Teens
Chad's Testimony
Shannon's Testimony
Dawna's Testimony
Sara's Testimony
Pornography
Anonymous
Anonymous
Sex
Anonymous
Dennis' Testimony
Mary's Testimony
Paul's Testimony
Ben's Testimony
Testimonies of Freedom
Chad's Testimony
Chad is a 20 year old young man who is looking forward to being the Christian husband and father that God has called him to be. His family and Christian friends found Teen Challenge on the Internet a little over one year ago. Then his wife gave him the ultimatum to go to Teen Challenge, or just... go. Chad was using drugs by the age of 12 just to be cool. When he came to Teen Challenge he had already spent most of his teenage years in correction facilities and fully addicted to drugs. God had a plan for his life and it included a wife and children that he considers a blessing. Chad says that the prayers and faith of his family got him here, and brought him to a place to find faith and an ability to pray, himself. By the time you read Chad's story he will have graduated from Teen Challenge and returned to his wife and family. "I plan to go home and be a good example for my son." Praise God for a second chance!!
Shannon's Testimony
"If Jesus can save a no good rebel like me and completely forgive me, he really can do anything!" Shannon began to use drugs when he was 15 and that led into a life of theft, lies and rebellion against all authority. Even when he was still in his mess, God had a plan for his life. On the outside, it looked like a perfect life with a wife, children and career. Behind closed doors, were drugs and trying to fill a void. It didn't take long to lose it all; wife, job and home. The Lord led Shannon into Teen Challenge where his life is being restored. He has hope and faith and by the grace of God has been born again. Shannon is looking forward to being a great father, getting involved in church and getting to know his new best friend, Jesus, more and more every day. "I want my life and my actions to be my testimony. I give all thanks and praise to my Lord, Jesus."
Dawna's Testimony
On February 9, 2001 Dawna entered Teen Challenge. Amazing things happened for her during the 17 months she was here at Teen Challenge. The day she walked through the door, God delivered her from drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, without cravings or withdrawal. In her own words, she said "When I arrived my heart was bitter, hurt, rebellious, hard and angry. God took that heart and poured into it His love and mercy, and miraculously that heart changed into a heart filled with hope and compassion for others". Over the ensuing months Dawna learned how to live a godly life. She learned obedience, respect for authority, and discipline. Most importantly, Dawna learned God loved her! God began restoring the things that Satan had tried to destroy. Her relationship with her parents was restored and the privilege to see and reconnect with her children was also granted to her. Since graduation Dawna has found a job and lives with another student who graduated from Teen Challenge. She feels God is calling her into the mission field as a nurse. She is enrolled at the Northwest Bible College at the Huldah Buntain School of Nursing and plans on starting in January 2003. Dawna is still in contact with Teen Challenge where she is giving back through volunteering.
Sara's Testimony
It was 1998 when Sara's dad, in a drunken rage , put a gun to her head and threatened to kill her for not washing the dishes to his liking. Even though the authorities stepped in and placed a restraining order on him, her mom had let him come back. It was their secret. Then, the next year her uncle was murdered, right in front of the kids. Shot through the door of their apartment. Family was not a pleasant thought for Sarah. Her doctor had prescribed every medication he could find and nothing had worked to heal her depression and what they feared was a mental disorder. One night in September of 2000, after going to church drunk, Sarah poured out her heart to the pastor's wife. Sensing her deep distress and knowing that Sara needed some serious help, she referred her to Women's Teen Challenge in Seattle. The first months were hard. But slowly the anger faded and a sparkle of hope could be seen in Sara's eyes. She began to learn that God loved her and could be trusted. She found the staff understood how she felt. The other girls were like sisters. She no longer needed medications. She had discovered she could sing! When Thanksgiving and Christmas rolled around, it was totally different. It was like she had a new family. Thanksgiving was a bountiful Turkey dinner with all her new friends. Christmas was full of singing and joy and presents. What a difference from what she had known in the past. Sara graduated this year and has returned to work as an intern for us here at Women's Teen Challenge.
Anonymous Testimony

A Pastor Who Risked Everything
“Homecoming [Prodigals’ recovery program for men] has changed my life. I am a pastor who risked my family and ministry for false intimacy I found in Images online and in print. I had a long-standing pattern of flirting with fire, and I started getting burned. After coming to Homecoming for 18 months, I now have almost a year of “sexual sobriety.” I have a much more realistic view of myself and my role in life. My identity has shifted in a positive way, and I am learning to set down unwanted baggage and to work on character flaws in a constructive way. God is using the principles, process, and people of Prodigals International to bring me home.”

Anonymous Testimony
God Saves a Man and a Marriage
“I’ll always remember January, 2001, when my wife caught me on the Internet looking at pornography. It was a Sunday and our 29 year anniversary. I could see the hurt but also the relief on her part. She had suspected for a while, but I thought I was so good about erasing the different files that I wouldn’t get caught. I remember the agony of my sexual addiction - the denial, delusion and the blaming. A few of my many excuses were “I’m only a man,” “I’m not hurting anyone,” and “If only my wife was more sexual."

My wife said I needed to get counseling or she was going to leave. Even with the negative consequences, pain, shame and guilt, I honestly thought I did not have a problem. I thought at anytime I could quit but found out how controlled I had become.

When I finally went to counseling, my wife asked for a separation and told me in the counseling office our marriage was over and she NO longer loved me. I knew to get healing I needed to have God involved in my process. I knew I needed to quit minimizing my problem, and to face the fact that I was a “sex addict.” I had hit “rock bottom.”

In August I was told of Prodigals International, a Christian-based sex and love addiction program. At Prodigals they laid a foundation to deal with the destructive core beliefs of sexual addiction in my life. I began to understand my addiction was my attempt to give myself what I thought I needed. I came to realize that I had a heavenly Father welcoming me home, who had waited patiently for me and cared for me. I came to realize I am not a bad, unworthy person, that I can be loved, that I need others, and sex is not the most important need in my life. I needed to allow God to reconstruct my views of Him, life, and myself. Over the months at Prodigals, I learned to accept that breaking the strongholds of addiction wasn’t going to be a “quick fix,” that this process demanded a change over time, and a determination.

During this time, my wife continued in counseling, and after several months we began dating. We both realized what we would be giving up after 30 years of marriage. With healing, hard work, and forgiveness, and 14 months of separation, my wife and I decided to go to marriage counseling together. After a few sessions, I moved back home, knowing Jesus must be the center of our life.

During these last eight months of living together again, God has been there, restoring my relationship with my wife. We have worked on communication, intimacy, and relationship skills in our marriage. Not only has our marriage improved, so has our relationship with God. My wife and I pray together every day now. I also have seen God working and healing in my four adult children.

As I look back, I am able to see God directing my recovery from the time I got caught, to the counseling, to the doors opening for me at Prodigals. I believe without the Prodigals program I wouldn’t have had the hope, the healing, the strength, and the belief that God would work out my circumstances according to His plan.”
Anonymous Testimony

Like Falling In Love All Over Again…
"On August 27, 2001, my wife found out about my second major affair and filed for divorce. The next day, I was in the office of a fine Christian therapist. That was the beginning of the long road back. In December, I found out about Homecoming and started attending. My wife says she started to notice the first real change in me within a few weeks after starting to attend Homecoming. I was afraid of each step, but in taking each day, one at a time, God was there and got me through. God is trustworthy and very gracious. On August 26th of this year (our 30th anniversary), my wife and I moved into our new home together. Do we still have issues? Is there still some pain to be dealt with? Yes and yes. But we are still just taking one day at a time, and slowly learning to be tolerant, patient, and loving. It's been like falling in love all over again. This time, in a healthy way. All we can say is, 'To God be the glory, great things He has done!'"


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