Mario Williams, from Virginia, completed Basic Induction at Teen Challenge of Greater Cleveland, in Perry, Ohio, on September 22, 2016, and has now moved on to Teen Challenge International Mid America, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, for the Advanced Training Phase. Here is his testimony...

“I was introduced to the church at a young age and learned what is right and wrong, but in my teens I started to act out and get in trouble in school. I slowly faded away from the church and fell in love with the things of this world and my flesh. Sports and my school work came easy, so I breezed through that without really trying, and I started smoking pot and breaking the law.
    “My dreams of playing college basketball got ruined, and I dug deeper into things of this world. In 2006 I caught my first serious charge at 19 years old.  From 2006 to 2016 I was in and out of jail. I lost about 9 years through that time, total, and ruined a lot of relationships. I could hear and feel God trying to pull me away to do His will, but I continued to go the opposite way.
    “In 2015 I hit rock bottom, lost everything, and did not know what to do. I was facing serious charges and was in jail, and I started reading the Bible, starting at Genesis. I cried out to the Lord. I asked God to take me out of my living hell and to show me His will, and He placed my mother back in my life, and she found this program. I dug into God’s Word, and God started to work wonders in my life.
    “God did the impossible, got my serious charges dropped, and sent me right to this Teen Challenge Christian discipleship program. Once here, transformation started taking place immediately. I felt love as soon as I came through the door. Other brothers were here when I needed anything, and they helped me. I learned that being a Christian was not just going to church but an actual daily walk and relationship with Christ. All my old ways had to die, and I had to 100% fully embrace my Lord and Savior, Jesus.
    “One of my favorite and life changing verses is Galatians 2:20, ‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.’”

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Psalm 34 (KJV)
1 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 THIS POOR MAN CRIED, AND THE LORD HEARD HIM, AND SAVED HIM OUT OF ALL HIS TROUBLES.
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.   
16 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.   
18 THE LORD IS NIGH UNTO THEM THAT ARE OF A BROKEN HEART; AND SAVETH SUCH AS BE OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.   
20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22 The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.