“I Was Set Free Right Away. I Didn’t Look Back.”

My Name is Darrow Alexander and I'm from Chicago

, I'm a twelve month student at Lansing Teen Challenge.

My life was pretty good growing up until I tried fitting into a life of drugs and gang activity. As a result of that lifestyle, I lost everything, I became very angry and bitter, I didn't love myself or no one else. My family was afraid of me, I stole from people, I robbed, burglarized, conned my way through life. This went on for about twenty years, I had lost all hope, I even got kicked out of a police station!!!!!!! Now when you get kicked out of a police station, you know you need help.

So one day I decided that enough was enough, so I looked for a way out, and I went to a shelter in Chicago that I had been thrown out of for snoring (yeah!). And there was this Pastor who would feed people and give them clothes, so I went with him and I saw a guy that I knew, that was just as messed up as I was, and he looked totally different. He had a glow about him. I asked him where he had been and he said he went to Lansing Teen Challenge. Well right then and there I knew I wanted to get what he had. So we talked to the Pastor and he paid my way to Lansing Teen Challenge. Well, the minute I arrived my life had changed. I was set free right away, I didn't look back and God started to work in my life. I learned so much here, and I’m still learning. Everything I lost God is restoring, my family, new friends and I even got adopted!!!!!!!! Wow, I thank God for Lansing Teen Challenge. I have so many doors opening up for me. I'm free from that life and now I get to help others as well.