Husband and Wife Mentor Brother and Sister
THE ROAD TO CHALLENGE
Tim Nelson mentors ChalleNGe graduate John Havener, and his wife Betty mentors John's sister, graduate Stacy Stephens. John graduated from the Florida Youth ChalleNGe Academy (FLYCA) in 2002, and Stacy graduated a year later.
The Nelsons knew John and Stacy for several years before they attended ChalleNGe. Tim, a train car mechanic by day, is a youth pastor on weekends and evenings, assisted by wife Betty and teenage son Joshua.
Tim recalls getting to know a 15-year-old John Havener when he was very discouraged and feeling hopeless. John began attending Tim's church, but his problems kept dragging him down.
John says, "When I was 17 years old, I was living on my own. I realized that bills were getting harder to pay and that I had no real education to get a better job. Someone told me about ChalleNGe. It sounded like a solution, so I joined, and Tim agreed to be my ChalleNGe mentor."
JOHN AT CHALLENGE
"At first, I was homesick," John remembers, "but I was determined not to return to my former life."
At ChalleNGe John got involved in a new nursing program and became a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). He was the first student in this career program and helped test it; it is still part of FLYCA.
Since John had only completed 9th grade when he entered ChalleNGe, he was unable to get his GED while there. But after graduation, he demonstrated the self-discipline acquired at ChalleNGe by going back to attend adult basic education classes and obtaining his GED.
Tim says, "I noticed that John's attitude changed dramatically during his time at ChalleNGe. He loved it and found many ways to be an achiever. He was encouraged when he received the recognition his accomplishments earned."
"John found the military discipline at ChalleNGe something he could handle and learned to accept responsibility. He became more outgoing, and his self-esteem grew. I saw him open like a spring flower."
John credits ChalleNGe staff with permanently impacting him. He says that he learned how to be firm and fair from the commandant of cadets, CSM Maxwell. One cadre, SGT Acevedo, was particularly helpful. John remembers how they would sit up at night talking about his problems. "He was like an older brother," John says.
JOHN AFTER CHALLENGE 
What John experienced at ChalleNGe motivated him to enroll in the Marines for four years. He has spent the past year stationed in Hawaii and attending a training program in Okinawa, Japan. Soon he expects to be transferred back to Hawaii.
"Before ChalleNGe, I was confused and lost. Now, I'm not so confused. I have some education and training, and my life is on track."
John appreciates the time and attention Tim has given him over the years. He describes Tim as "a very caring person, always willing to help. During the ChalleNGe program, we spent most of our time talking about my future and how things were at home."
Tim says, "My role as a mentor to John was primarily listening to him and being a sounding board. While at ChalleNGe, we wrote letters to each other. When he was home on leave, we went to movies, ate together, and talked. After graduation, we stayed in touch, and I saw him regularly in church. Now that he is in the Marines, he phones to let me know how he's doing."
Tim continues, "John is an example of success and an encourager for other kids who face problems. He helps them see that they, too, can succeed, as John has. He has overcome a lot of things that would have defeated most people."
The Deputy Director of Outreach at FLYCA, Julia Szczes, remembers John well and says that he is one of her favorite cadets of all time. "An absolutely terrific kid," Julia states enthusiastically. "He is doing wonderfully. His mentor supported him a great deal after release, urging John to get his GED. Within a month, John passed his GED and enrolled in the Marines. He says it was the best decision he ever made."
"John stays in contact with us, reporting on goals achieved. At age 18, his goal was to graduate from ChalleNGe. At 19, to complete technical training in the Marines. And at 20 he is close to achieving another major goal."
STACY AFTER CHALLENGE
Betty continues to stay in touch with Stacy as well. She says, "Stacy has big dreams, and we are hoping to see these dreams come to life. Considering what she has been through, Stacy is a real trooper. I strive to encourage her in every way I can by letting her know that I will be there for her. She is faithful in church and has enrolled in a home schooling program. Her goal now is to get her GED and then join the Navy."
Like most cadets, Stacy found ChalleNGe difficult at first and wanted to quit. She says, "The encouragement of staff helped me remain in the program. My attitude changed a lot at ChalleNGe. Before, I was a bad kid in trouble at school, which is why I dropped out."
"I cursed a lot. Staff helped me realize this was not good for me, and I stopped cursing. And I lost 34 pounds. At my school there was a lot of peer pressure and negative stuff. It helped a lot to be in the positive environment at ChalleNGe."
The Nelson's son Joshua is in a church youth group with Stacy. He says that he has seen a lot of change in Stacy since she graduated from ChalleNGe. "She is much more interactive now," he says. "And she is more focused and sets goals. The other day she mentioned that when she was mad, she controlled her mouth and didn't curse as she would have before ChalleNGe."
IN CLOSING
Tim and Betty say, "We look at John and Stacy and see that they have overcome many obstacles that would have defeated most people. We find great joy in serving the Lord by helping young people."
ChalleNGe is fortunate to have mentors like Tim and Betty, who give so much of their time and being to help reclaim lives of young people who surmount incredible odds-like John and Stacy.