DRAMA DEPICTS PERSONAL VICTORY OVER ADDICTION

Andre Brown went through a cycle during his younger life, one he is not proud of but one he will talk about.

Brown talked about it Saturday night during the annual Teen Challenge International of Mid-America Spring Banquet, held at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

During the early 1980s, Brown was in his mid-20s, and had a good job working as a civilian in Navy intelligence in the Washington D.C. area.

But Brown developed a problem -- drugs.

The problem grew. He got into cocaine.

"I quit my job to get the few hundred bucks in my retirement account," he said.

Things went further. He wrote checks on his parents' account, and eventually was told to leave home.

He wound up in Chicago, which turned into a blessing for Brown.

Down-and-out, broke and homeless, Brown was introduced to Teen Challenge.

Today, 16 years later, Brown is back in his home area, serving as a job developer for the Shepherd's Cove in Capitol Heights, where he also does evangelistic ministry as his scheduled allows.

Brown's story was the subject of a special "drama," presented by students at the Teen Challenge facility north of Cape Girardeau. The three-man drama depicted Brown's drug habit, his attempts at suicide, and his path back.

As the drama ended, Brown appeared to tell his own story to an audience of more than 600 people who attended the annual spring banquet, which also featured a choir performance by the Teen Challenge student body.

In the audience were students and staff of Teen Challenge, along with supporters and friends of the facility, which is observing its 30 anniversary.

The night before, Teen Challenge presented a program at the Carbondale Civic Center, with more than 200 in attendance.

For 30 years, Teen Challenge International of Mid-America has helped men learn basic job skills and has taught them how to overcome drug and alcohol addictions.

The students in the Teen Challenge program help raise about 25 percent of the funds to operate the 315-acre campus here through a number of work projects -- a lawn care service, woodworking shop, firewood sales and sales of strawberries and blueberries.

But, Teen Challenge is much more than this, said the Rev. Jack Smart, executive director of the local facility. "The program involves spiritual and practical elements for daily life" in the fight against drug and alcohol addiction.

Chapel services are held three times a week, along with daily prayer and personal devotions. Pastoral counseling is important for both the staff and students, and makes up a big part of the total 14-month program.

Academics are important parts of the program as well. Students attend classes daily and are offered time to earn a GED, if they haven't completed their high school education.

Work activities help provide some income for the center, but the main reason is to teach work ethics.

Teen Challenge reports 70 percent success rates with its program.

The campus has expanded recently and serve as many as 134 students.

Smart has served Teen Challenge 20 years, 10 of them as executive director.

"We currently have 119 students," said Smart.

Teen Challenge International has about 130 centers in the United States, and another 140 in other parts of the world.

Brown completed the Teen Challenge program in 1985, and stayed on here for several months as a staff member. He later served at Capitol Heights Teen Challenge in Maryland before taking on his current duties Brown is now married and lives in Forrestville Maryland with his wife and three foster children.

"There was time in my life, when I was crazy," said Brown. When the subject of drugs and alcohol come up, "I can truthfully say:

"Been there, done that, don't want to do it any more.

"Teen Challenge changed me, said Brown, who says he is an example that "no matter how far down a person may go in life, Jesus Christ can make a total change in their life."