Teen Challenge began in 1958 as a ministry to teenage gangs and was started by David Wilkerson in New York City. Since that time it has spread all over the world.

 

Teen Challenge Adult Centers of Texas Inc. began in 1971 when the film, The Cross and the Switchblade, came to Odessa. Christian men who had a desire to reach people moved a trailer to the back of the theater. After each showing, there was an invitation given which resulted in men and boys coming to the trailer for salvation and prayer. As more and more people came to the trailer, there was a realization of a need that had to be fulfilled. This became the embryonic stage of the ministry of Teen Challenge of West Texas. as a result of this outreach, there was a desire to minister to those with life controlling problems and disciple them. The Cowden Foundation furnished a house at 201 N. "C" Street in Midland in order to accomplish this purpose. This house became the intervention phase and held 12 students. Since that time, in 1984, an outreach was started by the same group of men in El Paso which has since become known as El Paso Teen Challenge. Also, in 1984, another man was touched by the program and donated 70 acres for a campus 5 miles south of Midland. In 1986, there was another couple who felt impressed to furnish a facility in order to house, feed, and educate the students. With a new home out of the city, the house on "C" Street became the Women's Center. Our main campus was expanded to include a dormitory and cafeteria, Wood Shop, Auto Shop, Welding Shop, Chapel, Education and Administration offices and classrooms. There are also 12 staff houses, 3 graduate houseS, women's re-entry house and a Women's Center that houses up to 26 women in addition to our "C" Street Center, which is now our men's re-entry. Our ministry is rapidly expanding to meet the need of our lost and dying world.