I grew up in a dysfunctional family, the oldest of 4 children.  Both my mother and father were alcoholics and never spoke about the Lord.  Despite this, the Lord had his eye on me.  I met the the Lord at the age of seven and walked with Him until my forty’s. A painful experience in my life caused me to walk away from the Lord.  I lost everything so I turned to drugs to fill the emptiness in my heart for 18 years.  God had mercy on me and I found Brooklyn Teen Challenge.  Healing has taken place since coming into this program and God has transformed into the man He created; for His purpose.  I am learning life Biblical principles and applying them in my life in order to become mentally and emotionally strong in Jesus Christ.

My name is Daniel C. and I'm 29 years old. I grew up in a dysfunctional house like many. Being outdoors was no comfort either as I was physically and verbally abused by my peers, resulting in severe depression and anxiety. I never spoke a word of this to anyone. At age 19, my father was the only person I ever fought to protect my family. He was removed from the house and passed about a year later as an addict. In 2020, my mother passed to her lifelong battle with cancer and so my depression and anxiety turned into alcoholism and self-isolation for the next 5 years. It was common for me to drink a bottle of whiskey a day. Since coming to Brooklyn Adult and Teen Challenge, I have finally found comfort in the love of God. I've spent my life believing I was alone in deserving of it, but now I look forward to a life I've never imagined.

My name is David O. I had a pretty difficult and beautiful life. I went through a lot when I was a child that led to drinking and drug usage. Jesus played a major role in my life mainly because of my mother. During all my mess my mother displayed so many Christ-like characteristics that I couldn't deny He was real. Now I'm in Brooklyn Adult & Teen Challenge and I'm looking forward to seeing all that I learned from this experience. 

Louis R

My name is Luis Rivera. I used to drink and use hard drugs. One day I almost drowned in the Hudson River and through God's grace he saved me. After that I started to go to church and went to Brooklyn Adult & Teen Challenge.  I'm not sure what he saved me for but I'm in Gods will now and trusting his purpose for my life.

I was raised in Englewood, Florida, where my early years were shaped by the many challenges my parents faced—struggles that ultimately led to their divorce. In the aftermath, I found myself moving frequently between different homes and states, searching for a sense of stability, identity, and purpose. 
For much of my life, I battled substance abuse, feeling lost and uncertain about my direction. However, my family, grounded in their faith in Christ, encouraged me to seek a new path. It was through their guidance that I came to Brooklyn Adult and Teen Challenge—a place that could help me rebuild my life and discover the purpose I had been longing for. 

My name is Tuan Wesley. I was born in Burbank, California, and raised by both of my parents until they separated when I was five years old. My father struggled with drinking, while my mother was a devoted woman of faith. Throughout my childhood, I moved frequently before eventually settling in Hawaii. Despite the changes, I was raised in the church and experienced a joyful and meaningful upbringing. 
However, as I entered high school, my life began to take a different direction, and many of the foundations I once relied on were shaken. At the age of twenty-seven, I returned to California, searching for stability and purpose. During a season of repeated setbacks while seeking employment, I found myself turning toward God in a deeper way. 
It was during this time that a pastor recognized my need for guidance and encouraged me to seek help. Trusting in that counsel, I made the difficult decision to leave my family behind and commit to a new path at Brooklyn Adult & Teen Challenge. 

Hello, my name is John Rodland. I grew up in New York. As a child I did not attend church as a family, but my parents dropped me off at Sunday school every week. As I grew older, I became involved I youth group and eventually met the person I would marry. Through that, we have two wonderful children, but we wound up getting divorced. I sank my life into work and started to drink excessively my children felt I needed a real change in my life and so that brought me to Adult and teen challenge.