Monday-Friday 9-5
Saturday 8-5
Sunday 1-5
|
|
9495 Poplar Avenue Germantown, TN 38138 Phone: 901-754-5700 |
|
Personal Note Josh Davis, Owner of Stringers Garden Centers writes an article each month for the Main Street Journal that focuses on different ministries in Memphis. Here is the February, 2009 edition: Nothing tears a family apart like drug and alcohol addiction. When a loved one becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol it not only affects the user but what often times follows is a break up of the entire family. Husbands and wives blame each other for the addictions of their child. Children needlessly blame themselves for the behavior of their parents. I have witnessed this phenomenon up close and personal. My father was an alcoholic and I grew up becoming all too familiar with the havoc the addiction can cause for a family. Unfortunately my family’s story is not rare. Drug and alcohol addiction has destroyed millions of people’s lives in our nation and the problem is getting worse not better. Not only is the human toll devastating but this complex problem also costs our country billions of dollars to incarcerate and attempt to rehabilitate drug and alcohol abusers. I say attempt to rehabilitate because like so many government programs they are well meaning but have little impact. If punishment and money won’t solve the problem what will? The answer lies once again with the faith based charities, run by caring and selfless people that deal with the person as a whole; mind, body and spirit. One such organization can be found right here in Memphis , it’s called Teen Challenge. Ronald Reagan once said that “Teen Challenge is one of America ’s best hopes to enable those caught in the web of drug abuse to overcome that ugly habit once and for all.” That’s pretty high praise from our former president! Lets take a look at why Teen Challenge is worthy of it. Over 200 Teen Challenge centers operate around the world the Memphis location is at 33 N. Cleveland . The heart and soul of the Memphis branch is the Program Director Anatole Williams. In 1992 God used Teen Challenge to save Anatole’s life and now he works full time for the ministry helping others that have the same addictions Anatole had. Williams early life is a story all to familiar these days. He was born into poverty to a single mom in New Orleans , never knew his dad and started using marijuana at the age of 10. By the time he was 19 the drug use had spiraled into an addiction to crack cocaine, a life of dealing drugs and multiple arrests. At the age of 25 life had gotten totally out of control. Anatole was a rough character even by New Orleans slum standards. His mother had turned him away saying to never come back. One morning Anatole came home from an all night drug binge, he was at rock bottom. “I got home and no one was there” Williams recalled, “I didn’t want to die but I also didn’t want to live. I got out my 38 caliber gun and was contemplating taking my own life. All of the sudden I began to weep uncontrollably and did something I rarely did at that time I began to pray. I cried out to God and asked if he was real, to make himself known to me. At that point I suddenly remembered a card my girl friend had given me about a rehab center. I found the card, took it to my Mom’s house (who could tell I was serious so she let me in) and she called the rehab center, Teen Challenge.” Anatole went through Teen Challenge’s year long program, accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and has been clean and sober ever since. When you look back at Anatole’s life, you see a situation that rarely turns out good, most of the time these stories turn out tragically. That’s why Teen Challenge and other faith based centers like it are crucial for our society. About 100 men go through the program a year here in Memphis . A vast majority of those stay the entire year and a vast majority of those go on to a drug free productive life. And that’s just here in Memphis. When you take into account the other 200 centers world wide you can see the incredible impact this faith based ministry has. It costs about $40 per day per student to keep the program running. 90% of the men are unable to pay the tuition. Therefore Teen Challenge relies on personal donations, grants from Churches and its Occupational Development program to cover the costs. A healthy part of the rehabilitation process is to take the men out on work detail. They do all kind of jobs from painting, to landscape, to demolition and general labor. It’s a win/win deal for a business or homeowner, they get an excellent job done at a reasonable cost and Teen Challenge gets much needed funds to help more people! To find out more about Teen Challenge and how you can help call them at 901-272-2308 or email them at tcmdirector@aol.com.
|
STRINGER’S GIFT CARDS Monday-Friday 9-5 |
Stringer's Poplar Pointe Garden Center serves Memphis, TN and the surrounding area with landscape and container design, flowering plants and great gardening advice on how to make your garden grow! |
Copyright 2008 Stringer's Garden Center |
 |