Hear Jorge's Story

Dear Friend,

God is doing miracles at Teen Challenge. We have so many reasons to be thankful. I want to share with you the story of a family that faced tragedy and brokenness, but is today rejoicing over what God has done to bring healing to their family. God used Teen Challenge to help restore a son that was lost in drugs and delinquency.

Jorge's life started spiraling downward after his father died. The stable loving family he had known was broken apart by tragedy. Jorge stopped caring about anything. He tried to fill the emptiness in his life with drugs and partying. The drugs soon began consuming more and more of his life. He began stealing from family and selling drugs in order to fund his drug habit. By the age of 16, Jorge found himself in jail and facing criminal charges. In a moment of desperation, he called out to God from his jail cell. He asked God to some how change his life and help him.

His mother Maria was desperate to help her son. She knew that he needed help, but did not know where to turn. Thankfully, a friend told her about Teen Challenge.  She hated the thought of being separated from her son for a year, but she loved her son enough to make the sacrifice to place him at Teen Challenge Ranch of NW Arkansas.

Jorge came to Teen Challenge in 2008. Even though he had called out to God for help while in jail, he was not very happy about being sent away from home. This is actually pretty common. Many troubled boys are anxious for God to help them out of their mess, but they don't really want Him to change anything about their lives-at least not at first.

Jorge held back for the first couple of months at Teen Challenge. He was slow to allow God to really work in his life. He spent several weeks watching the staff and

other students. He really began to notice a difference in their lives. The staff seemed to have a deep sense of joy and peace in their lives, and the students around him were changing dramatically they opened their lives up to God. The difference in their behavior convinced Jorge that Jesus Christ really does change lives.

After two months of waiting and watching, Jorge finally surrendered his life to God. Day by day, he grew closer to the Lord. He developed an incredible passion for God and for other people. Jorge would spend time praying and fasting that God would use him as he went out sharing his faith with some of the staff and other students. Jorge regularly gave up his free time on Saturday to participate in these voluntary outings. 

Jorge's life is radically different today because of what God has done through the ministry of Teen Challenge. This young man who once did not care about others now actively shares his faith, and prays fervently that God would use him to impact other people's lives. Today, he is in a missions training ministry called YWAM (Youth With A Mission). He hopes to go to South Africa soon and work with AIDS victims and their families. From drug dealer to missionary in just a year and a half...To God be the Glory.

There is something I think you should know about Jorge and his family. Jorge's father had been the main provider for his family. After he died, the family lost most of their income and Maria was forced to work 2 and 3 jobs at a time just to make ends meet. They would never have been able to afford what it costs to put Jorge through Teen Challenge. Jorge's life is changed today, because friends like you gave to this ministry and helped to make his time at Teen Challenge possible.

Would it be possible for you to again make an investment in the lives of boys just like Jorge. A financial gift today would be a much needed blessing, and would go a long way toward helping us reach out to troubled boys like Jorge.

Jorge and his mother have much to be thankful for. God has forever changed their family through the ministry of Teen Challenge.

For Troubled Youth,

Rev. Darren J. Reynolds,

Executive Director