Hi. My name is Lauren. I am 23 years old. I always believed in God but I never had a personal relationship. Ever since I could remember I was always chronically depressed. I hated myself and everything that I knew myself to be, so at the age of thirteen I started smoking cigarettes and taking pills. My life from then quickly spiraled out of control. Before I knew it I was a total junkie. I was addicted to heroin and I just thought that there was no way out. I was stealing, lying, manipulating and putting myself in situations that I would never imagine myself to be in, but being able to get high was that important to me that I would risk my life and the lives of the people I love.
In the summer of 2008 I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I remember crying going into my mother and fathers room pleading to them that I needed help and that I could not do this on my own. Someone from my mothers church told her about Teen Challenge and that it was a Christian program. I can tell you that it was not by my own understanding that I came to Teen Challenge but it was by the power of the Holy Spirit that led me to their. I knew that no one else had the power to save me from my addiction but Jesus and I wanted nothing more than to be saved.
My name is Dave Bengyak and I am 25 years old. When my younger sister entered Long Island Teen Challenge in July 2008. I would come and visit her at Freedom Chapel on Friday nights, but still didn’t have a real connection with the Lord. My sister ended up leaving the Program early and we were both headed down the same destructive path together. In July of 2009, my sister, Lauren decided to come back to Teen Challenge, but went to Brooklyn instead. About three days before she was supposed to leave I started to feel extremely guilty. I thought to myself, “How can I tell here I love her and care about her if I am staying home and getting high, while she is trying to get better?” So that night I decided to come to Long Island Teen Challenge.
When I got here I decided that even though I wasn’t a strong believer, that I would put 100% of my effort into the program. I surrendered to the Lord and put all my trust and my life into His hands. I can honestly say that I am truly happy and my life has been filled with my Saviors love. The verse I stand on is Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
He not only restores individuals but families too!