An International Program Teen Challenge started in Brooklyn, New York in 1958
by David Wilkerson. Wilkerson read an article in LIFE magazine about seven teenagers who were on trial for murder. Troubled
by what he read in the article, and sensing there was a lot of work to do on behalf these young people, Wilkerson made a trip
from his hometown in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania to the urban area of New York City. Wilkerson eventually moved to the New York
City area to work full time with teenage gang members. This new work
was eventually called "Teen Challenge." Soon, Teen Challenge began to also offer help to those addicted to drugs
and alcohol. During these early years, a large home was obtained and a year-long residential mentoring program was started
in this facility. Due to its success, residential Teen Challenge Centers began cropping up in cities all across America. The
programs are mentor-oriented and offer a balance of spiritual enrichment, work assignments, and recreation. Though Teen Challenge
has kept "Teen" in its name, most centers are for adults 18 and older. Karen's Place is an adult center for women.There are over 200 Teen Challenge programs in the United States and another 200 in other countries
around the world. A study completed by NIDA in 1974 claimed an 86% success rate 7 years after graduation. Other studies have
been completed since that time that confirmed those findings. The rest of the story of Teen Challenge is told in the best-selling
book, The Cross and the Switchblade. This book has sold tens of millions of copies and has been translated into 35
different languages. Teen Challenge has grown into one of the largest and most successful programs of its kind in the world. |
