Matt Henderson

Hi, my name is Matt Henderson, I’m 21 years old and I was born in Waco, Tx. I was raised in a Christian home all my life, my mom always took us, my sister and me to church on Sunday’s and Wednesdays. I was active in youth camps and helping in the community. My parents were divorced, but I still had a good relationship with my father and mother. All the years of my youth I still never knew what being a Christian was all about. I had accepted Jesus into my heart, but was young and didn’t know what it really meant. When I was 13 years old I woke up one morning and my mom had passed away from an aneurism. That was the day my world fell apart. My mom was my best friend, and now she was gone. That day I gave up on life and on myself. After my mom passed away I moved in with my dad, which meant I had to move to another town, Valley Mill, Tx. and change schools. By the time I was 15 I had made new friends and started doing drugs to fill the void, the hole in my heart. By the age of 16 I was a full blown alcoholic and addict and was in and out of jail. Doing everything I could to rum from God. I was hurting! I couldn’t understand why I had to loose my mom. When I was 20 years old I got into more trouble, and the D.A. and judge gave me the option to come to Teen Challenge. Since I’ve been in Teen Challenge, 10 months now, God has done amazing things in my life. He has completely restored the trust and love back in my family, and turned my world upside down. I actually like who I’m becoming now. I can talk to my family without hiding who I am and what I’m feeling. My grand-mother told me that through seeing me grow, she is becoming a stronger Christian. God has answered prayer and opened doors for a cousin to make her way to Teen Challenge as well. God has also put a desire in me to become a youth pastor and that is something I intend to pursue. God is and has done amazing in my life and I can’t wait to see what else He is going to do. Thanks be to God!