In 1958, Rev. David Wilkerson read about a gang murder trial in New York. He began asking “Why isn’t someone helping this type of youth?” He started praying and Teen Challenge was birthed in those sessions of prayer.
He went to New York City to plead the case of the gang boys before the judge but was thrown out. This experience opened the door of the gangs to him and he became their friend, the “gang preacher.” During an evangelistic meeting in St Nicholas Area, Nicky Cruz and several other Mau Mau gang members surrendered their lives to God.
As he began to establish rapport with the other gang members, he found many serious problems among them. A gamut ranging from homosexuality and prostitution to hard core drug addiction seemed to be taking place in the midst of turf wars. He gravitated towards these issues and established a rehabilitation programme to meet the needs of the whole person.
His mission to reach out to these hardened young men with the love of God took him into the heart of Brooklyn, a notorious area marred by gang violence, drug addiction and prostitution. This call of God to the marginalised resulted in the establishment of the first Teen Challenge Centre in 1960.
From the first ministry in New York City, Teen Challenge spread throughout America and other parts of the world. It has now 1,200 programmes in 115 countries and is one of the most successful drug rehabilitation organisations in the world.
The documented story of Teen Challenge, The Cross and the Switchblade, has translated into 30 languages and has sold over 15 million copies around the world.
About Teen Challenge (Singapore)
On 17 October 1976, Rev. Naomi Dowdy pioneered Teen Challenge (Singapore) under the auspices of the Assemblies of God. Since its founding, Teen Challenge has been advocating alternative sentencing to the marginalized community by identifying and providing solutions to their pressing needs.
Teen Challenge (Singapore) is dedicated to serving individuals who have life-controlling problems with substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, street corner gangs, criminal behavior, and other related social difficulties.
Our Mission
To equip and empower all to become contributing individuals through a faith-based therapeutic framework.
Our Vison
To see recovering individuals restored to wholeness.
Our Philosophy
Our Christ-focused philosophy is that everybody needs a second chance and we as Teen Challenge is here to provide that.
Our Core SERVICES
Our Social Enterprises
After Care Services
Residential & Therapeutic Program
Prisons Outreach
Youth Outreach
Healing Communities
These two words summed up the philosophy behind what we do, to bring healing and hope to our beneficiaries. We provide inspirational and quality therapeutic programmes through the uniqueness of the human touch and the awareness of God. Our philosophies are three Folds: Redemptive Love, Relational Confrontation and Re-Learning Habit Patterns.
Redemptive Love
We believe in “agape”, the God’s kind of love that knows no boundaries and each staff member is empowered to demonstrate the redeeming love of God to every beneficiary. This motivates the beneficiary to let go of all manner of sin (hate, anger, bitterness, hurts, resentment, etc.) and help bring him into meaningful relationship to love and give love in return.
Relational Confrontation
Relational confrontation is based on the basic building block of Teen Challenge (Singapore) as a ‘family’. Each member is valued and will be confronted in love when necessary. It is not ‘fault finding’ but correcting discrepancies that individuals display while on the road to recovery.