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| The Faith-Based Solution for the Drug Epidemic. |
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| In 1958, a young pastor from a farm town in Pennsylvania, took a step of faith into the inner-city of New York City. David Wilkerson started a movement that would change the lives of thousands. With a heart for young people, he began working with gangs and troubled youth. As he began to establish rapport within the city, he became aware of the life-controlling issues destroying these young people. Everywhere David turned he saw the consequences of addiction: a 16 year old girl working the streets, a 12 year old boy murdered by his younger brother, the sight of a teenage mother with her baby on her lap, begging for food and shelter. |
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| The young pastor found himself in a place with no hope and no future: these children had been set up for failure. He knew he had to break the vicious cycle. He had to offer a way out of their trouble and despair. Later that year, the first Teen Challenge Center was established in New York City working with inner-city youth wanting a different kind of life, other than gangs and drugs. |
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| Since 1958, Teen Challenge has
seen remarkable growth. Thousands of lives have been changed in over 170 centers
throughout the United States. The Teen Challenge approach to helping men and
women trapped by addictions has been used in several cultures. And, Teen Challenge
campuses are now operating on six continents around the world. |
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| In 1963, David Wilkerson co-authored
the book, The Cross and the Switchblade. The story covers David's first
5 years in New York and became a best-selling phenomenon. More than 15 million
copies have been distributed in over 30 languages. In 1969 a motion picture based
on the book was released. After 45 years, the story continues to inspire renewed
faith in God's ability to overcome problems that even the most determined human
efforts cannot resolve. |
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