Can God cure drug addiction? A look at Teen Challenge, the group with eyes on St. John's
Kenny Sharpe | CBC News | Posted: January 30, 2016 7:31 PM | Last Updated: January 30, 2016
Teen Challenge Canada, the group that wants to renovate the Circle Square Ranch property on the outskirts of St. John's into what it calls a rehab and addictions center, believes that faith in God is key to keeping alcoholics sober, as well as the bump that drug addicts need to stay clean.
I had made peace with the fact that I was going to end my life. I had decided to end my life. - Tracey Whalen
"We are Christ-centred, so we believe that it's biblical truth and a personal relationship with Jesus that sets a person free," said Tracey Whalen, a former Kilbride resident who credits the organization with saving her life.
Whalen, who spoke to CBC by phone from Teen Challenge's women-only centre in Aurora, Ont., says she is a recovering drug addict herself.
Links recovery with God
"I credit my recovery to a relationship with God," she said.
Whalen says she has been clean and sober since checking herself into Teen Challenge's women-only centre in Ontario in 2010.
"I had been using substances for 26 years," she said, adding her usage "went back and forth between Dilaudid and oxys and [I] kind of just ended up [injecting] whatever was soluble."
Whalen now works for Teen Challenge as a coordinator, an opportunity she say she was given for completing the program.
Teen Challenge work around the world
The group does not only operate in Canada. Teen Challenge says it has 1,000 locations in 81 other countries around the world.
If approved fully, its St. John's location would be named the Atlantic Hope Women's Centre, and according to a city council planning report, would become "a group home for residential addictions rehabilitation and treatment for up to 25 women and eight residential care staff."
Whalen, who refers to Teen Challenge as the "ministry," said she was first introduced to the group during a church service at Elim Pentecostal Church on Kenmount Road in St. John's.
"I think it is the sense of belonging and having the ability now to give back to [Teen Challenge] that not only saved my life, but that I see influencing the lives of so many," she said, adding that she still struggles daily with the thought of relapsing.
"I have a daily choice to make. I know now that I have a choice and I cannot be forced," Whalen said.
12 months for God to keep you sober
The program she enrolled in back in 2010 in Aurora, Ont., took 12 months to complete, comparable to the program the group wants to create in St. John's.
Whalen said those who enrol in Teen Challenge's year-long rehab system are free to come and go as they please — although permission to leave the camp is really only given once "students" reach the four-month mark.
This is not a religious facility. It is run by faith-based people with faith-based values, but faith is not imposed on people. - Glenn Barnes
"At five months you get a six-hour pass, at seven months you get a 12-hour pass, at nine months you get a 33-[hour pass], and then you get weekend passes, so it is an opportunity to re-enter society," she said.
The Teen Challenge program consists of everything from learning resumé writing skills to claiming to be able to help restore one's physical body, mind and soul.
Whalen said there is a large classroom component to the program, where students can find themselves for up to four hours daily.
"That is where you get involved with the biblical truth, you are presented with what the Bible says is truth, and what you do with that is your own prerogative," Whalen said.
Teen Challenge offers teachings in what it calls "Group Studies for New Christians," and a "Personal Accelerated Christian Education."
Rehab not medically based
According to St,. John's Teen Challenge representative Glenn Barnes, the program offered by Teen Challenge is not medically based, and is instead rooted in "vocational training."
"This is not a medical facility — this will be vocational training, life skills training, coaching and psychological support," said Barnes, an architect who will work to renovate the Circle Square Ranch property if it receives final approval by council.
Barnes, who describes himself as "a man of faith," said he believes in the faith-based programing that Teen Challenge offers.
"This is not a religious facility. It is run by faith-based people with faith-based values, but faith is not imposed on people. Faith is encouraged, not imposed," he said.
Now that St John's city council is recommending to allow the centre, Barnes said the next step would involve public consultation.
Teen Challenge has been trying to expand its presence in Newfoundland and Labrador for more than 10 years.
Earlier this week, St. John's city council recommended rezoning the land that Circle Square Ranch sits on so that Teen Challenge can create a group home there.
Part of the agreement was that Teen Challenge pay the cost of maintaining the long dirt road that leads to the property.
"We have [estimated] the road upgrading to be $1.4-million itself, and then upgrading of the site and buildings will be that again," Barnes said.
Meanwhile, Tracey Whalen said there is no question that Teen Challenge helped her grow her faith in God, which she said has been key to overcoming her addiction.
"I believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life," she said.