Challenges in the City - Substance Abuse

Since ABWE missionaries started a drug rehabilitation center outside Natal, Brazil more than 20 years ago, the center has assisted hundreds of Brazilian men to be freed from their addictions.

The drug rehab center is a resident facility, which houses approximately 30 men-both Christians and non-Christians-at a time. Currently under the exclusive direction of national leaders, the center offers an extremely structured program which requires residents to attend church each week, as well as daily Bible studies. They also have a small garden in which they are encouraged to cultivate plants. Residents are permitted to make an accompanied trip home for a weekend after spending three months in the facility.

The center boasts an impressive 70% success rate in keeping residents drug-free. And the directors' prayer is that the men also will find freedom from sin through faith in Christ.