most drugs consumed without dying. Another student from Scottie's school had tried for the record just a few weeks before. He had taken 69 pills and died as a result. Scottie didn't want to die, so he took 54 pills, hoping that it wouldn't be too much.

For the next couple of days, Scottie went in and out of consciousness. Each time he would wake up in a new location not knowing how he had gotten there. His mother was frantic over where Scottie might be and if he was ok. She searched for him and finally found him passed out on the sidewalk a few blocks from their home. She loaded his unconscious body into the car and later too him to the hospital.

There in the emergency room, Scottie's body reacted violently to the drugs. He was suffering horribly and was not expected to live. At one point, Scottie's mother started to go down the hall to use the phone. She wanted to alert the family to what was happening. As she started to leave, for what would have only been a few minutes, the doctor stopped her. "Don't even leave the room…He'll be dead before you get back."

Scottie continued in total anguish and pain, and soon had a massive heart attack. The doctors worked feverishly to keep him from dying. Scottie was suffering so intensely that they finally gave him something to make him sleep. Though they had stabilized his heart, they still did not expect Scottie to live. If he did, they assumed that he would be a vegetable.

Days passed and Scottie lived on. Family and friends prayed continually for Scottie. They knew that God could save his life. Miraculously, Scottie eventually came to. He was shocked enough by his experience that he consented to getting help for his drug problem. He entered a program close to his home, but that didn't last very long. He soon ran away, and was back to his old ways.

I know that it's hard to imagine that anyone who had experienced what Scottie did would ever turn back to using drugs. The truth is that sin and its symptoms (drug abuse, alcoholism, rebellion, etc.) take an almost unbreakable grasp around a person's life. The only cure for sin is Jesus Christ. He could break the strongholds that were in Scottie's life.