Teen Challenge, the most successful addiction recovery program in the world, is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Mike Hodges serves as president of the organization, which was founded by Times Square Church pastor David Wilkerson and expanded internationally by his brother, Don. Hodges says they use the same formula in helping people with addictions, which includes placement in a residential program. "And they will spend up to a year in our programs working through their issues, and they receive counseling [and] work therapy. They go through a discipleship curriculum and, hopefully, discover a whole new life in Christ. That's our objective," Hodges explains. Hodges was asked about the programs success rate. "Back years ago, there was a survey done on Teen Challenge that determined that we had an 86 percent recovery rate for people who completed the program," he adds. Subsequent independent surveys confirm that rate. Hodges attributes the success to the program's central theme and promise of hope in Jesus Christ. "Many recovery programs talk about having some sort of intervention with a higher power. Well, we're specific about who the higher power is, and we believe the higher power is Jesus Christ. So we lead people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ." Hodges says. That relationship becomes the driving force in a recovered addict's life.
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