FAIRMONT - Testifying in prayer and song, the Minnesota Teen Challenge choir will perform Sunday during the two morning services at Bethel Evangelical Church in Fairmont.
Minnesota Teen Challenge is a faith-based residential chemical dependency program for teens and adults with chronic chemical abuse problems.
"The music they perform is about things that encourage their lifestyle change," said Deb Meyer of Bethel Evangelical Church. "It's a mission we support, seeing these tremendous life changes. Going in, you think that you'll be blessing these people, but we find ourselves blessed instead. We see this as an opportunity for others here that might be struggling."
About 55 members of the Teen Challenge will be on hand for Sunday's performance.
Of the three Teen Challenge rehab centers in Minnesota, the Minneapolis one is the largest, and where Sunday's performers are based. There are also facilities in Brainerd and Duluth. There are 250 centers worldwide.
The history of Teen Challenge began in 1958, when the Rev. Dave Wilkerson went to New York to minister to teen gang members. It was the conversion of notorious gang leader Nicky Cruz that laid the foundations for the start of the Teen Challenge series. It was also the basis for the book "The Cross and the Switchblade."
Today, Teen Challenge provides rehabilitation for teens and adults.
Performance times Sunday are during the 8 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services. Donations will be accepted.