Everyone wants to know, “Where’s the beef?” or “Show me the results!” And it’s a perfectly reasonable expectation! If a ministry such as Teen Challenge is going to divert energies, personnel, resources, and time to nonresidential ministry, we need to know that it’s a strategy that works.
From the very beginning, our hope has been to unite the churches in their recovery outreach efforts. When the churches work together, with the guidance of our Teen Challenge leadership, there is potential for more effective results. Most recovery (not treatment) efforts, and even AA groups work with churches, or use their facilities. A coordinated approach among the churches, with a proven curriculum and training, has proven results. We visualize congregations networking together to provide effective ministry groups in their community, focusing on the hurting and addicted.
These churches then become points of contact for our Teen Challenge centers. Remember, even though our focus is nonresidential ministry, referrals are a big part of what we hope to accomplish. Yes, there are many that need the residential ministry we offer at our centers. The coordinated relationship between local congregations and the Teen Challenge centers in their region can yield great outcomes for the Kingdom of God and the well-being of the seeking addict. Plus, every pastor is now having to deal with addicts in their own congregations, a development that may not have been evident a few years ago. This is the value of the collaborating relationship, our Directors & staff can help these pastors offer a real, relevant, relational, & reliable to the Word ministry to their own congregants that are struggling.
It may be hard to accept, but there are advantages to nonresidential ministry versus residential ministry. We also accept the fact that there certainly are lives literally saved because of the safety, separation, and intense discipleship of residential recovery. If an individual is in the earlier stages of their addiction, and are functional, nonresidential ministry could work for them. The advantages are too many to list here, but a few are; family preservation, less financial loss, more personal responsibility, & less transitional adjustments. The ultimate goal is the long-term sobriety of every addict, for many it will take both residential commitment, and nonresidential follow-up. Recovery and discipleship are for a lifetime! Our goal should be to offer hope to every addict & their families—the chronic addict and the functional addict.
As I have stated over and over again, no other ministry has the potential to unite the churches and other para-church ministries to motivate to action as does Teen Challenge. We have the respect and proven ministry of 50 plus years. We have seen that it just takes a few churches working together, providing groups for the addicted & their families, and making referrals, and much is accomplished. We still believe that Jesus is the proven cure! Every alumni of Teen Challenge needs to be actively engaged in ministry, I can’t think of a better opportunity then going back to their home church and motivating the congregation to care for the hurting and addicted by offering support groups and referrals. They themselves need a caring community willing to address the tough issues of life—small groups, caring relationships, and accountability still work. Let’s put our volunteers and retired helpers to work.
Between 2011 & 2013, we at Living Free facilitated 3 surveys developed by Dr. Ruth Lui with 480 participants. The results were very encouraging. Out of those 480 participants, 92% found freedom from an addiction, a closer relationship to their family, and a closer relationship with God. Caring relationships providing accountability is always a winning combination! The Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the people of God working together to set the captive free.
About the author; Clayton Arp has worked with Teen Challenge since 1978, and was director of one of the first adolescent centers, Teen Challenge Ranch of NW Arkansas from 1984 until 1995. Clayton started Teen Challenge of KY in 1997, using the nonresidential strategy of Living Free. Kentucky now has two men’s centers and a women’s center in Louisville. Clayton also helped to start Grace House in Evansville, IN, now part of Indiana Teen Challenge. He is a US Missionary and now serves full time with Living Free. Clayton is available for ministry to staff and students, training for Living Free, and the nonresidential strategy of Lifeline Connection! He and his wife Beth have been married for 34 years. Beth is pastor at Shively Worship Center in Louisville, KY.
