Father's Day 2024

Follow Along with the Message

Adult and Teen Challenge History

• ATC began in 1958 CROSS & THE SWITCHBLADE
• Nationwide / Global
• PNW -- PacWest – 18 Campuses
• 11 men, 6 women, 1 adolescent girls
• 6 States

What is Adult & Teen Challenge?

• We are a mission of the Church, and our mission field is the battlefield of substance abuse and addiction.
• Our vision is to put hope within reach until all live free.
• We offer life-transformation through a Christ-Centered Comprehensive approach.

John 10:10- The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy… But I have come that you may have life and life abundantly.

The Scope of the Problem:

• Fentanyl overdose is the #1 killer of adults 18-45
• 112,000 Overdose deaths Nationwide in 2023
• 165% (5 year) increase in overdose deaths in the State of Washington (3,130 -- 2023)
• Spokane has an average of 6.5 overdose calls per day, which is a 30% increase over last year, and almost double the rate of 2022
• Meth, Alcohol is the 3rd leading cause of preventable death in the US.

It's an epidemic -- And it affects everybody. Substance abuse and addiction have SIN'S fingerprints all over them.

John 10:10- The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Jesus came for sin, and to set us free from the dominion and consequences of sin.

• Those who the Son sets free are free indeed! (John 8:36)
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 -- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
• His life becomes our life (Galatians 2:20).
• His mission becomes our mission. (Matthew 28:18-20)

HOW we do it through a COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH model:

• Residential Recovery (12 month)
• Behavioral Health Services where we offer a Christ-Centered, evidence-based Substance abuse Treatment Program
• Vocational Training
• Outreach

Luke 10:25-37- On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road (yes, thank God someone is coming to help me), and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, had compassion for him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own beast, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Loving our neighbor means having mercy on those hurting and needy, be interruptible, show generosity, and sacrifice of our time, resources and life.

Who is your neighbor?

The enormity of the substance abuse epidemic has been exponentially raging out of control and is destroying lives and families and communities. Why are people using? Counterfeit. People need the real thing and that’s only found in Christ.