I spent one year and five days as a student at Teen Challenge Orlando. Early on, a woman at a car wash offered encouragement by saying, “Remember, there’s no perfect program”—and she was right. Every program, like every season of life, has its pros and cons.

This review isn’t about what I liked or didn’t like. Instead, I want to help others enter the program with realistic expectations—ready to meet God, graduate, and walk in long-term sobriety. Many concerns in past reviews have since been addressed and are no longer relevant.

Here’s what Teen Challenge Orlando offers:

Professional Support

• Students have access to medical and dental appointments, with transportation provided.
• Mentors are available to talk through personal struggles on a regular basis.

Living Amenities

• Kitchen & Cafeteria: Meals are nutritious, protein-rich, and include a variety of vegetables. Coffee is available at breakfast—but moderation is key.
• Dorms: Rooms are kept cool and clean. Students get half a closet, shelving, and access to an outdoor shoe shed to keep rooms odor-free.
• Mattresses: Functional—bring a $10 foam topper for added comfort.
• Bathrooms: Clean, with plenty of hot water, sinks, and showers. Rarely a wait, even during morning routines.
• Laundry: Handled weekly by assigned students; your clothes are washed and folded.

Fitness and Recreation

• Outdoor gym with weights, elliptical, stretching mats, and a multi-use machine.
• A massive tire used for competitions across campus.
• Half-court basketball and sand volleyball area.
• No pool—this is rehab, not a resort.

Clothing & Supplies

Teen Challenge Orlando has a large thrift store. Request slips for clothes or essentials are typically filled within a day.

Library

Hundreds of books on recovery, the Bible, and personal growth. I read over 60 during my time. One standout was a biography series on heroes of the Christian faith. A key takeaway: once these individuals fully surrendered to God, their lives were never boring or unfulfilled. The same is possible for anyone willing to do the same.

Work Training

Weekly schedule:

• Mon: 12–5 PM
• Tue, Thu, Fri: 9–5 PM
• Wed: 9–4:30 PM
• Sat: 8–5 PM

This may sound intense, but it builds real-world habits. It’s a year of retraining—working full time without the distractions of old habits. Plus, your efforts help support a global network of Teen Challenge centers in over 125 countries.

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Teen Challenge Orlando is not perfect—but it offers a powerful opportunity for change. Enter the program with your eyes open, your heart willing, and a desire to grow. If you stick with it, you’ll come out stronger in every way that counts.

— Braxton
 

“Today makes 20 years since I graduated from this program it changed my life I am truly blessed to be here.”

— Gary

“I was a student there. Jesus met me where I was at turn my life around.”

— David

“Jesus used Teen Challenge Orlando to deliver me from a decade long nightmare of drug addiction, severe mental health disorders, and a crisis of identity… [truncated for space]”

— Noal

“After 25 years of gambling and drug addiction… I’m forever thankful for Orlando Teen Challenge where the process for a new life began for me!!!”

— Todd

“Teen Challenge is an amazing program!… They have a very good track record when it comes to rehabilitation from life controlling substances and addictions.”

— Michael

“I had the opportunity to spend a year in this program while in the midst of a crippling addiction to amphetamines… I am grateful for the men who serve the Lord there.”

— Matthew

“First, I must state that Teen Challenge is a FIVE STAR organization! The current Executive Director, Jeremy, is excellently engaging the community…”

— Nic

“I graduated teen challenge Orlando August of 2021… I would not have been able to have the encounter that I have had with God.”

— Jesse

“This is the place where I came when lost inside… Stay grounded. Stay connected. Stay in the light!”

— Dave

“Years ago, my cousin went to this ministry at the lowest point in his life… It’s been absolutely amazing and inspiring!”

— Henry

“Sanford Teen Challenge has been a huge blessing in our community… Highly recommend!”

— Margaret

“Teen challenge represent a symbol of God’s true love… to the brokenhearted and the lost.”

— Wade

“Teen Challenge was the vessel that saved my life! I don’t know where I would’ve been without the help of this safe haven.”

— Paul

“I can’t say enough about this center… Everyone that works at the center is super friendly and helpful!”

— Kelsey

“Orlando Teen Challenge played a big part in personally helping me get my life back on track… Myself and my family are forever grateful!”

— Scott

“Teen challenge saved my son’s life… Please if you can do anything to help them you will be helping to save other lives.”

— Paul

“I am very impressed with the vision, mission and leadership at Teen Challenge… They serve families and communities in a positive manner.”

— Tina

“Wonderful program with excellent leaders! I personally know the directors and several staff members… Lives are transformed and changed at this place!”

— John

“Teen Challenge Orlando is one of the best places for men desiring to find freedom from addiction… Hope is found here; freedom lives here.”

— Sterling

“If you are looking to be free from addiction, this is the place… I have my life back and my family.”

— Andrew

“I started using drugs when I was 15 yrs old. It progressed all through high school into my freshman year in college. I had good intentions to stay clean, but wrong choices always led me back to my old ways. I was running from myself. Every attempt ended the same—jail or rehab. It became a vicious circle and I lost my family and everything in the process. I thought I would never get clean. I hated myself and thought I was better off dead. One day, when the pain was too great for me to bear, I cried out to God and He led me to Teen Challenge. After entering the program, I felt the Lord’s presence and a strong sense of brotherhood. I started to learn what it meant to live a Christ-centered life. The relationship with my family is now restored beyond what I thought was possible. I now have a purpose and identity. Thank God for this program!”

— John

“Doing drugs and drinking alcohol was the relief to my pain of the loss of my father at twelve. He committed suicide, leaving me, my brother, my sister, and mom. Losing him brought anger into my life. I didn’t know how to control the anger; therefore, I began to use drugs to ease the pain. Eventually, I began stealing in order to support my addiction. I was on a path of destruction. I put my family through a lot of hurt and pain. I came into Teen Challenge in Orlando lost, broken, and ready to change. Since then, God has renewed my mind and my family relationships are healing. God gave me a second chance here. I give all honor and glory to God for what He’s done in my heart.”

— Michael

“I was dropped off at Teen Challenge in Orlando by my oldest brother, who told me, ‘Twenty-five other drug programs wouldn’t take you in because of your criminal record. Don’t mess up this chance. If you quit or run, you’ll be dead.’ The first few days of detox and entering Teen Challenge were brutal beyond description. I was so depressed from being homeless, friendless, and with no options except rehab. Today, I am whole again and can only say a special thank you and prayer for the director who said ‘Yes’ while twenty-five other rehabs said ‘No.’”

— Rodney

“I went through a divorce and turned to drinking. Before I knew it, I was smoking pot and crack cocaine. This only led me to a lonely dead-end road. I was gone two or three days at a time with no one knowing if I was dead or alive. I finally got to the point of stealing, lying, pawning things, and could not hold a job. I was having very suicidal thoughts. Since coming to Teen Challenge, God has restored to me a sound mind. I am looking forward now instead of seeing all my past failure. It has taken some time, but Teen Challenge Orlando has helped me with some of the areas of my life where I needed help… it made me strong where I was weak, given me life where I was dead, and health where I was sick.”

— Mike

“I was addicted to pain pills and alcohol. My life was going nowhere fast, landing me in jail and rehabs. I came to Teen Challenge and it opened my eyes and my heart up to Jesus Christ. Now I have a new outlook on life and living. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. My future is looking bright and I’m happy to say, I am redeemed!”

— Daniel

“I had a good childhood when I was growing up. Unfortunately, I was an angry child and didn’t really follow the rules. I was in trouble a lot at school and had a hard time keeping friends. I started taking my mom’s psychiatric medication and it just went absolutely nuts from there. Life became a blur of parties, drinking, and drugs.

In college, I continued to drink and take drugs and was never able to settle down enough to focus on school. It was difficult to balance a job, school, and drugs all at once. I quit school and continued to work and do drugs. This went on all the way up until I got arrested for a DWI. While on probation, I continued to use drugs and eventually I got caught. After getting out of jail, I went into a rehab, and then found myself right back where I started. This time, my life felt like it was at rock bottom. I found out about Teen Challenge and knew I had to go. Teen Challenge Orlando Men’s Rehab introduced me to Christ and my life is now changed, when nothing else was able to do that.”

— James

“When I turned 18, I learned that I was the product of my mother being raped when she was 15 years old. My world fell apart. I started using drugs from marijuana to cocaine. I lost everything and got arrested twice in one year for theft. My parents kicked me out and I was living on my own. I heard about Teen Challenge in Orlando and at first, I was reluctant to come, but I had no choice. My first day here I broke down and got on my knees and asked God to save me from this pain. I have never been as joyful as I am today. It is by the grace of God that I know I have a future and I finally have my loving family back, too.”

— Christopher

“My childhood was filled with sports, almost every sport that was offered. As a young boy, I attended church regularly. I took my first drink when I was 15 and cocaine when I was 17. Methamphetamines were also a part of my appetite. All of my fun became congruent with my drug habits. Then instead of drowning my sorrow, my drug habit began to drown my happiness. Before I knew it, I was a complete mess—spiritually, mentally, and even physically. I had somehow skipped becoming a man. It was time to change.

My Aunt and Uncle knew that I wanted help. They referred me to Teen Challenge in Orlando. It was there that God restored me so completely that I feel better than ever. I have several job opportunities waiting for me. I consult with God about every problem I have. He is my hero. He has taken my mess and turned it into a message for others who have lost their way.”

— Jason

“When I was 13 years old, I woke up one morning and my mom had passed away from an aneurysm. That was the day my world fell apart. My mom was my best friend, and now she was gone. That day I gave up on life and on myself. After my mom passed away, I moved in with my dad, which meant I had to move to another town. By the age of 16, I was a full-blown alcoholic and addict and was in and out of jail. I was hurting! I couldn’t understand why I had to lose my mom. When I was 20 years old, I got into more legal trouble and was forced to come to Teen Challenge in Orlando. God has done amazing things in my life since then. He has completely restored the trust and love back in my family and turned my world upside down. I actually like who I am becoming now. God has also put a desire in me to become a youth pastor and that is something I intend to pursue. God is and has done amazing things in my life and I can’t wait to see what else He is going to do.”

— Matt

“I remember one day when I woke up in a crack house with the electricity turned off and people crashed out everywhere and wondered how I got there. How in my journey through life, with all the talents I had, with all of the community support and all of the family love I had, how I could be at this place and think that it was normal?

Looking back, in college I went wild. I met a beautiful co-ed. We drank, we got into drugs, we dropped out of college together and we had an abortion together. When that relationship ended, I met a lovely lady and we drank and did drugs, but this lady decided to keep the resulting baby. I spent the next nine years drinking and drugging myself, moving from job to job and woman to woman. I went to a secular rehab and later moved into a transition home. My roommate was a close friend from rehab. He was a smart, sharp-looking 21-year-old kid who had gotten strung out on crack. Then one day I found him hanging from an exposed pipe by his twisted bed sheets. His suicide note told of his dark journey back into addiction and said that he was handling it the only way he knew how. That experience shocked me out of my temporary sobriety. I didn’t see any more hope, so I went back to drugs.

It took me another ten years to hit bottom, where I finally looked up to God. My mother encouraged me to enter Teen Challenge in Orlando. I did and soon accepted Christ’s forgiveness. Finally, I had spiritual and physical restoration. I know that I’ve been forgiven, and now God is using me to help give back to others what He has given back to me.”

— Brian