Thank you for remaining so faithful to the mission of Adult & Teen Challenge in 2020. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Spokane Campus family to yours!
A message from our Campus Director
Dear Friend,
Thank you for remaining faithful to the mission of Adult & Teen Challenge. As the number of people battling with substance abuse has continued to climb during this challenging year, we have diligently remained focused on the mission to help people like Sonny find freedom and redemption in Jesus.
Sonny lost his father at the age of eight due to a drug overdose. This defining moment lead to his own experimenting with drugs and alcohol. For the next 31 years, Sonny chased that high and lived a life of crime to support his habit. He lost everything including his son. An eight-time convicted felon, sitting in custody for a gun charge, Sonny heard about Adult & Teen Challenge for the first time. He had tried treatment numerous times in the past with little success. His public defender reached out and invited us to come to the Federal Building and present our program to the entire Federal Probation Department. God opened a door and we were welcomed as a viable rehabilitation alternative for federal offenders. Sonny was the first to be granted release into our program.
Eight months later, Sonny had to return to court for sentencing on his gun charge. He was facing 22 – 27 months of federal prison time, which the prosecutor was mandated by law to recommend. But as Sonny stood up to receive his sentencing, the judge commented on all of the “second chances” Sonny had received and asked what was different this time? Sonny declared that the difference was Jesus Christ as the Lord of his life. The judge responded by saying that the man standing before him is indeed a changed man and that he was going to make an exceptional sentence for him. Instead of prison he sentenced Sonny to five years probation and congratulated him for what God was doing in his life. There was not a dry eye in that courtroom.
For the past ten months, Sonny has been growing in his faith and firmly rooting himself in Christ. God has even fully restored his relationship with his son. It is such an encouragement to witness him putting in the hard work to transform into the man God created him to be.
There are so many just like Sonny in our community who need to know this same loving God. Because of the support you have already provided, we have been able to serve over 600 men, women and adolescents through our residential programs in 2020. Our campus has set a year end fundraising goal of $ 40,000. As you consider end of year giving, I am asking you to put your strongest gift towards our goal. Your provision ensures that we are able to start 2021 strong and continue serving the men of our community just like Sonny, who need to have a safe place to experience Jesus. Every penny counts as we finish this year of trials with absolute faith and hope in our glorious Lord and Savior.
Christmas Blessings,
Tyson West
Executive Director — Spokane Campus
CONTACT
18600 SE McLoughlin Blvd.
Milwaukie, OR 97267
971-255-0658