In addition to a wonderful family and church life, my husband and I maintained our professional lives. I was working in real estate management and my husband in corporate sales when God directed us to minister specifically to hurting teenage girls in the context of a group residential home. The Lord opened the door for us to begin the work at Main Place Youth, in Kingman, Kansas.

We have been at Main Place Youth for 15 years. We spent the first 10 years operating the home as a state facility. The Lord blessed us in allowing us to lead 90% of the girls in residence to the Lord. In 1996, after much prayer, Main Place Youth, Inc became a Teen Challenge Center - with facilities to admit 15 girls to our residential program.

Ministry to Adolescent Teenage Girls in Residence at Main Place Youth

Over the past 15 years, we've been blessed to minister to over 175 girls and still have contact with many of the Main Place Youth alumni.

We minister to adolescent teenage girls from the ages of 12-18 years of age, from all walks of life. Typically, we minister to girls who have left home, those involved in abuse of illegal drugs, those involved in sexual promiscuity, alcohol addiction, and girls who have suffered from sexual and physical abuse. Many of our girls come from good Christian homes, but are girls who have rebelled against all authority.

Program and Professional Training

My training is concentrated in behavioral modification. At Main Place Youth, we use the Family Model Teaching Program. In addition to implementing this program at Main Place, I taught this program at other adolescent residential homes as well. The Lord has given me a special anointing to reach out to young teenage girls who are victims of sexual abuse. In the past two years, I have been blessed to participate in three-day seminars with Dr. Pat Robertson, President of CBN and Dr. Mark Chironna, with House of Hope in Orlando, Florida, on ministry to hurting teens. I have also completed other special training with House of Hope in Orlando.

Conclusion

As a result of the influence of illegal drugs, increased sexual promiscuity, fragmented homes and families, alarming rates of sexual and physical abuse and mental and emotional problems on every hand - many parents in today's culture, are finding their teenage girls in trouble. Many times these girls are in life-threatening situations at home or in school. These serious problems can manifest themselves very quickly.

As a result, residential homes for adolescent teens are flooded with calls each week. A majority of inquiring parents will unfortunately be turned away - sometimes because of lack of funds or lack of room in residential facilities. Main Place Youth receives approximately 50 calls a month for placement. We have to turn down an average of 85% due to lack of funding.

Problems that can be best solved through the Ministry of Main Place Youth and Teen Challenge USA can strike any ordinary family in America today. Please pray for Main Place Youth and for Teen Challenge - that God would continue to be pleased to use us for His glory in delivering young girls from these very serious problems to salvation and a new life in Christ.

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