On January 18, the Chapel service was led by a faith-based addiction recovery and rehabilitation organization named Adult and Teen Challenge. S.P.A.R.K Project Group Leader Maggie Halvorsen ‘23 connected BTA to the organization. S.P.A.R.K., which stands for Substance Prevention, Awareness, Reconciliation, and Knowledge, is one of the student-led project groups of the Trinity Institute for Leadership and Social Justice. They believe that "As a group, we desire to not only identify specific substances, mainly drugs and alcohol, that cause both mental and physical damage but to also pursue the 'why?' and to seek growth, healing, and understanding despite the destructive nature of these substances." Other Project Group Leaders include Levi Corcoran ‘23 and Gaelyn Grant ‘23.
The Chapel itself featured both singing and worship from men that had gone through the Adult and Teen Challenge program. It also included powerful testimonies from men that recounted their experiences and how God touched them at their lowest, picked them up, and restored them. The testimonies were poignant and struck a chord with the students, as each testimony was felt with applause. We are thankful for the Adult and Teen Challenge and all they are doing to help men struggling with Addiction and Substance Abuse. Program and Church Services Coordinator, Tony Carew finished the chapel by thanking the school for letting them come out and sharing more about the organization.
Adult & Teen Challenge works on a Christ-centered model of drug and alcohol recovery. This means that they are concerned with the body, mind, and spirit of those who come to their addiction recovery centers. They endeavor to help people become mentally sound, emotionally balanced, socially adjusted, physically well, and spiritually alive.
They base the curriculum and community of their addiction recovery center on God’s Word—the Bible. Addiction recovery centers that offer practical, appropriate, and accessible Bible-based courses facilitate the transition from alcoholism and substance abuse to a life of freedom in Christ.
Addiction destroys more than just the body, so it should be no surprise that Adult & Teen Challenge addiction recovery centers consider all aspects of their student’s lives. Because addiction starts as a way to fulfill a void that only God can fill, a strong relationship with the Lord is foundational to the program. They construct this foundation in their students by teaching them the Word of God and by placing them in an environment where they can bond with other growing disciples. They do this through classes, individual study, personal mentoring, work ethics training, and involvement in the Christian community.
For the Brockton, MA, location in particular, men have the option to do a multitude of extracurricular activities, one of which is woodworking! The organization displayed some of their cutting boards and charcuterie boards that they make at the center out in the hallway for the school to see. We want to thank Adult and Teen Challenge again for visiting and sharing their stories of God’s grace and love with our school.