BAY MINETTE, Ala. — On Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. at the John F. Rhodes Civic Center, members of Alabama Teen Challenge will show residents of Bay Minette what relentless love can accomplish during the annual Relentless Love Banquet.

Teen Challenge is a 12-month residential Christian discipleship program for men, women and youth with life-controlling addictions. The Bay Minette facility is an adult men's facility, though there are centers in Alabama for women and the state will soon gain a youth facility.

"We are a 30-bed facility for males 18 and up," said Orville Johnson, director of the Bay Minette center. "We also do adult female and juvenile referrals from here."

The 50-year-old non-profit organization has more than 250 locations nationwide, with 1,065 locations worldwide. The local facility opened in September 2002.

Because the program is faith-based, fundraisers like the Tuesday night banquet are more than just important, they are essential.

Teen Challenge is of little or no cost to the participants, but to keep it that way, the center needs sponsors and donors.

"We are a non-profit, 501c-3 organization," Johnson said. "But because we are faith-based, we receive no money from the state or federal government."

Johnson said the only money they receive is through private or corporate donations and through various fundraisers.

Seats at the dinner can be bought separately, or tables of eight can be sponsored for a variety of sponsorship levels, from $200 to $2,500. More detailed information on what each level includes can be found at alabamateenchallenge.org/banquet.php or by calling Johnson at (251) 580-0091.

The center’s full capacity and constant waiting list are evidence that the service is needed. Teen Challenge works so well, Johnson said, because it works in two phases.

The induction phase is four to six months, during which time participants receive training, go to the chapel with prayer times, attend church services and complete at least 14 training books, Johnson said.

He said those training books all focus on the idea that a life with Christ is a life free of addiction and sparse on stress, depression and hopelessness.

"Students may also read and report on an additional five to seven books during that time," Johnson said. "It's a highly structured, highly disciplined program."

Following successful completion of the induction phase, the men then move on to the training phase.

"They then transfer to the men's training center in Lincoln where they complete their training through additional courses," Johnson said.

Throughout both phases, the men are offered pastoral counseling. "We have five full-time staff members who serve as pastoral counselors," Johnson said. "(Pastoral counseling) intensifies in Lincoln."

Johnson said anyone worried about how their contribution will be used can rest assured that all funds are accounted for with multiple checks and balances.

He said they maintain financial accountability through several sources, including an annual audit by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

"We are members of the Alabama Rescue Association and maintain accreditation through the National Teen Challenge Office," he said.

He said the cost to house one male for one month is approximately $1,300 to $1,400. "I know that because I have to pay the utilities, pay the staff, upkeep the vehicles and feed them," Johnson said.

"Our annual charity benefit banquet is important to Teen Challenge for two reasons: It raises community awareness of who we are and what we do, and it addresses our need to raise funds to keep our doors open," he said.

Anyone who isn't sure about the program and it's success need only look at the preliminary report issued by Judkins Institute for Leadership Studies, which was contracted by Teen Challenge to conduct a study on the effectiveness of the program.

The study, which was conducted between fall 2007 and spring 2008, found that "preliminary results (June 2008) indicate a number of statistically significant findings that suggest that as participants become more involved within Teen Challenge, perceptual differences  in a number of constructs have improved.

"These include an overall decrease in stress, depression and an increase in hope, self esteem, life satisfaction and life purpose. Additionally, self report of substance use has decreased."

The study, which is based on a survey of 151 participants nationwide, states that participants in the Teen Challenge program reported an overall decrease in the current use of alcohol by 68 percent, marijuana by 65 percent, speed by 74 percent, cocaine by 78 percent, barbiturates by 74 percent, heroine by 69 percent, acid by 83 percent, glue by 92 percent, PCP by 50 percent, ecstasy by 86 percent, cigarettes by 44 percent and other substances by 48 percent.

"When asked about counseling and psychological support, participants responded that prayer, worship and family were regarded as the outlets of support most frequented," the study stated.

The full study can be viewed at teenchallengeusa.com under studies.

During last year's banquet, the Bay Minette facility's first graduate, Eric Johnson, told those gathered what Teen Challenge meant to him.

"When I first heard about Teen Challenge, I had been in rehab four times since I was 14. By the time I was 27, I had come to hate rehab," he said. "But when Jesus rehabilitates your life you don't go back."

He said after graduating the program, he met a "woman of God," married and had a child.

"I have a house, I have a car. I've never had those things before and didn't think I ever would," he said through tearful eyes.

The man who dropped out of school in the eighth grade went on to graduate at the top of class at Bible College and is now a minister.

In addition to such inspiring testimonies, guests are treated to a dinner prepared and served by Teen Challenge members, followed by the group's Biblical drill team and the Teen Challenge Choir, both led by Bro. Dwayne McGhee, pastor of Eastern Shore Christian Center in Daphne.

To donate or find out more about the facility, call Johnson at (251) 580-0091 or email him at ejohnson@alabamateenchallenge.org. For more information about Alabama Teen Challenge, visit the Web site at www.alabamateenchallenge.org.