Returning to Shenandoah Valley Teen Challenge
As I sit down with my cup of coffee this morning, I'm filled with gratitude and anticipation for this new season that Ashley and I are stepping into. After many years away, we are returning to Shenandoah Valley Adult Teen Challenge, a place where our hearts have always remained rooted.
Our journey began over a decade ago when we first served at SVATC from 2007 to 2019. The people we met, the lives we saw transformed, and God's power to restore made our time there unforgettable. Now, coming back as Directors, we're reminded that God's plans often come full circle.
For those who don't know us well yet, let me share a little about our story. I'm currently the pastor at Brookside Church in Middletown, VA. I also host the "Rebuilding Life After Addiction" podcast, where I share my journey as a former addict turned pastor. I want every person to know that their past does not limit their future.
Ashley, my wife and graduate of Christ for the Nations Institute, is a passionate advocate for raising Godly children and supporting vulnerable kids through foster care and adoption. Since 2020, we have been blessed to welcome children into our home as committed foster and adoptive parents, all while homeschooling our four beautiful daughters.
Returning to SVATC is not just a career move; it's a calling. The lives transformed by Christ through the ministry have forever left a mark on our hearts, and we believe God has called us back to continue that legacy.
We hope to build on the work accomplished by my Dad and pave the way for more stories of redemption and freedom.
As we step out, we are incredibly thankful for all your prayers and support.
To stay up to date on our ministry journey and receive encouraging stories of transformation, join our email list.
Your support and prayers mean the world to us as we walk together in Christ.
Get Hope in Your Inbox
GET HOPE IN YOUR INBOX
Encouragement, recovery insights, and ministry updates.
About the Author
Justin Franich
Justin is a former meth addict who went through Teen Challenge in 2005 and now serves families through resources, referrals, and real talk on recovery.
Continue Your Journey
The Future Of Shenandoah Valley Teen Challenge
Over two decades after its founding, Shenandoah Valley Teen Challenge is transitioning from residential programming back to a community-based recovery model rooted in its original mission.
Related Articles
Two Nights with Josh Baldwin: A Shenandoah Valley Worship Experience
Two churches. Two nights. Nearly 1,000 people. Josh Baldwin led worship across the Shenandoah Valley-and one of those nights brought me back to the church where I was baptized twenty years ago.
Ben Fuller at Winchester Church of God: More Than a Concert
750 people packed Winchester Church of God for a night with Ben Fuller. The altar stayed open from the first song to the last. This wasn't a concert-it was ministry.
My Father Helped a Few People Get Their Lives Back
A tribute to my father, Rev. John Franich founder of Shenandoah Valley Teen Challenge and the quiet, faithful obedience that helped break a cycle in our family and restore hundreds of lives.