Welcome back to the New Life Community Podcast!

In this episode, host Nolan Crooks and Pastor Ron Brown, Executive Director of Teen Challenge of Southern California, unpack Chapter 1 of the New Life Community curriculum: Finding New Life When You’ve Lost Yourself.

🌱 Key Themes We Explore Together:

✅ What does it truly mean to find new life in Christ when you’ve lost yourself in addiction and brokenness?

✅ Why your true identity in Christ is the foundation for lasting freedom.

✅ How to break free not just from substances, but also from shame, bitterness, and the old labels that chain you to the past.

✅ The power of forgiveness — forgiving others, receiving forgiveness, and learning to forgive yourself.

✅ How your brokenness is not your disqualification — it’s an invitation to intimacy with the Father.

💬 Key Questions to Ponder This Week:

Who or what have you allowed to define your identity?

Have you accepted that Jesus came looking for you, even when you felt unworthy?

What labels from your past do you need to lay down today?

Is there bitterness or self-loathing you need to surrender so you can walk freely as God’s child?

How could your brokenness become a place where God’s glory shines through you to others?

📖 Powerful Quotes from This Episode:

“When I thought I lost me, He knew where I left me — and He reintroduced me to His love.”

“Addiction robs you of your humanity and traps you in guilt and shame — but Jesus paid it all, and cleared the debt so you can live free.”

“If you believe you’re an addict, you’ll act like an addict. But if you believe you’re a child of God, freedom follows.”

“Self-loathing is the enemy of freedom. Magnify God more than your mistakes, and watch chains break.”

“Brokenness is an invitation for God’s glory to flood in and flow out — just like the alabaster box poured out its fragrance when broken.”

“God places the lonely in families — that’s what New Life Community is: your spiritual family for this journey.”

“Bless the Lord, O my soul… He redeems your life from destruction!” (Psalm 103)

📖 Key Scriptures:

“It was for freedom that Christ has set us free…” (Galatians 5:1)

“As a man believes in his heart, so is he…” (Proverbs 23:7)

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits… who redeems your life from destruction…”

(Psalm 103:2–4) “God places the solitary in families…” (Psalm 68:6)

🌍 Ready to Go Deeper

➡️ Visit newlifetc.org to:

✅ Download the New Life Community curriculum FREE

✅ Watch real stories of freedom and redemption

✅ Find practical tools and resources to start a group in your church or community

📲 Stay Connected & Encouraged:

Follow Teen Challenge of Southern California for stories, hope, and fresh encouragement:

👉 Facebook | Instagram | YouTube: @socalteenchallenge

🎧 Keep Walking the Journey:

This podcast is just one piece of the journey — subscribe, comment, and share so more lives can find new life through Jesus. No matter how far you’ve fallen, no one is beyond the reach of Christ’s redemption. Let’s walk in freedom together.

🎧 New Life Community Podcast: Episode 1 — Carrying God’s Heart to the Addicted and Broken

In this powerful launch episode, Nolan Crooks (host) sits down with Pastor Ron Brown, Executive Director of Teen Challenge of Southern California, to unpack the heartbeat of New Life Community — a brand-new ministry calling local churches to the frontlines of addiction recovery.

🔥 What is New Life Community?

It’s more than a curriculum — it’s a Holy Spirit–fueled movement designed to empower leaders, ignite healing, and awaken people to the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

✅ How no one comes out of addiction alone — it takes the whole Body of Christ, walking together in grace.

✅ Why leaders must walk closely with the Good Shepherd to effectively minister to the addicted and broken.

✅ How New Life Community creates an atmosphere not just for teaching, but for encounter — where the Holy Spirit moves and transforms.

✅ Why every leader must believe: no one is too far gone, and nothing is impossible with God.

✅ How God’s design is not just to set you free but to lift you up so you can bring freedom to others.

💬 Key Quotes from the Episode:

“We’re not here to run programs — we’re here to create a space where the Holy Spirit shows up and people encounter God.”

“If your heart doesn’t break for the addicted, this isn’t your role. We must carry the Father’s heart.”

“Jesus can do more in one encounter than we could ever do in years of counseling.”

“The church is God’s answer to the fentanyl crisis, the opioid epidemic, and the hopelessness gripping our generation.”

“Our transformed lives become Exhibit A — proof that Jesus is still setting captives free.”

🌍 Get Involved Today

→ Visit newlifetc.org to:

✅ Download the New Life Community curriculum FREE

✅ Watch powerful transformation stories

✅ Get leader resources and tools to launch a group

📲 Stay Connected with Us

Follow Teen Challenge of Southern California on social:

👉 Facebook | Instagram | YouTube → @socalteenchallenge

Tag us and share your testimony, your group moments, and what God is doing in your community!

🙏 Stay on the Journey

This is just the beginning. Subscribe and join us each episode as we walk together on the New Life Community journey — trusting God for the impossible, believing that no one is beyond the reach of Christ’s redemption.

In one of the most personal and powerful messages of Spiritual Emphasis 2025, Pastor Walter Colace shares his journey through cancer, radiation, and chemotherapy — and how God used every step of suffering to shine His light more brightly. Preached directly to our Teen Challenge alumni, this is a testimony that goes beyond healing; it is a lesson in walking through the fire with the peace of God and the presence of Jesus.   Drawing from Isaiah 26:3, Isaiah 50:10, Psalm 103:1-5, and Daniel 3, Pastor Walter speaks candidly about fear, faith, and the supernatural peace that sustained him: “Ever since I came to Teen Challenge almost 34 years ago, God has had my life in His hands.” “When there was no answer from doctors, I leaned on God’s Word.” “You say, 'You're a puzzle to us.' No, I'm a miracle because Jesus is my healer.” Even as he sat in the darkest rooms of the cancer center, Pastor Walter carried a radiant hope and used every moment to share Christ with patients, nurses, and even his oncologist. When doctors said he would lose his ability to eat, speak, or avoid a feeding tube, the Lord sustained him with energy, healing, and boldness to pray for others. “Suffering will always squeeze out of you who you really are. And when the pressure came, Jesus came out.” This message reminds us that suffering is not the end of the story. Just as God protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3), Pastor Walter reminds us: “They said I would burn, but God said, ‘I’ll shield you from the effects.’” At the core of this message is the unshakable truth that the light of Christ shines brightest in our darkest seasons. “God puts a comma where Satan tries to put a period. The story isn’t over.” If you or someone you know is walking through a season of pain, trial, or uncertainty, let this message give you fresh faith. God is not finished with you. His light will break through. ✨ Stay connected:
YouTube | Instagram | Facebook: @socalteenchallenge
X (Twitter): @scteenchallenge
Website: teenchallenge.org

“Just as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” – Colossians 2:6

In this passionate, down-to-earth message, Micah Hale returns to the house where his life was radically changed—Teen Challenge. Preaching from Colossians 2 and 3, Micah urges us to not just start the journey with Christ, but to continue in Him. The walk of faith isn’t just about a moment—it’s about every step after.

With humor, vulnerability, and prophetic challenge, Micah shares what it means to secure your spiritual oxygen mask, put on your new identity, and live out the calling God has placed on your life. From personal stories of loss and transformation to strong reminders about gossip, honor, gentleness, and sacrificial love—this message is a spiritual wake-up call.

“Faith isn’t just what you say with your mouth. Faith has feet.”

“Put off gossip. Put on gentleness. You’ve never tried this new wardrobe on before.”

“Stop trying to earn God’s love—He already put His name on you.”

“You’ve been baptized in His love so you can go show it to the world.”

🗝️ Key Themes:

• Continuing to walk in Jesus after receiving Him (Colossians 2:6)

• Depending on God daily—like securing your own oxygen mask before helping others

• The struggle between old identity and new creation

• Putting off shame, gossip, pride—and putting on gentleness, honor, and forgiveness

• Living as a spiritual warrior born and trained in God’s house

• Showing others the love and mercy you’ve received 📖 Scripture References:

• Colossians 2:6–7 – “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him.”

• Colossians 3:10–14 – “Put on the new self… put on compassion, kindness, humility…”

• 1 Corinthians 13:11 – “When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”

• Romans 12:10 – “Outdo one another in showing honor.”

• Exodus 6:9 – “They did not listen… because of their broken spirit and cruel slavery.”

• Ephesians 6:15 – “With your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”

🙏 A Word for You:

Have you started the walk, but you're struggling to keep going?

Are you facing daily decisions where your flesh wants to go back, but the Spirit is calling you forward?

God is not finished with you. He’s training you, clothing you, strengthening you—and He’s not giving up.

👟 Faith has feet. Keep walking.

🧥 Put on your new self. You were made for this.

❤️‍🔥 You’re loved—and it’s time to share that love with others.

🔗 Follow & Connect:

📲 Instagram: @socalteenchallenge

🐦 X: @scteenchallenge

📘 Facebook: @socalteenchallenge

🌐 Learn more or get help: teenchallenge.org

“This is not a sunset—this is a sunrise.” In this powerful message from Mike Conway, we are invited into a deeper revelation of what it means to live unveiled—free from religious striving, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and transformed by the glory of God.

Drawing from 2 Corinthians 3:7–18, Mike calls us to stop clinging to performance-based religion and instead surrender to the radiant love and presence of God. The law engraved on stone brought condemnation, but the ministry of the Spirit brings freedom and lasting transformation. What God is doing in you may look messy—but that’s exactly where His glory shows up.

“God doesn’t want your effort—He wants your face.”

“Hope glows in the dark.”

“God’s glory rests on the biggest mess.”

Using the contrast between a veiled and unveiled life, this message challenges you to let go of fear, control, and performance and step into the childlike dependence that invites God’s presence. You don’t have to figure it all out—just reflect His light.

🗝️ Key Themes:

• Living with unveiled faces: surrendering control and embracing dependence on God

• Process sanctification vs. religious performance

• The difference between fear and freedom

• Reflecting God's glory in our weakness

• The presence of God as our greatest treasure

📖 Scripture References:

• 2 Corinthians 3:7–18 — “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

• Exodus 32–34 — Moses' encounter with God, the golden calf, and God's glory

• Jeremiah (referenced) — “Return to Me, give Me back your face…”

💬 Viewer Invitation:

Are you still striving? Still trying to hold it all together with religious effort? Jesus invites you to let go of the pegs, take off the veil, and come back to Him with your whole heart.

Return to the presence. Return to love. And let His Spirit transform you—glory to glory.

Drop a comment below if God spoke to you through this message. We’d love to hear how He’s unveiling His glory in your life.

🔗 Follow & Connect:

📲 Instagram: @socalteenchallenge

🐦 X (Twitter): @scteenchallenge

📘 Facebook: @socalteenchallenge

🌐 Learn more or get help at: teenchallenge.org

The Ready Heart: Living Fully Surrendered to God

Walter Colace delivers a Spirit-led, heart-searching message about what it means to be ready for God's presence. Drawing from Scripture and a lifetime of faithful ministry, he calls us to examine our hearts, lay down our pride, and allow the Holy Spirit to prepare us for a move of God.

💬 “The fire of God only falls on the altar of full surrender.”

💬 “Don’t harden your heart—let the Holy Spirit soften it today.”

💬 “God isn’t looking for perfection—He’s looking for a ready heart.”

💬 “It’s not about your past. It’s about your posture right now.”

🔑 Key Themes:

• Readiness is a heart posture of humility and surrender

• The Holy Spirit works in hearts that are soft, not resistant

• God’s presence comes to those who make room for Him

• Transformation begins when you stop resisting and start responding

• The fire of revival falls on surrendered hearts

📖 Scriptures Referenced:

• 2 Chronicles 16:9 – “The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

• Psalm 51:17 – “A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

• Hebrews 3:15 – “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

• Romans 12:1 – “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice…”

• James 4:6–8 – “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

🙏 A Word for You: Has your heart grown calloused? Are you resisting the very God who wants to heal and restore you? Today is the day to respond.

🛐 Lay down your pride.

🔥 Open up your heart.

🙏 Invite the Holy Spirit to change you from the inside out. You don’t need to fix yourself first—just bring your whole self to God in surrender. He’ll do the rest. He’s not waiting for your perfection. He’s waiting for your “yes.”

📲 Find more messages of hope and transformation:

🔗 teenchallenge.org

📱 Instagram | Facebook | YouTube: @socalteenchallenge

🐦 X (Twitter): @scteenchallenge

He Took the Stone Away: Resurrection Life Is Yours in Christ

In this powerful Spiritual Emphasis message, we are reminded that the same Jesus who rose from the grave is still rolling stones away today—stones of addiction, shame, spiritual death, and broken identity. But more than just moved aside, the stone was taken away. Gone. Removed forever.

💬 “Jesus ruins every funeral He walks into.”

💬 “That old man is not in there anymore—the stone has been taken away.”

💬 “You have a memorial stone in heaven with your story carved into it.”

Pastor Gary Wilkerson shares a deeply personal and prophetic word rooted in John 11 and John 20, weaving together the resurrection of Lazarus, the empty tomb, and the unbinding of the grave clothes. With honest vulnerability, he testifies of watching his own son go from passed out in a rehab center bathroom to graduating seminary with highest honors—because Jesus took the stone away.

📖 Scriptures Referenced:

John 11:38–44 — Lazarus raised from the dead

John 20:1 — The stone was taken away

2 Corinthians 5:17 — “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”

Romans 6:4 — “We too might walk in newness of life.”

Key Themes:

Jesus not only forgives—you are made new.

Your identity is forever changed when the stone is lifted.

Spiritual death isn’t the end—resurrection power is available now.

Healing takes place not just instantly but through community.

Discipleship is the unwrapping of grave clothes.

You’re Not Who You Were.

That part of you—the bound-up, broken, addicted part—was buried. But Jesus didn’t just roll the stone aside. He took it away. And just like Lazarus, you are being unwrapped by love, community, and truth.

Let others help you. Embrace correction. Receive your freedom.

🎯 What will you do with this moment?

Will you live like the stone is still there? Or will you run into the light of your glorious day?

🕊️ Response Invitation: If there are still “grave clothes” clinging to you—discouragement, isolation, anger, unforgiveness—let Jesus and the community He’s placed around you pull them off. Don’t walk out of the grave just to stay bound. Walk free. Live unwrapped.

📲 Stay connected for more life-changing messages:

Instagram, Facebook, YouTube: @socalteenchallenge

X (Twitter): @scteenchallenge

Learn more: teenchallenge.org

From Death to Life: Your New Identity in Christ

In this moving and powerful message, Evan Wilkerson opens up about his personal journey through addiction, shame, and hopelessness—and the overwhelming mercy and love of God that brought him back to life. Preaching from Ephesians 2, Evan reminds us that we were once dead in sin, but God, rich in mercy, raised us up and seated us in heavenly places with Christ. You are no longer defined by your past. You are now a beloved child of God, fully forgiven and deeply loved.

💬 “I was once a child of wrath. But God, being rich in mercy, made me alive with Christ.”

💬 “What the enemy meant to destroy me—God turned into a weapon for His glory.”

💬 “You don’t have to strive anymore. You can rest in His love.”

💬 “The same love the Father has for Jesus… He now has for you.”

💬 “You’ve been raised to new life. You’re not who you used to be.”

🔑 Key Themes:

• Identity in Christ: dead to sin, alive in Christ

• God’s mercy and grace are greater than your past

• Spiritual blessings have been freely given to believers

• The believer is fully accepted and loved like Jesus

• Rest replaces striving when you understand your identity

📖 Scriptures Referenced:

Ephesians 2:1–6 – “But God, being rich in mercy…”

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ…”

John 17:23 – “You have loved them even as You loved Me”

Romans 6:4 – “We were buried with Him… so that we may walk in newness of life”

2 Corinthians 5:21 – “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us…”

Colossians 3:3 – “Your life is now hidden with Christ in God”

🙏 An Invitation to Respond:

Are you tired of trying to prove yourself? Do you feel disqualified by your past?

👉 You don’t have to strive anymore. Jesus already paid it all.

👉 You’ve been raised to new life.

👉 God has already accepted you—not for what you’ve done, but because of what Jesus did.

💥 Let go of shame. Let go of guilt.

📖 Go back to Ephesians 2 and remember: You were dead—but now you’re alive in Christ.

You’re not just forgiven… you’re beloved. You’re not just restored… you’re seated in heavenly places. You’re not just surviving… you’re chosen, adopted, and transformed.

📲 Stay connected and find more stories of hope:

🔗 Website: teenchallenge.org

📱 Instagram | Facebook | YouTube: @socalteenchallenge

🐦 X (Twitter): @scteenchallenge

The Word Will Keep You: Finding Light in Dark Times

Rosie Weir delivers a passionate and truth-filled message on the transforming power of God’s Word. With bold conviction and motherly love, she reminds us that we are here today by the grace of God—and if we want to stay free, we must let the truth of Scripture renew our minds, expose lies, and fill our lives with light.

💬 “You didn’t save yourself. You didn’t even know how to get here—but God rescued you.”

💬 “The devil’s a liar. He can’t stand when you speak the Word of God, because he knows it’s your weapon.”

💬 “You don’t need 100 prayers. Sometimes all you need is one cry: ‘Help.’ And God shows up.”

💬 “You have a way out now. You don’t have to live in fear, depression, addiction, or shame anymore.”

💬 “Read it. Speak it. Believe it. The Word will keep you.”

🔑 Key Themes:

• The Word of God is alive and sharper than any sword

• Lies are broken when truth enters your mind

• Real repentance is a change in thinking, not just emotion

• Trusting God like a child brings supernatural peace

• You have hope, a future, and a reason to keep going

📖 Scriptures Referenced:

• Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

• Psalm 119:130 – “The entrance of Your words gives light…”

• Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You.”

• Matthew 6:27, 31, 34 – “Take no thought… do not worry about tomorrow.”

• Romans 12:2 – “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

• Hebrews 4:12 – “The Word of God is living and active, dividing soul and spirit…”

• John 8:32 – “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”

🙏 A Word for You:

Are you tired of trying to figure life out on your own? Are your thoughts heavy, anxious, or stuck in lies?

👉 God’s Word is your anchor.

👉 Speak it out loud. Read it every day. Let it renew your mind.

👉 You can live in peace. You can break free from old patterns.

👉 You don’t need to know everything—just trust like a child. The Word will light your path and keep you steady.

🛐 Prayer: “Jesus, I’m done trying to fix my life in my own strength. I receive Your Word, and I ask You to transform the way I think. I choose truth over lies, peace over fear, and trust over control. Keep me on the narrow path.”

📲 Stay connected and find more stories of hope:

🔗 Website: teenchallenge.org

📱 Instagram | Facebook | YouTube: @socalteenchallenge

🐦 X (Twitter): @scteenchallenge

Don’t Be Scared. Don’t Run. Just Walk.

In this passionate and deeply personal message, Pastor Jamal Alexander speaks to the heart of every man and woman in the fight of their life—walking through darkness, struggling with purpose, and tempted to give up. With clarity, compassion, and conviction, he reminds us that darkness is not the end of the story—it’s the beginning of creation, the stage of redemption, and the proving ground of purpose.

💬 “In the beginning, God saw the darkness—and started creating.”

💬 “Don’t run from the darkness. Walk through it. God is forming you.”

💬 “Even Jesus, in His darkest moment, said: ‘Not my will, but Yours be done.’”

💬 “The Holy Spirit wasn’t just hovering over creation—He’s hovering over your life too.”

💬 “Your shepherd is walking with you, guiding you, and forming you—for life beyond the valley.”

🔑 Key Themes:

• Finding purpose in the middle of darkness

• Embracing God’s process of formation, even in pain

• Staying focused when everything around you is chaotic

• The power of the Holy Spirit to help you walk, not run

• Honesty before God is the gateway to transformation

📖 Scriptures Referenced:

• Genesis 1:1–3 – God speaks light into the darkness

• Matthew 27 – Jesus faces the cross and darkness falls

• Psalm 23 – “Even though I walk through the darkest valley…”

• Luke 22:42 – “Not my will, but Yours be done”

• Romans 8:11 – The Spirit who raised Jesus gives life to your mortal body

🙏 Challenge to the Viewer:

Are you in a dark place right now?

Do you feel like giving up, like the process is too much?

God’s not afraid of your darkness—He moves in it.

👉 Don’t run. Don’t panic. Just walk.

👉 Get honest with God. Cry out to Him. Tell Him how you really feel.

👉 The Spirit of God is with you. He’s forming you. Shaping you. Strengthening you.

👉 This valley is not your end—it’s where resurrection life begins.

“I feel like going on… though trials come on every hand, I feel like going on.”

📲 Stay connected and find more stories of hope:

🔗 Website: teenchallenge.org

📱 Instagram | Facebook | YouTube: @socalteenchallenge

🐦 X (Twitter): @scteenchallenge

Your Attitude of Approach: Finding Joy in Life’s Roller Coaster

Life has its ups and downs—twists, turns, and unexpected drops. In this powerful and deeply personal message, John Meadors shares how your attitude of approach to life determines whether you live defeated or full of joy. From wooden roller coasters to painful trials, this message weaves humor, heartbreak, and hope into a compelling call to rejoice in the Lord always.

💬 “Rejoicing is not ignoring reality—it’s recognizing a new reality.”

💬 “Your circumstances don’t define your identity—God’s Word does.”

💬 “When you lose your joy, you lose your strength. But joy comes when you remember who you are and whose you are.”

💬 “Dreams rise out of the fog when you trust that God still loves you—and still has a plan.”

🔑 Key Themes:

• Joy is a decision, not an emotion

• Don’t let circumstances or people steal your joy

• Focus on eternal realities, not temporary setbacks

• God-given dreams are worth believing in

• Rejoicing is the gateway to spiritual resilience

📖 Scriptures Referenced:

• Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

• 2 Corinthians 11:24–27 – Paul’s hardships and perseverance

• James 1:2–4 – “Count it all joy when you face various trials”

• Psalm 20:4 – “May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed”

• Philippians 4:8 – “Whatever is true, noble, right, pure… think on these things”

• Job 19:25–27 – “I know that my Redeemer lives…”

🙏 A Heartfelt Challenge:

What is your attitude of approach?

Are you living under the weight of disappointment, fear, or negative self-talk?

👉 Rejoicing doesn’t mean denying pain—it means choosing to trust God anyway.

👉 Don’t let joy slip away. God loves you, He sees you, and He’s working—even when you don’t feel it.

🛐 Pray today: “Lord, help me shift my focus. Let me rejoice in who You are and who You say I am. Teach me to live with eternal vision, confident that You are guiding me.”

📲 Stay connected and find more stories of hope:

🔗 Website: teenchallenge.org

📱 Instagram | Facebook | YouTube: @socalteenchallenge

🐦 X (Twitter): @scteenchallenge