03/28/2024
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By Erin Smith

Bladen County will soon have a Teen Challenge program for women. The group will officially close on the property this week and an Open House is planned for Saturday, June 23rd, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The house is located on Lula Long Road in the Ammon community.

Pastor Holly Loyer said, “Teen Challenge is a Christ-centered 12 to 16 month program for women with life issues.”

The proposal for Teen Challenge in Bladen County is to house 12 women between the ages of 18 and 40 and there will be a staff member on the premises at all times.

Members of the community can sponsor a student during her stay with Teen Challenge. If you would like to sponsor a student or become a Tree of Life member (monthly donor), contact Albemarle Teen Challenge for more information

Pastor Loyer said Teen Challenge offers women a place where they come and discover what drives them to do the things they are doing to themselves. For example, some women suffered physical abuse, mental abuse and some have been victims of sex trafficking and human trafficking, according to Pastor Loyer.

The curriculum utilized for Teen Challenge includes personal studies which encourage the women to study areas in their lives where they have issues such as family issues, personal issues, and  legal issues. They also study character qualities. They will also study things pertaining to life skills.

Pastor Loyer said they also focus on re-entry and preparing the women to transition out into the world. They will look at issues such as employment, where the women plan to live once they leave, and review their support network they will have in place when they leave.

Teen Challenge will begin to accept applications for the Bladen County location on June 25th. However, if you need treatment, you can call Albemarle Teen Challenge at 252-338-8263 and Teen Challenge will work with you to get you the help you need.

Pastor Loyer said some of the needs Teen Challenge will have will include items such as a round dining table with chairs, dressers, night stands, lamps, desks, toiletries, food, cleaning supplies, feminine products, kitchen supplies such as utensils. If you have supplies you would like to donate, you can contact Amy Munn at 910-990-7661.

Munn, who works with Celebrate Recovery at Windsor United Methodist Church, is a graduate of Albemarle Teen Challenge. She attended Albemarle Teen Challenge for one year and said it has made a huge difference. Munn said she completed Teen Challenge on July 16, 2016.

Munn said her addiction began as a way to relax. She said she would use her husband’s prescription pain medication to help her relax and sleep and soon it spiraled out of control. Munn said she and her husband abused drugs together and eventually ended up in jail. That was the point she said she realized she needed help. Her mother located Albemarle Teen Challenge and Munn said once there, she began to work on the issues that led her to a life of addiction.

Munn said Albemarle Teen Challenge has changed her outlook and the lessons learned there have helped her to lead a healthier, Christ-centered lifestyle.

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