Fact:

High risk behaviors are a precursor to addiction. 9 out of 10 adult addicts begin smoking, drinking or using drugs as a teenager.

Here in Columbus

Teen Challenge works with at-risk teenagers, helping them recover from bad decisions and self-destructive behaviors.
Since 1986, Teen Challenge has provided residential care in Columbus. In addition to housing our programs for women and adolescent girls, Columbus is also home
to our regional headquarters and global offices.

Fact:

Broken relationships, lack of employment skills, legal entanglements and debt are just a few of the issues addicts must address during the recovery process.

Across the Region

Teen Challenge helps hundreds of men, women, and teens regain their sobriety and rebuild their broken lives.
Teen Challenge Southeast Region operates 21 centers across five states and provides residential recovery for as many as 600 adults and 400 youth each month.

Fact:

Global addiction is a complex issue linked to poverty, education, crime and incarceration. For the 380 million addicts and users around the world, lasting recovery requires more than sobriety.

Around the World

Teen Challenge helps former addicts acquire the education, skills, passion and purpose they need to live productive and meaningful lives.
With 1,100 centers in 107 nations, Teen Challenge is the world's largest provider of residential addiction recovery services. In addition to caring for 28,000+ adults and youth, our network reaches an estimated 250,000 people each year through outreach, day programs, vocational training and other community services.
Hope Starts Here Columbus is a $2,000,000 campaign to provide life-transforming care to more teens, adults, and families than ever before. Below are the projects that will restore lives broken by addiction and destructive behaviors.

In Columbus

Project Budget: $1,000,000

Operating at full capacity, our center for teenage girls needs to expand.

The Columbus Girls Academy has started a three-phased campus expansion project to make room for twenty more students. Once complete, the new facilities will allow us to increase from 80 to 100 at-risk girls.

In Columbus

Across the Region

Project Budget: $500,000

With over 3.1 million people abusing drugs in our communities across the region, we need to do more.

Your gifts will provide HOPE to thousands of teens, adults and families. Through this effort, new recovery programs will be started and additional resources will be provided to the 21 centers in Georgia, Florida and across our region.

Across the Region

Around the World

Project Budget: $500,000

Bringing HOPE to 380 million addicts around the world requires an army of well trained, well equipped workers.

This campaign will provide materials and ongoing training to the 5,000+ international Teen Challenge leaders. In areas not currently served by Teen Challenge, we will establish new centers and develop new community outreach programs.

Around the World

What people are saying...

  • Jim Blanchard

    I have not seen a more effective ministry in leading hurting people to a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.

    - Retired Chairman & CEO, Synovus; Chairman, Jordan-Blanchard Capital, LLC; Chairman, Teen Challenge Southeast Region; Chairman, Global Teen Challenge Advisory Board

  • Dan Cathy

    I truly admire Teen Challenge because of its loving, life-giving ministry to individuals who are bound by drugs and other life-controlling addictions.

    - President, CEO, Chick-fil-A

  • John Maxwell

    Teen Challenge offers restoration and hope to individuals by exchanging their distorted views on life with God’s perspective.

    - Founder of EQUIP Leadership

  • Steve Butler

    Teen Challenge is a life-changing, life-saving ministry. Kent and I feel blessed to be involved with such an incredible work.

    - Chairman, W.C. Bradley Co.





Testimonies




Contact

The mission of Teen Challenge is to provide youth,
adults and families an effective Christian faith-based solution
to life-controlling problems and addictions.

Southeast Regional Headquarters
15 West 10th Street
Columbus, GA 31901
www.TeenChallenge.cc
(706) 596-8731

Global Teen Challenge
15 West 10th Street
Columbus, GA 31901
www.GlobalTC.org
(706) 576-6555

Click here to get help or to see a
list of locations in the Southeast Region

Beliefs

At Teen Challenge, we believe that God can restore any life— even lives shattered by drugs and alcohol. Our holistic approach applies biblical principles to address the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual issues linked to addiction. Our 12-month program enables students to recognize their destructive habits and heal their emotional and spiritual wounds. Graduates leave Teen Challenge ready for a new start.

Programs

Columbus, GA

Teen Challenge has two programs to serve the Columbus/Phenix City communities:

Columbus Girls Academy
A Christian boarding school for 80 troubled teen girls (age 12-17).

Columbus Women’s Home
Providing women struggling with life-controlling issues a safe place to find hope and healing.

Across the Region

Operating from our offices in Uptown Columbus, dozens of compassionate workers assists twenty-one centers located in five states. Today, the Southeast Region is the largest Teen Challenge network in the United States, providing help to as many as 1,000 adults and youth.

For the past 31 years, this region has been restoring lives in
dozens of cities, providing services such as:

Addiction, Prevention & Outreach
  • Residential recovery programs for adults
  • Christian boarding schools for out-of-control teens
  • Non-residential addiction support groups
  • Drug prevention programs
  • Education and job skill training
  • Family reconciliation
  • Leadership training
  • Community outreach

Other Services
  • Guest speakers and student choirs
  • Teen Challenge Super Thrift stores
  • Student work service

Around the World

Today, Teen Challenge helps adults and youth all around the world. With over 1,100 programs in 107 nations, Teen Challenge provides residential care for 28,000, and reaches over 250,000 through community outreaches, day programs, vocational training and other vital services.

In addition to housing our regional headquarters,
Columbus, Georgia is also home to Global Teen Challenge (GTC).
From this location, our team provides assistance to thousands of
international leaders, with support in areas such as:

Program Expansion & Development
  • Establishing and developing new centers
  • Staff and leadership training
  • Developing sustainable funding strategies
  • Curriculum development and translation

Leadership

Dr. Jerry Nance
President & CEO Teen Challenge Southeast Region
and Global Teen Challenge

Dr. Jerry Nance has a rich history with Teen Challenge. In 1991, he was hired as President and CEO of Teen Challenge of Florida (now Teen Challenge Southeast Region). Under his management, the organization grew from one rented facility, becoming the largest Teen Challenge affiliate in the United States.

In addition to building the ministry in the Southeast region, Jerry has guided and inspired other Teen Challenge executives for more than 20 years. Jerry currently serves on the board of Teen Challenge USA, and in 2007 he was elected President and CEO of Global Teen Challenge (GTC). In his role with GTC, Jerry now provides leadership to over 1,100 Teen Challenge centers around the world.

Hope Starts Here Columbus Campaign Leadership Committee

James H. Blanchard
Retired Chairman and CEO, Synovus
Chairman, Jordan-Blanchard Capital, LLC
Chairman, Teen Challenge Southeast Region Board
Chairman, Global Teen Challenge Advisory Board

Stephen T. Butler
Chairman & CEO, W.C. Bradley Co.
Teen Challenge Southeast Region Board
Global Teen Challenge Advisory Board

Lee Lee James
Former Vice President & Chief People Officer, Synovus
Teen Challenge Southeast Region Board

Global Advisory Board

Jerry Anderson
Founder/ Principal, Safe7, LLC

James E. Butler
Attorney at Law, Butler, Wooten, Cheeley & Peak, LLP

Ken Blanchard
Chief Spiritual Officer, The Ken Blanchard Companies

Dan Cathy
Chairman, President & CEO, Chick-fil-A

Cecil M. Cheves
Chairman, Lockwood Partners, LLC

James L. Davis
President, World Leaders Group

Robert DiCristina
Managing Partner, The Upside Group

James J. Dunne, III
Senior Managing Principal, Sandler O’Neil & Partners

Mark A. Floyd
Chairman and CEO, Cyan, Inc.

Phyllis H. Hendry
President & CEO, Lead Like Jesus

Alfred W. Jones III
Chairman & CEO, Sea Island Company

Bob Manderscheid
Developer (Retired)

John C. Maxwell
Author, Speaker, Founder of Equip International, Inc.

Barry Meguiar
President & CEO, Meguiars, Inc.

The Honorable Sam Nunn
Former US Senator
Co-Chairman & CEO, Nuclear Threat Initiative
Distinguished Professor,
Sam Nunn School of International Affairs,
Georgia Tech

Joseph T. Spence, Jr.
Managing Director (Retired), Russell Reynolds Associates

Mark Rutland
Founder and Director, The National Institute of Christian Leadership
Founder and Director, Global Servants

Kessel Stelling
Chairman & CEO, Synovus Bank

Randy Valimont
Pastor, First Assembly of God, Griffin, Georgia

Local Advisory Board

Sis Blanchard

Kelly Cargill

Val Gordy

Holle Kennerly

The Honorable Warner Kennon

Charleton Kennon

Debbie Little

Lee Sessions

Nancy Sheek