Dear friend,
We often speak of the profound miracles that take place here at Ozarks Teen Challenge, and today, I want to share a powerful testament to God’s amazing grace in the life of a young man named Lucas.
Before arriving here, Lucas’s connection with his parents was fractured. Though raised with a foundation of faith, he had walked away from it in recent years. His choices had led him down a destructive path, beginning in his high school years with constant drinking and the use of marijuana, nicotine, fentanyl, and methamphetamines.
This destructive pattern reached a critical point in late December 2023 when he overdosed. Found by his father, he was rushed to the hospital, where he lay in a coma for nearly four days and spent two weeks in recovery.
Following this terrifying, near-death experience, in January 2024, Lucas’ parents brought him to Ozarks Teen Challenge, seeking hope. The initial days were a struggle, but through the guidance of his counselors and mentorship by our staff, a spiritual change began to take root. Over time, his relationships with his family started to heal.
More importantly, his faith, once dormant, was stirred by the Holy Spirit. He began to draw closer to God, choosing to follow Christ. Reflecting on his journey, Lucas shared, “This Program truly makes a difference, even if you don’t see it right away. It’s about getting free from what holds you back, healing what’s broken in your relationships, and changing how you see everything through God’s eyes.”
Lucas found strength in the brotherhood and community he shared with other students and our dedicated staff, who walked alongside him in faith. A recent mission trip to serve families impacted by Hurricane Helene became a profound experience for Lucas, allowing him to be Jesus’ hands and feet. Witnessing firsthand the relief on people’s faces as they received help brought him immense joy and stands out as a significant moment in his time here. Shortly before his graduation in April, Lucas made a powerful declaration of his renewed faith through water baptism, publicly professing his commitment to Christ.
He is now home, eager to continue his walk with God and reconnect with his family. Having completed his junior year at Ozarks Teen Challenge, he is preparing to begin his senior year of high school in the fall. He plans to pursue trade school for welding afterward, trusting God’s direction for his future. Lucas’s compelling testament to the redemption found through Christ and nurtured in this ministry demonstrates the power of faith, the strength of a community rooted in the Gospel, and the life-changing impact of surrendering to God for a brighter future.
Your prayers and financial gifts are not merely contributions; they are seeds sown in fertile ground, yielding fruit in lives transformed and futures reclaimed for God’s glory. You are partners in this vital Kingdom work!
Thank you for your commitment to Ozarks Teen Challenge. It is through your partnership that we continue to witness these incredible miracles of God’s grace.
So all find freedom,
Mitchell Easter
Executive Director
P.S. Your continued prayers and financial support directly enable these life-changing transformations at Ozarks Teen Challenge. Thank you for being a vital part of Lucas’ journey and countless others!
