Submitted by:
Chris Staniland |
Adult and Teen Challenge of Central Canada made a stop in Swan River on Friday, April 24, 2015 as part of their spring tour.
Staff and students of the men’s and women’s Teen Challenge program along with about 80 attendees gathered at Living Word Bible College for an evening of music, testimonies and information as Teen Challenge shared the message of hope for anyone caught up in addictions of all different kinds. Over the past several years of Teen Challenge making regular visits to Swan Valley, at least one person directly from or with familial ties to our Valley has been helped in lasting and impactful ways through this great program each year.
Colby 18, from Steinbach shared about his former life of drug abuse and violence and the life change he has experienced through his time at Teen Challenge. He is about to complete the program and hopes to continue working with Teen Challenge through attending their Emerging Leaders college in Jesup, Georgia.
22 year old Derek from Dauphin just completed his 12 months at Teen Challenge. From a life of heavy addiction in his past, he now has hope and purpose and is looking at staying on as an intern at Teen Challenge to help others just like him.
Abused at a young age by someone she should have been able to trust, Bethany turned to drug abuse to try to mask her pain and hurt. She is a graduate of TC where she found healing and value for her life and is now a program director at the women’s centre where she helps others in the ways she has been helped.
Women’s Centre Director, Kim Lowes shared about life at the centre which is operated on a small farm site outside of Brandon and mentioned some of the current features, projects and needs of the facility.
Three of the students form the women’s centre shared through a brief skit called “Truth vs. Reality” where each shared the brutal and heart breaking realities of addiction, abuse and abandonment in contrast to the truth they now know and understand about how valuable their lives are and how deeply each of them are loved.
Executive Director Steve Paulson shared next.
He spoke about the importance for everyone, particularly addicts and their family members, to know that there is hope, there is help, there are people who care about them and that their lives have purpose and meaning. He also shared a bit more detail on how TC operates and is funded through internal initiatives and donations.
The TC Choir got the crowd to stand along with them and sing a couple final songs to close out the evening.
Teen Challenge is a 12 month residential based dynamic training and discipleship program that includes academics, counseling, life-skills training, work detail, recreation, spiritual disciplines and more. It is an intense, structured program that seeks to break addictions and help develop men & woman of excellence. Teen Challenge is funded by support from individuals and businesses and through a variety of self-operated micro-businesses that students of the program take part in working at. Anyone wanting more information can contact Adult and Teen Challenge at: (204) 949-9484, website: www.teenchallenge.mb.ca