Comments on: Faith-based Minnesota Teen Challenge cannot evade scrutiny

By: charles e.

charles e. — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:40:52 +0000

i am a graduate of minnesota teen challenge and i must say that it is a wonderful life saving , God fearing program. i also was a participant in the know the truth program where we spoke to children about the dangers of alcohol and drug use. never in the 15+ schools i visited did my christian faith , or anyone else’s come out in our speeches because we are well aware and obedient to the fact that we cannot express our faith in the schools . teen challenge not only blesses the student, but countless others that the student encounters. many others have been inspired by the turn around that happened by me attending teen challenge . most importantly please take time to know the man that some of you are bashing , of course if you are not christian you may not agree with our doctrine but ill assure you that rich sherber is a wonderful man that loves all. ive seen the man and been close to him and he has been nothing but an inspiration to me and others, and he is not deserving of any slanderous talk. may God bless the un informed.

By: hates Teen Challenge

hates Teen Challenge — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:46:48 +0000

Teen challenge is a horrible racist place. My fiance is there and he is white and I am a different race. They have been trying to ruin our relationship to the point of suggesting our child wasn’t his. They have made comments about how he is on the tribal counsel It is not a good place because they only care about money. They capitalize on the fact that we had a child that died, so they can make more money for the program. These guys are being fed out dated food, and teen challenge charges them to play in sports. the deans and directors only care about money they are not interested in the person only hurting them and killing a loving spirit. They are sick and twisted people. Their views are entirely horrible and if thats what being a christian is about i want no part of it

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 05:02:40 +0000

Some of the former students of Teen Challenge have been very critical regarding their experiences in the program. Some may have valid points as in the fact that there are leaders in every organization who are not leading in a true Christian fashion. Everything good in the world will have someone who is a fake or failure. However, there are former students who did not complete the program because of their own inability to deal with submission issues, rebellion, selfishness, and a desire to continue in the destructive lifestyle.
If there are truly Teen Challenge ministries out there who have abused students or been found living a hypocritical lifestyle, those specific centers only should be addressed. The Teen Challenge program as a whole does help people and show students the way to deliverance from addiction problems. Jesus is the only way to find true deliverance.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:45:36 +0000

I am a recovering alcoholic and addict. I will be sober and clean for 3 years June 22, 2009. I attend regular alcoholics anonymous meetings and also church. But ragardless of where i go it is God that has kept me sober and changed my life. At teen Challenge you have people that are making you work on yourself constantly and that is what you have to do because drug addiction and alcoholism are just symptoms of the real sickness. And it is a spiritual sickness. That is why we need God. At A.A. you have to work the 12 steps. And every step cames from the bible. Yhe get rid of all the anger and fear to make room for God. The change our way of thinking to alighn with Gods will. The people that are saying kit is secular don’t know what they are talking about. They aern’t paying evough attention bacause it is all about God. Just put into everyday words that drug addicts and alcoholics can understand. But i understand that some people can’t do it in A.A. They need the discipline and long term christian counseling to survive. Drug addictions and alcoholism are destroying people left and right. I can’t understand why people are complaining about something that works Do you like haveing drug addicts and alcoholics on the streets? Do you like seeing teens and mothers and fathers die from overdoses, wrecks, suicides, etc. Leave them alone. Donate. Be a part of the solution instead of part of the problem.

By: mrbuddy

mrbuddy — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 06:23:14 +0000

Dear Ian, Have you made a serious attempt to talk to the state attorney general of Minn. ??You should and you would be safe–ie whistle blower law. Hopefully he would conduct an investigation . Also, you could send your e-mail to the whitehouse web site—addressed to Mr. Holder. We have to do these things to keep life on track–your rep Bachman seems high on something!!

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:01:54 +0000

The federal funds pledged to MNTC are specific to the “Know the Truth” program. This program is a prevention program that goes into high schools to try to prevent chemical addictions. Since the program goes into the public schools it is required to be completely secular. The separation between church and state has been maintained with precision to the detriment of the children attending our public schools. It is clear to everyone involved in Teen Challenge that the high school program would be more effective if it could be faith based. But what the heck, what’s the difference, it’s only our children! Why are we more concerned about the separation of church and state?

This country is filled with people who want to take the word “God” out of our country’s Pledge of Allegiance, not even allow it to be said in schools anymore, how do you think MnTC would be allowed in if they were anything but secular in public schools? Your comments make no sense in this society of tolerance that does not tolerate any form of faith in God. Minnesota is trying to teach our youth the dangers of drugs in a way that is working, truth.

MnTC recovery program does not receive any tax dollars. The program is funded by individual contributions, by people who have seen the program’s success. If I could say where my tax dollars are spent I would choose MnTC, but I don’t have a choice, my tax dollars go to Planned Parenthood to kill babies. Life is always the best investment! Great job to MnTC for caring for people who are desperate and hurting. Everyone deserves a second chance at life, a productive life.

By: Ian

Ian — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:06:05 +0000

I graduated the teen boys program in August 1999. I was 15 when i got out. It was an alternative to 18 months in jail…I’m drug & crime free – & also god free.

I wouldn’t say I feel as great about it as the rest of you. Then again…2 people died that didn’t have to while i was there & I was beaten up & received a severe head injury & received NO medical attention. I have an actual dent in my skull as a result.

As for the money end – it’s a scam. Hit up as many churches as you can. Tell everyone about how you do it all for free (even though every teenager cost 800/month back then). I once witnessed Rich tell a congregation complete nonsense about one of our boys…a kid who was in for emotional troubles & Rich is telling them all about his wild “crack addiction”. While maybe he was confused (this man’s attention span is like that of a pothead – nice enough guy – but he’s out there) – there wasn’t a dry eye in the house & more money was made. The other congregations that they brought us to were pretty awful as well. I remember one tupee wearing pastor in a pricey suit telling us we were going to hell if we didn’t make tithes & offerings….enough badmouthing though…i’m not here to sew bitterness but rather to enlighten. think real hard before sending youe teenager here or anywhere that has no medical accreditation. really consider the needs of the situation. i found that many of the younger kids really didn’t need to be there, but that their parents just ran out of ideas (or were themselves incapable).

I’m not gonna say they don’t help…they do. The problem is that they are for the most part unregulated. If they were regulated I’d have a more normal-shaped head, two young men would still be alive, & homeless guys wouldn’t have been breaking into our house & sleeping there & bringing in drugs & whatnot.

& the success rate a) is old information, b) does not consider the dropout rate, c) does not count teenagers. an overwhelming amount of people start & don’t finish…so where is the success?

By: Billy Meszaros

Billy Meszaros — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:57:36 +0000

I am March 2008 graduate of MNTC it’s been great to see the outpouring by so many people I knew in the program. I was in the program with when the bridge collapsed and can back up the fact that our charge staff Glenn Middendorp did call the bus driver and have him take an alternate route shortly before the collapse. I also had the privilege to volunteer with and later intern for the Know The Truth program. I can assure all you Jesus fearing fanatics that we don’t go and use tax dollars to proselytize, we simply go into public schools and share the consequences of our poor decisions in the hopes that the kids don’t make those same devastating choices. The last thing I want is for anyone else to experience the things I have. After interning briefly with the program I went on to become a soldier in the U.S. Army with the National Guard, I am also a pastoral ministry student at Northwestern College. This is a far cry from the suicidal meth addict who lost his children that I once was, I give all the credit to God, but He used MNTC in a mighty way to help me and many others. As for one persons comments Teen Challenge does help people who are struggling with sexual issues including homosexuality, but no matter what the sexual struggle the focus is on sexual purity and following the Biblical principles of sex and marriage. Oh and by the way God has restored my family made me the man and father I could never have been on my own and I now am planning on getting married to my childrens mother, a relationship I never thought could be restored but I prayed that it would and Miracles do happen. God bless all of you, God brought you into this world for a reason He wanted you to live you were not a coincedence and so I pray that you may come to realize that God has a special plan in your life. Jesus does Save and God Bless!!

By: Michael Kleiber

Michael Kleiber — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:25:56 +0000

When George W. Bush made his farwell speech to the nation the other night, he acknowledged “the success of FAITH-BASED programs for addicted people”…….now, I know the he’s not the most popular president we’ve ever had. In fact, I don’t agree with alot of things he did. BUT….if the President of the United States of America makes a statement that acknowedges the significance of something, such as faith-based treatment programs, well……programs such as Teen Challenge must be doing something right. God Bless them for all they have done!

By: Mary Hale

Mary Hale — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:39:47 +0000

Our daughter was a student at Minnesota Teen Challenge. The saving grace in her program and recovery was the inclusion of Jesus Christ in her recovery. Whether people want to agree, admit or believe, God is the ultimate power and the one we will all answer to after we die. May He have mercy on people to choose not to believe this and choose a way of life away from Him.