Our
History
Below is a brief look at how Teen Challenge began and how Teen Challenge NorWestCal Nevada continues that mission today.
For more than six decades, Teen Challenge has helped transform individuals, families, and entire legacies by addressing life‑controlling issues.
64 years ago…
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a 26-year-old Pentecostal preacher from rural Pennsylvania disrupted a murder trial in New York City by rushing to the front of the courtroom. David Wilkerson had driven eight hours to speak to seven accused gang members about their salvation. In a grave attempt to share God’s love, he rushed to the judge at the close of trial proceedings. There, he pleaded with the judge for permission to meet the teenage defendants. News media were everywhere, and Wilkerson was front-page news throughout the city. The trial’s judge had been receiving death threats and almost had Wilkerson arrested as a presumed assailant. The judge refused Wilkerson’s request to see the boys and ordered Wilkerson to never return to his courtroom.
Five months later, Wilkerson’s compassion for teenage gang members and drug addicts began to make history. The judge’s refusal inspired Wilkerson to begin a street ministry to addicts and gang members that grew to become Teen Challenge. After Wilkerson opened the first center, people with trauma, drug addiction, and substance abuse flocked to the center. Many of them were rescued from their addictions and recovered from their life-controlling problems.
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The first Teen Challenge center opened in New York, Since then, the program has grown to over 195 centers across the nation. There are also 550 centers worldwide. In 1971, Wilkerson founded a global evangelic ministry, World Challenge.
Teen Challenge went west to San Francisco in 1961 and was legally incorporated into Northern California in 1964. In the early years, street rallies and evangelism happened regularly in San Francisco. Teen Challenge spread throughout Northern California in the following years. Sacramento’s center opened in 1965, followed by Oakland in 1967, and San Jose in 1971.
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The Teen Challenge Center in Nevada was established. Four years later, the Las Vegas program came to life.
Although David Wilkerson died in 2011 at the age of 79, his legacy lives on through Teen Challenge. The program continues to help the hurting by bringing recovery to those with life-controlling problems. The Teen Challenge residential program is still one of the most effective recovery and prevention programs of its kind.
Today…
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Teen Challenge NorWestCal Nevada welcomes those of all ages. Ten centers are located in California and Nevada facilitating hope, freedom, and successful recovery from destructive, abusive, and addictive lifestyles through mentoring, education, training, and spiritual direction. There are centers for women, women & children, men, families, and teens. Re-entry centers are also an option to better prepare for transitioning into day-to-day life.
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The Twin Rivers Women’s Center puts hope within reach for women who are 18 years old and older.
Our desire at the Twin Rivers Women’s Center is to help facilitate recovery, transformation, and growth. This center offers a faith-based curriculum coupled with life-applicable lessons, mentoring, and skills such as coping skills, jobs skills, and character building courses. This all happens in a safe, warm environment. In a secure place, change can occur.
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Two centers offer help for women and their children: Alum Rock Women and Children’s Center and Happy Valley Women and Children’s Center.
The Alum Rock Center assists single women, pregnant women, and women with children. Women and children at this center are offered support, protection, and encouragement. In a safe, stable environment, students learn biblical principles, which lead to spiritual, emotional, mental, social, and economic wholeness.
The Happy Valley Center is designed to help single women and mothers who are 18 years of age or older who have life-controlling problems. This recovery center houses twenty-six women and sixteen children on 25 beautiful acres of countryside property. Transformation takes place here as women work through the pain of the past and learn how to build a successful, drug-free life. The program is 12-18 months, allowing the time needed to heal and recover.
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Men’s Centers Program
Our four Men’s Centers provide a structured, faith-based environment where men learn to live free from drugs, alcohol, and other life-controlling issues. Through life-applicable lessons, vocational training, mentoring, and practical skills, participants gain the tools needed to build a stable, healthy future. Men ages 18 and older are welcome.
Oakland Men’s Center – Offers a supportive community and structured program.
Bradford House – A short-term program and provides a bridge to one of our other centers, helping men take the next steps toward lasting freedom.
Alpha Henson Men’s Center – Set on 20 acres of peaceful property, this center provides a quiet, restorative environment for recovery.
Southern Nevada Men’s Center – A multifaceted program combining recovery and re-entry support. The re-entry track helps men secure employment while benefiting from the stability of a structured program.
Re-Entry Centers
Our three re-entry centers—Sacramento, Franklin House (part of the Southern Nevada Men’s Center), and Riverside—equip men to transition successfully back into everyday life. Together with their mentors, participants develop exit strategies that address employment, financial guidance, communication, transportation, church involvement, and recovery maintenance.
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The Asbury Family Center is one of the only Teen Challenge centers in the United States allowing both husbands and wives to enter recovery together with their children. There are 13 apartments in the complex, which provide an atmosphere of protection, encouragement, support, and guidance. Within this safe place, healing and growth happen. Families and legacies are changed.
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The Eagle Springs Teen Boy’s Center serves boys, ages 12-17, with addiction and other life-controlling issues, anger, and behavioral problems. This program offers space for teen boys to learn how to live well and free of the controlling issues without the negative stressors which may have triggered the problems. The program offers a well-rounded approach which includes residential care, mentoring, recreation, community outreach, church services, and general academics toward earning a high school diploma. Teen boys are given a second chance and meaningful answers to problems, habits, and conflicts that control them.
The Ruth’s Haven Teen Girl’s Center helps girls between the ages of 12-17 who have been trafficked, abused, neglected, and struggle with addiction. Youth who have been sexually abused are more likely than other teens to end up homeless and living on the streets. This reality makes them even more vulnerable to sexual abuse and violence. Our vision is to help facilitate healing and restoration so the girls live free and fulfill their God-given purpose in life.