Today, via Zoom, we heard from Edwin Johnson, the Donor Relations Director of Adult & Teen Challenge Minnesota.
Adult & Teen Challenge is a worldwide network of Christian faith-based corporations intended to help teenagers, adults, and families with problems such as substance abuse or self-destructive behavior. There are 240+ centers in the US and 1400+ centers in 120 countries. There are 5 locations in MN (see photo). It was founded in 1960 by a rural PA pastor who left to minister to the gang members in the streets of New York. In looking David Wilkerson up, I discovered he was the author of The Cross and the Switchblade, a book I had read in high school.
During the 2018-19 school year, MN Teen Challenge connected with 130 schools reaching out to 60,000 students. An interesting fact brought up in Ed's presentation was that liquor sales is up 50% during COVID 19. The people being served in their Long Term Recovery program have formed a 400 member choir and part of their recovery is visiting churches around the state to sing worship songs and share testimonies.
To read more about this wonderful organization, please visit www.mntc.org
