“I grew up in a household that didn’t follow Christ. I did not start following Christ myself until I was 18 years old. It was in prison that I received my first bible and began learning about Him. It was during these teaching and lesson that I began to recognize my past and heal from it. Without me evening knowing it, God had been with me my entire life, sending angels to protect me. He showed me that it was not my fault that I was abused growing up by my father. It was also Christ who lead me to Teen Challenge, who helped me realize that the drugs and alcohol that I had become addicted to were where I was trying to escape reality. Teen Challenge helped me get sober in October 2004 and I’ve been sober ever since. I have never stayed too long in one place. I have been in prison, treatment programs, and group homes, but because of God and The Vineyard, I am learning that it’s okay to be myself and accept who God made me. Because of him, I’m stronger than I’ve ever been.”

—Julie Huntington