“I Considered Death, but Chose Christ Instead.”

My name is Chris Warren.  I began to experiment with alcohol at an early age, probably around twelve.  My destructive behavior led to my stay at Greater Piedmont Teen Challenge.  I had betrayed my God, family, and others through using drugs and alcohol.  My choices led me to legal issues, and family problems which resembled a bomb that reverberated through my family, and those around me.  I thought it was the thing to do since all the adults around me were doing it.  It is what I learned from their example.  

As time progressed I started smoking pot around age sixteen, and I tried cocaine around age twenty-one.  I had fun for a season, but around the age of twenty-six, I began to experience the painful effects of my party lifestyle.  I had two tickets for drunk driving, and I was in bondage to alcohol.  I went to a secular program and did have success for two years, but I did not allow Christ to be the center of my life.  I began to think I could live without God because I was handling things just fine on my own.  I had a good job making good money, and was doing pretty well.  I had a wonderful family, two little boys, and the woman of my dreams in my life. Nothing could stop me.

I began using cocaine and pot because you could not smell it on me.  I again was caught in the pit of bondage.  It turned out to be a rewind of my old life.  Legal issues and hurting others around me took over.  It was even worse because I had an entire family who depended on me, and I became undependable.  This cycle continued until I had created so much trouble in my family they no longer wanted me around.  I did not even want myself around.  I considered death, but chose Christ instead.  On April 7, 2009 I entered Teen Challenge, hoping to put my life back together.

I humbled myself before God, asked Him for forgiveness, and repented of my old way of life.  Teen Challenge has helped me develop a personal relationship with Christ and learn more about how I can maximize my manhood through serving Him.  I have learned how important my choices are, and how important obedience to Christ is, if I truly want to live a blessed life for my family, and myself.  I am better equipped to do battle against the enemy. I am committed to seeking His way the rest of my life.

 When I entered the program I had made a decision to focus on Jesus Christ and gain a relationship with Him that would give me the strength to never ever repeat the destructive cycles of the past.  I now know that I do have power through Him.   He is showing me His restoration power in regards to my life.  He is working to restore my family, which is now so dear to me.  He has shown me that everything is His, and not mine.  I have ownership of nothing.  Therefore, I have been entrusted with the family I have been given as a gift from God. 

I need to be obedient to Christ in all I do, which includes treating my family with the reverence of a gift God has given me.  Even money, food, and other provisions provided by the Lord must be treated with the upmost respect.  I must be a good steward of what God has given me through His grace, and unmerited favor.  It is my prayer, as I look back on my life, that God take control as I commit to serving Him.  I will build my life on His rock, Jesus Christ.  I thank Him that this cycle is broken as I move on to the other challenges in life God has in store for me.  I pray the rest of my life glorifies Him.

Because Christ died on the Cross and rose from the dead three days later I can now say with confidence, I am ready to take back what the devil has stolen from me.  When I received Him as my Lord and Savior He released His power into me.  He says “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and all power of the enemy; nothing by any means shall hurt you.”  Thank you for your support of Teen Challenge.  Your gifts have helped set me on an exciting journey known only to God.  God bless you! 

The Safe Place

Growing up in the Midwest we were victims of potential tornados just about every spring and summer.  As a child my grandmother and other family members would become so fearful when the black clouds began to roll in and a hush filled the atmosphere.  We all knew it meant a bad storm was heading our way.  Most of the kids found it exciting.  It meant something different was happening in our small town.  Everyone looked at each other with this look of the unknown.  One thing we all knew, we were glad we had basements.   Our basement was our safe place.  We felt less fear than those who lived in homes without a basement.  Grandma had a basement and we knew she would be okay, even though the storm would send her into panic mode.  We had been with her when she became so overtaken with this fear.  Then there was my sister and brother-in-law who lived just outside of town.  They didn’t have a basement, no safe place to go in time of a storm.

As the storm clouds moved in, the sky blackened and the sirens would go off, we knew our sister and her family would arrive at our house anytime.  They would be filled with fear and anxiousness, seeking a refuge from the stormy weather.  I remember I sort of liked it when it stormed because it meant we would have company and then we would all try to fit into our little basement, which was really just a storm shelter.  Our basement had dirt walls and floor and was always damp and full of spider webs.  But it was a place of beauty when we thought it might save our lives.

Everyone needs to have a safe place to go when a storm arises.  There are many families today who have been living in the middle of the storms and feel like they have no safe place to go.  They have been living with someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol and it has been a constant storm for their family.  Teen Challenge wants to be their safe place.  We are the place they can turn to for help for their loved one.  They can be delivered from the ravaging effects of this type of storm. 

When the storm dies down and everyone climbs out of the basement, we try to get back to life as it should be.  When men graduate from Teen Challenge, it is our goal they go back to their families and live life the way it should be, free and victorious in Jesus.

Debbie Harman

Office Manager

 America the Beautiful

America the Beautiful or so you used to be
land of the Pilgrims pride, I'm glad they'll never see.
Babies piled in dumpsters, abortion on demand,
oh, sweet land of liberty, your house is on the sand.

Our children wander aimlessly poisoned by cocaine,
choosing to indulge their lusts, when God has said abstain.

From sea to shining sea our Nation turns away,
from the teaching of God's love and a need always to pray.

So many worldly pastors tell lies about our Rock,
saying God is going broke so they can fleece the flock.
We've kept God in our temples, how callous we have grown,

when earth is but His footstool and Heaven is His throne.

We've voted in a government that's rotting at the core,
appointing Godless judges who throw reason out the door.

Too soft to place a killer in a well deserved tomb,
but brave enough to kill a baby before it leaves the womb.

You think that God's not angry that our land's a moral slum?

How much longer will He wait before His judgment comes?

How are we to face our God from whom we cannot hide?

What then is left for us to do, but stem the evil tide?

If we who are His children will humbly turn and pray,
seek His holy face and mend our evil way,
Then God will hear from Heaven and forgive us of our sins,

He'll heal our sickly land and those who live within.

But America the Beautiful if you don't then you will see,

A sad but Holy God withdraw His hand from thee.

By Judge Roy Moore

                                                                                                   *************

Golfing at Grandover...

After just completing a very successful tournament at Tot Hill Farms in Asheboro, we now turn our attention to our next and final tournament of the year at Grandover Resorts and Conference Center in Greensboro.

This tournament will be held on Saturday, August 14.  For a truly enjoyable day of golf, you don’t want to miss this one.  The tournament will be played on the always popular West Course.  The registration table and driving range will open at 7 a.m.  After an enjoyable continental breakfast and time of fellowship, there will be a 8:30 a.m. shotgun start.  Soft drinks will be served at the drink stations, on the course, throughout the tournament.  Every golfer will receive a goody bag.  We’ve been told by others that our goody bag is the best.

At the end of your outing you can relax and enjoy the “All American Buffet” of bar-b-que chicken, charbroiled hamburgers and hot dogs with all the trimmings in the Griffin Room.  While you are enjoying the lunch, we will be handing our some very nice prizes to the tournament winners.  There will be two hole-in-one prizes of $5,000 each.

Registration forms are now available by contacting Lorna Williams or Debbie Harman at our office, 292-7795.  Look forward to seeing you there!