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By Craig Shoup Times-Junction Staff Writer For 12 men, telling the story of their addiction is not easy. They have realized each time they talk, they heal one major scar after another. With addic tions to drugs and alcohol, men and women can enter into the Teen Challenge program in Youngstown or Columbus and find love in their heart for Jesus Christ. In 2014, a Teen Challenge facility will take over the for mer Willard Healthcare Center at 725 Wessor Avenue. A meet ing was held at the Hope Center to share the stories of the program and answer any questions from the community. The local center will feature 25 beds, according to Ohio Valley Teen Challenge Administrator Cathy Barnett. This facility will mark the sec ond female Teen Challenge Center in the state, with the Columbus center housing 10 women. Barnett noted the center will be open to women who live in the Willard area. Many times Teen Challenge tries to remove the addict from the environ ment in order to better rehabil itate them. She was asked if eventually the center would allow for women’s children to visit arong for periods of time. ‘That is something we are looking into doing,” she responded. “I know how important the mother child bond is.” For many struggling with addiction, Teen Challenge has become a last resort. In lieu of jail time, some men and women have chosen to enter the program. The center is designed as a 12-month program to over coming addiction from the teachings of Christ, according to Pastor Bobby Pavlich. He knows Teen Challenge works because he graduated 10 years ago from the program and was able to get his family back. “God blessed us with a 250,000 square foot hospital in Youngstown,” Pavlich said. “We have 70 men in the pro gram with 20 staff members.” He said Teen Challenge pro vides not only addiction reha bilitation but family rehabilita tion. “Sin affects anyone who comes into contact with it,” said Pavlich. “I have had mar ried couples call me and say their marriage is being divided by the sin of their child.” Teen Challenge is a connec tion with Jesus Christ, Pavlich added. Men and women spend a year in the program to over come addiction through finding the Lord. The reason the pro gram lasts a year is because the men and women need time to curb their addiction and find that connection with Jesus. The program members have a very vigorous schedule, Pavlich stated. Each day they are required to do devotions to the Lord, eat breakfast and work a full day. —— them busy is the way to instill disci pline and devotion. See Challenges on Page 3
Newspaper Details
Willard Times Junction
Willard, Ohio, US
Thu, Sep 26, 2013
Page 1
Full Page
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USA 10 Sep 2026
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