about
Northern Appalachian Teen Challenge is an adult female training center located in Clarksburg, WV. Our goal is to help anyone who might have a life controlling problem or an addiction to drugs or alcohol. We are dedicated to rebuilding lives that have been devastated and to restore families that have been torn apart by these addictions.
Northern Appalachian Teen Challenge offers recovery support and spiritual formation. The program inspires self-discipline, responsible decision-making, social and spiritual accountability. We believe there is hope even when everything else says “just give up”. Teen Challenge offers a safe place to find complete freedom.
OUR MISSION
Northern Appalachian Teen Challenge, Inc. provides effective Christian discipleship training for persons experiencing life-controlling problems. This is accomplished through spiritual and academic instruction, behavior management, work skills and ethics training, life management training, and emotional support, all delivered within a disciplined and regimented atmosphere.
Comprehensive, residential training aids the person in becoming mentally sound, emotionally balanced, socially adjusted, and spiritually alive. By applying Biblical principles to relationships in the family, local church, chosen vocation, and the community, the person can then function as a productive member of society.
'The Teen Challenge program succeeds when all of government programs have failed"
- Charles Colson
Our History
Teen Challenge began in 1958 when David Wilkerson, author of The Cross and the Switch Blade, went into New York City to reach teenage gang members with a message of hope, founded on God’s love. Since then Teen Challenge has grown to be one of the largest and most successful ministries to hurting lives in America. Today, there are over 250 Teen Challenge Centers in the United States and over 1,000 centers worldwide.
Since Teen Challenge first opened its doors, tens of thousands of people have come seeking help – and help is what they have found. It provides one of the best Christian discipleship training programs available for persons experiencing life controlling problems.
Appalachian Teen Challenge, Inc. was founded in 1985. The initial purpose of the ministry was to make referrals to other Teen Challenge Centers, and to build relationships within the community and surrounding areas. God opened many doors in the first few years, and in 1987, the ministry purchased land in Princeton, WV and opened the Training Center. Nineteen years after opening the men’s facility in Princeton, God again opened the door to build a center for young adult women and in May of 2008 opened a state of the art female training center on the same campus. Since then the ministry has grown to house 65 students both male and female. About the same time, an Adolescent Center in Fincastle, VA, which houses adolescent girls age 12-17, was opened.
In 2009 Northern Appalachian Teen Challenge was opened as a crisis/referral center in Clarksburg, West Virginia which is making a tremendous impact on the community. In April, 2011 we were able to move into our existing office space in Bridgeport, West Virginia. By providing group support counseling, various outreach ministries, and referral for those in need of residential care to one of our training centers, we are witnessing a mighty move of God. God has been faithful over the years and He continues to change lives at Teen Challenge.
In the spring of 2014 we purchased approximately 7 acres of land in Clarksburg, West Virginia and the plans for a residential center in North Central West Virginia started to take shape. The land was cleared and the foundation was laid. We are now open as of January 8, 2019 as a long term residential women's training center!
Next Steps...
Are you ready to make a change? Do you need help for one of your loved ones? Call our office today. We want to help.