Teen Challenge

This morning I attended a meeting to discuss the plans of the new Baltimore Teen Challenge. Some of you may not know what Teen Challenge is so let me give a brief description. Teen Challenge is a Faith based approach to the rehabilitation of drug addicts. It started in NYC almost half a century ago, and has become one of the most effective treatment programs in the world. For years we have had a program in the DC area, and at times have had centers in Baltimore under the DC oversight. Recently though the decision has been made to make Baltimore an independent program.

Bill Parks a Baltimore native has been selected as the Executive Director of the Baltimore Teen Challenge and they are currently renovating a building to house 20 in the Patterson Park area. I heard from the building committee today. Their representative shared about the projects they're doing to bring the building up to speed.

You gotta love it when someone is passionate about their work. Dan has held a building license with the state for 30 years. During that time he also worked as a Baltimore County Police officer, and is now working for the State with parole retakes. He shared that 9 out of 10 people he arrested over his years in BCPD were carrying Heroin. Baltimore has 15 times more problems with heroin abuse than any other city. It is estimated that 60,000 of the city's 650,000 residents is in need of drug and alcohol treatment. Today he was moved to tears asking for the churches to pray, because he said, "I'm tired of putting these men in prison."

Beyond the emotional appeal though there are some great things in the future of Baltimore Teen Challenge. Nowadays it is normal for us to be touched in some way with someone who has affected by the drug culture. Now we have an opportunity to reach out and help.

Several months ago someone in the church talked to me about our missions giving. All of our missions guests have been foreign missionaries, and this person expressed that we should look at local missions too, because in his words, "I think we're pretty screwed up here too." Baltimore Teen Challenge is a ministry that I hope our church will partner with to focus some of our resources meeting the need of our local area.

--Ben