Lansing Teen Challenge Moving Ahead With Renewed Commitment To Fight Substance Abuse Epidemic
LANSING, Mich., July 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Lansing Teen Challenge announces a new and renewed commitment to serve the men and women in the Lansing area who struggle with addiction. To that end, the board has installed new leadership at the local affiliate of Teen Challenge USA. LTC is a year-long, residential program. In a prepared statement to stakeholders, Board Chairman Curt Dalaba said the following:
"On June 22, 2017, the Board of Directors of Lansing Teen Challenge elected Reverend Jeff Bonzelaar as the new Executive Director of Lansing Teen Challenge. Jeff Bonzelaar is the current Executive Director of Life Challenge Ministries, the umbrella organization for Teen Challenge of Detroit, Toledo and Flint.
Pastor Bonzelaar has spent his entire career in Teen Challenge ministry, starting at Western Michigan Teen Challenge, where both his parents served on staff from the time he was 11 years old. Pastor Bonzelaar has led Detroit Teen Challenge for over 30 years. He has commenced his new duties as Executive Director of Lansing Teen Challenge with optimism and enthusiasm, taking the reins from Reverend Jeff Turner. We sincerely thank Jeff Turner for his years of faithful service to the men and women in the Lansing area who struggle with life-controlling issues, and we pray the Lord's blessing on all his future endeavors."
Lansing Teen Challenge receives its accreditation from Teen Challenge USA. Accreditation allows the use of the Teen Challenge name and trademarks and is essential to continued ministry in the Lansing area. Lansing Teen Challenge has been operating under provisional accreditation since October 2016. Moving forward under new leadership, Lansing Teen Challenge will now seek full accreditation from the national organization.
To ensure continuation of programming services without interruption, the current residents are temporarily being offered a transition to residential facilities in either Detroit or Flint. All LTC staff-in-residence at the center have been offered a chance to reapply for consideration to be re-hired and have been given two weeks to find new accommodations.
Asked why the board made the changes now, Pastor Bonzelaar said, "The board has a mandate to maintain the very highest standards and best practices at LTC, so the board felt the best and quickest way to achieve full accreditation was under new leadership."
Pastor Bonzelaar is excited and optimistic about the challenges ahead, "I am humbled and honored to accept this new role. Our priority is always to serve the men and women in the program, their families and their loved ones. I, along with a talented team of caring, called, experienced individuals, will put our best efforts toward the restoration of full accreditation to Lansing Teen Challenge."
Founded in 1958, Teen Challenge is a well-known and well-respected national leader in the fight against the opioid drug epidemic that is sweeping our nation. Lansing Teen Challenge is a local, independent affiliate of Teen Challenge USA.
SOURCE Lansing Teen Challenge
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