My name is Amy and I was raised in a loving home in central Wisconsin. I had a semi-religious upbringing, but by the time I was about 10 yrs. old, we had stopped going to church. 

For as long as I can remember, I was very rebellious and despite my parents’ attempts to discipline me. In time, my parents became consumed with the business of life and earning a living to support our family. In time our family began to deteriorate.

At the age of fifteen my parents divorced and this was really traumatic for me. I began to skip school and drink heavily. As my addictions progressed, I began to search for help in psychotherapy, self-help books, medications, and AODA treatment programs.  I spent the majority of my adult life in and out of hospitals and institutions that became like band aids to a wound so desperately deep that no human power could heal.

When I had finally come to the end of myself with no place to turn for help, in the depths of my sinfulness and misery I cried out to the Lord and He had mercy upon me. He delivered me from the power that addiction had over me and I then began to seek Him with all my heart.

He put various Christians in my life to help me learn. I fell in love His Word and the Holy Spirit used it to illuminate my mind and help me. I had heard about Teen Challenge over the years and was finally to a point of further surrendering my life to His purpose. I believed that He would be faithful to His word and His promise of Philippians 1:6 that “He who began a good work in me would carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”.

And indeed He has not only been ever faithful but continues to shower me with His love, abundant mercy, and the peace that surpasses all understanding. Upon graduating Teen Challenge in August 2017, I immediately enrolled in the District School of Ministry to help me draw closer to Him and continue my endless search for understanding and knowing Him. I have also been serving as a Program Intern at the Teen Challenge Robby Dawson Women’s Center. Thanks for helping people like myself.