History

50 YEARS OF HISTORY

In 1958, Pastor David Wilkerson reached out to troubled street youth in New York City. Teen Challenge was created to meet the needs of these youths. This is how the ministry of Teen Challenge began and has spread literally around the world.

Today, Teen Challenge is a non-profit, interdenominational, faith-based program operating in 82 countries, with over 1,000 autonomous locations internationally, and continues to grow at a dramatic pace worldwide.

The Teen Challenge story is told in the best-selling book and movie The Cross and the Switchblade.

SUCCESS RATE

University-level surveys indicate that the Teen Challenge model has a 70% success rate. What does that mean? Five years after graduating (so among those who completed the 12-month residential program), 70% have never returned to drugs or alcohol.