"I Married a Teen Challenge Graduate."

I thought I would blog this essay my wife wrote that is getting published in a book this June /2008. It is to commenerate Teen Challenge's 40th year changing lives. 50 wives of Teen Challenge grads are writing their stories since they met the most wonderful people in the world, TEEN CHALLENGE grads!!!!!!!!!! Like myself!!!!!!!!! If you don't know much about OUR story, here are some of the highlights!

“Mom I met someone, he’s a Teen Challenge graduate.” These were the first words my mom heard as I called her from my first semester in Bible College at Valley Forge Christian College in Pennsylvania. We knew Teen Challenge well for my uncle had gone to it, and I had heard about it from my church, and yet, I never imagined I would begin dating someone from Teen Challenge. I grew up in a Christian home in Northern Virginia. I was able to go to a Christian school for most of my elementary and high school years. I was always involved in church and sports along with playing the violin. During my time in high school I felt called to help others. Although I did not know all the details I knew I wanted to be a counselor. I went to Valley Forge Christian College in Fall of 2003, to pursue a Psychology degree. My first week at school I met someone, Jess, who happened to be a Teen Challenge graduate. Although we came from such different backgrounds I was drawn to his passion for God, and his drive to become a pastor.

We began dating that first semester of college. I will never forget our fast “date”. We went to the mall. The first store we went into was a jewelry store. Without me knowing, Jess hit the counter and said, “We’re getting engaged, can you show us the biggest diamond ring in the store!” I could not believe my ears. I thought to myself, “What in the world is he doing?” So I went along with it. We tried a whole bunch of rings on that day. Of course, he was joking, but if I knew he was going to take so long to really ask me, I may have taken him up on his offer. I remember our first time going home to visit my family in Virginia. On our trip, Jess shared the many stories of his past, drug deals, shoplifting, and his upbringing. I told him “I can’t believe this happens on this side of the country!” Little did I know, there were more stories to come. I was amazed that this man that was so on fire for God had done so many sinful things. But for the first time, I saw first hand the amazing power of God to transform a life. Of course growing up in the church you see lives transformed, but this was someone up close, someone who I saw his personal life and knew he was honest. I remember those first few months of us dating and me meeting all of his friends which were either recovered drug addicts or current ones and thinking what have I gotten myself into?

Although over the years I have seen many of his friends who staid in their sinful lifestyle surrender their life to Christ due to Jess’ commitment to stay close to them.Finally, after two and a half years of dating, Jess proposed to me on my birthday. From the time we were engaged we made a commitment that marriage would be a priority in our lives, first God, but then family. We married June 24, 2006 and continued in Bible College to finish our senior year. We read as many books as we could on marriage and attended numerous marriage seminars. Through these experiences together we both felt called to minister to families and marriages. We found that people with healthy marriages equal healthy people and healthy churches.During our first year of marriage in order to give back to Teen Challenge, we developed a relationships seminar in order to teach men and women in Teen Challenge how to have healthy relationships. This is one of the hobbies we enjoy doing most together and we find great fulfillment when we know we are giving back to a place that we are indebted to. Upon graduation, we knew we needed to go to seminary in order to be well equipped for our callings. We continued our education at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in northern Massachusetts, where Jess is currently working on a New Testament and Biblical Languages Degree, and I am working on a Mental Health and Marriage and Family degree. Upon graduation, we plan to continue with the marriage seminars in Teen Challenge as well as in churches. I plan to get my Marriage and Family license in order to counsel couples, while Jess plans to plant a church with the Assemblies of God and teach at a Bible college.

Numerous times I have wondered what would Jess’ and my life be like without the faithful people who have passed on the Teen Challenge legacy? I probably would have never met Jess, and Jess may still be addicted to drugs today, if not dead. The legacy of Teen Challenge lives on in our family because of the great sacrifices that were made by countless people for individuals like my husband. I want to close with a story that has impacted my life and my hope and prayer is that it does the same for you. In the 1988 Olympic games that were hosted in Seoul, Korea. The American 4x100 relay team posed to break the world record and assume its position as the best in the world. As the final leg of the race approached, the unthinkable happened. THE AMERICANS DROPPED THE BATON. In an instant, the race was over. The crowd was left in stunned silence. The American team had arrogantly relied on their inherent speed and failed to sufficiently practice the handoff that was so crucial for the completion of the race. Every Teen Challenge graduate and wife of a Teen Challenge graduate must see themselves as the link to the next generation. It is our job to make sure we continue to practice and make the handoff to the coming generations who are in need of the ministry of Teen Challenge.