Teen Challenge pleased with turnout for late berry festival

One year ago, Jerry French's life seemed hopeless.

A drug addict for 27 years, French told his sister at their residence in Knoxville, Tenn., that he would be a junkie the rest of his life. That's when he discovered the Teen Challenge recovery ministry in Cape Girardeau.

Since entering the program six months ago, French's life hasn't been the same.

"Teen Challenge has saved my life," French said. "If it weren't for Jesus Christ leading me here, I may still be fighting my own war on drugs. Now I am clean of drug use and have a hope for the future."

French was one of 115 residents of the faith-based program who gave their life-changing testimony at Teen Challenge's 18th annual strawberry festival. Teen Challenge executive director Jack Smart was pleased with the turnout of 836 people, considering that the festival was postponed a week because of a late crop of strawberries. The turnout is close to those for past festivals.

About 1,800 quarts of strawberries were sold Saturday.

"About the only negative aspect of the whole day was the humidity, but that's hard to change," Smart said. "I'm just thankful we were able to sell so many strawberries while allowing people to learn more about what we do here in a relaxing environment."

Held at the 316-acre farm north of Cape Girardeau, the festival not only gave the community a closer look at the residential program but also offered visitors a wealth of activities on a hot and humid afternoon.

Throughout the day, visitors purchased quarts of strawberries and took hayrides to the strawberry fields, where they could pick a quart of fruit and then listen to testimonies from the residents. Festival-goers also enjoyed a choir, barbecue lunch, opportunities to purchase hand-made crafts, DVD presentations celebrating the program's 50th year inside the ministry's chapel, and complimentary strawberry shortcakes.

Jan Gieselman of Millersville came to the festival for the first time. A recovering alcoholic, Gieselman can relate to the residents' experiences.

"It's hard for these guys to go without alcohol and drugs when they used them for so long," said Gieselman, who was enjoying a hayride. "They had to get to a point where they're sick and tired of being sick and tired of living the destructive lifestyle. And that's what this program does — shows them there is hope through Christ."

Laverne Whitener of Jackson agreed.

"This ministry has done so many great things for so many young men who have gone through the doors of Teen Challenge," said Whitener, who has attended the festival for the past eight years with her husband, Virgil. "By allowing people to come on this property, they can see how this ministry changes lives."

bblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137

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