Pastor Steve’s Blog June 23, 2019 I hope you were able to be with us yesterday in church to hear our friends from Jacksonville Teen Challenge. It was so encouraging to hear their testimonies and see the life change that has happened in each one of them due to their personal relationship with Jesus Christ and support from the Teen Challenge Center. I look forward to St Paul continuing our support for this terrific ministry. Our special offering yesterday in church for Teen Challenge amounted to $500. I also heard that one of our Sunday School classes pledged an additional $300 to help with the ministry. Outstanding! That’s great seed planted in good soil. Can I get an “Amen.” Below is some good information about Teen Challenge. For nearly 60 years, our alcohol and substance abuse addiction recovery program has provided long-term recovery for tens of thousands of individuals. We are the largest and longest continuously operated group of addiction recovery centers in the world, with over 200 centers in the U.S. and over 1,000 more centers worldwide. In an Adult & Teen Challenge Outcomes Study by The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): • 92% of Adult & Teen Challenge graduates reported good to excellent health a year later. • 86% of Adult & Teen Challenge graduates reported they were drug-free a year later. • 72% of Adult & Teen Challenge graduates continued their education upon completion of the program. • 75% of Adult & Teen Challenge graduates were employed a year later, with 73% being fully self-supporting.