May the Lord guide you through the many necessary steps and hurdles you will encounter and may he soften the hearts of those who may oppose you.

God Bless You for giving your time and energy to such a worthy project.

God bless you for your active undertaking in a prevalent drug ridden society. I have seen the glorious deliverances of Teen Challange recoveries! I will keep you in my prayers as you are being used for this ministery.

Hugh - We have already seen hearts softening - a senior community is nearby and someone canvassed their neighborhood with fliers opposing the scary Teen Challenge people.  After some personal talks, they understood better that this is not the same as a prison program and that the residents agree to go into the program.  72% have already been in other programs that did not work. We had one of the senior residents come to the first city council meeting and the second to speak in favor .

Diane - This a a big undertaking but the Lord is giving us grace thus far. Everything is going really fast & my head is spinning with the doors opening and lives changing.  TC isn't even here yet. I am learning a lot more about city government - planning & zoning, etc that I knew before.

Keep on praying everyone, please.  We need this here - we have a big meth problem and the gangs have moved in from the large cities. 

Kathleen- we face a huge meth problem here in Oregon as well, and I truly understand the awesome need for drug treatment facilities, I have faced this situation in my own family, and with the help of rehab, I have a clean and sober family member who is a completely different person thanks to the help of countless volunteers, counselors and people who have "been there, and done that" I will pray that God continues to bless your community and your endeavors. God Bless You!

Thank you Alecia - the meeting Monday went well again with no opposition.  We have the conditional use permit meetings  (3) coming up for the last of those hurdles.

Drugs destoy much more than the user , but those around them and relationships as well.  I rejoice that your family member(s) had healing.

May God bless your efforts with Teen Challenge -- He is very faithful!  You may or may not know my husband, Dr. John Yacenda, and I are very involved with a Teen Challenge adolescent center in Reno-Sparks.  Our youngest daughter actually tutors the boys in Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry -- we're a licensed High School as well.  Troubled boys will be troubled boys, but the Lord intervenes and lives are transformed.

Adult Teen Challenges transform lives -- as you well know -- and the distinct organizational advantage you have is that adult T.C.s can actually contract with local restaurants and business establishments to do night-time cleanups, etc. -- AND GENERATE OPERATING CAPITAL!

Sounds like you're well on your way through the permit process and government OKs.  Our T.C. out here, after years of work with local officials, is not only blessed by the Juvenile Court that orders boys to complete T.C. as a requirement of their probation, but by our local County Commissioner who is Christian and gives us $4,000 a year of his District funds for operations and upgrades.  Government partnerships can truly be a blessing...but must be nurtured!

Terry - Thank you for your encouraging words and for all that you shared. I have seen Teen Challenge programs change lives and I am sure that this one will change our community as well.

For more information about Teen Challenge, please visit- "Investigating Teen Challenge" at http://teenchallengecult.blogspot.com/

Karly - You aren't saying much about yourself here. Did you graduate from a Teen Challenge program? Drop out?

What  are your spiritual beliefs?

Did you know that secular drug treatment programs only have a 1-15% success rate and that most Teen Challenge participants have already been through one or more secular programs and not been helped? Teen Challenge has been studied by The University of Tennessee, the National Institute on Drug Abuse , and NW University for starters because of their miraculous success rate. That is what can happen when God is involved. It is a faith-based program - no secret there either - that is why it works- lives change when they allow God to be Lord as well as Savior.

It is no secret that the Assemblies of God  along with many other denominations support TC. Churches that have mission programs often pour money and time into helping those in their communities - whether it be from addictions, poor health, lack of funds,  or emergency situations.

I see that you have an entire blog railing against Teen Challenge  or are you really angry with God?

If you would like to contact me privately there is a contact button on my profile.

Maybe we could talk and you have some questions I could help you with. 

God bless you.  Teen Challenge has been the ministry that the Lord used to save my neice.  She will be graduating soon and then she is going to Zion Bible School.  My sister, her mom is raising her 3  children.  They are thriving and in Christian school.  Again the Lord kept them.  Their father is no where and no help but God could reach him too.  What a wonderful ministry.  In Massachusetts there is no Teen Challenge for women so my neice went to Long Island.  Our church supports the nearet Teen Challenge in Brockton and they come every New Years Eve for Pizza and ministry along with other times fo the year.  What a blessing.

Thanks Pat - Karly from the above comment has not responded, but I think she (he) needs our prayers.

WOW, Kathleen!  This is so wonderful what you are doing. I live up here in Grand Lake and sometimes dream of creating a place for kids to go to, stay busy and maybe even reveal their true gift. This is great that you have taken this further. What a blessing your efforts are for all those in need. It also shows that when you are on the right path, doors open, people help you reach your goals. Congratulation and hats off to your courage.

Many blessings your way, Beate

Beate - I thought that we would have a Christian horse summer camp for  kids - but our  brand new stable was destroyed in a 2001 tornado, so that door closed quickly. We still have horses, but just our own. I have been involved with TC since I was in high school and really feel God's grace on this project. To already have a facility donated  with almost 10 acres of land and highway access - truly a miracle.

Kathleen, this is truely a miracle after the storm. I really like your wonderful idea. The best of luck to you and may the miracles keep headding your way. God Bless you on your path! Beate