The second annual “Gala Night” for Adult & Teen Challenge of Louisiana filled the Winnfield Civic Center on May 25 with nearly 400 people for a night of food, fellowship and testimony of escape from addiction.
This program is described as a “faith-based treatment facility providing effective, residential care to men and women struggling with addiction and other life-controlling issues. We strive to put hope within reach of every addict through our comprehensive approach to recovery so that they may become successful individuals at home, the workplace, and within the community.”
In a revival-like atmosphere, local guests plus visitors from across the state heard testimonies from residents of the separate men’s and women’s facilities here in Winn. People sat around tables that had been sponsored by individuals, churches and businesses in this fund-raising effort for the program.
“I never felt so free in my life. They showed me how to believe,” declared one testimony. “I knew about the wrath of God but not the love of God,” said another. “They told me Adult & Teen Challenge was kinda like a Bible boot camp. Instead, it is the vessel God used to save my life.”
The messages all came from different directions but came to the same conclusion through Jesus. One said he’d come from a family of drug dealers and addicts in New Orleans. Another countered that he didn’t set out to be a drug addict. “I just wanted to fit in.” An oft-raised issue: “I thought I was a good parent. How did addiction come into our family? How did I get here?”
Adult & Teen Challenge is funded through donations and sponsorships as well as local student-driven projects like the Dodson Roadside Café, Mt. Grace Thrift Store, plants & flowers from the Mt. Grace Greenhouse, crafted coffee and candles and a blueberry operation. The gala event gave an opportunity to highlight their student sponsorship program.
Their brochure shows that the faith-based approach of Adult & Teen Challenge has an 86% success (cure) rate, while traditional detoxification or therapeutic programs claim rates of only 1% to 10%. “Teen Challenge has given me my life back and rippled over to others. Whole families are affected by addiction.
