Teen Challenge boys escaped and now returned
Two juveniles who reside at Prayer Mountain Teen Challenge in Meansville have been returned after leaving the premises Wednesday.
The youths were reported missing around 5:30 p.m. Pike County deputies heavily patrolled the area looking for them. A lookout was also issued to surrounding counties, according to investigator David Neal.
They were found by 9 p.m. in Upson County and brought to Pike by Upson County deputies. They were returned to Teen Challenge, Neal said.
"They just ran away and were picked up," he said.
The juveniles were from out of state, he added.
Teen Challenge won its nearly three year battle to operate a boarding facility, school and ministry for troubled teen boys in Pike County and was granted a special expception at the Jan. 27 meeting. The facility is on a 36-acre property on Highway 19, formerly the location of The Church at Grace Hill. The land is also part of what is called Prayer Mountain.
Approval came with stipulations. Teen Challenge Prayer Mountain Boys Academy shall accept boys ages 13-18 only, and no student over 18 shall be allowed to reside there. Additionally, if any student is convicted of committing bodily harm on any citizen of Pike County while enrolled or in residence at the academy, commissioners may reconsider the special exception allowing its operation as per the zoning ordinance criteria.
They were found by 9 p.m. in Upson County and brought to Pike by Upson County deputies. They were returned to Teen Challenge, Neal said.
"They just ran away and were picked up," he said.
The juveniles were from out of state, he added.
Teen Challenge won its nearly three year battle to operate a boarding facility, school and ministry for troubled teen boys in Pike County and was granted a special expception at the Jan. 27 meeting. The facility is on a 36-acre property on Highway 19, formerly the location of The Church at Grace Hill. The land is also part of what is called Prayer Mountain.
Approval came with stipulations. Teen Challenge Prayer Mountain Boys Academy shall accept boys ages 13-18 only, and no student over 18 shall be allowed to reside there. Additionally, if any student is convicted of committing bodily harm on any citizen of Pike County while enrolled or in residence at the academy, commissioners may reconsider the special exception allowing its operation as per the zoning ordinance criteria.
www.teenchallengeexposed.com
maybe it will enlighten some blinded eyes. The people who believe they are doing some great christian service need to wake up and smell what they have brought into our community. Better yet, why don't you move to our end of the county, build your homes surrounding Teen Challenge and provide us with a victim barrier ,so we can feel a little safer when we go to bed at night. Any takers?
It is comforting to know however that if one of us is assaulted or caused harm by a Teen Challenge resident, the BOC will "reconsider" the exception. Do we need to draw straws or what?
What did the Alday family do to deserve this? THEY CAME HOME. I hope the commissioners take this incident as a light at the end of the tunnel to correct their mistake before it becomes a train coming in their direction...
The other problem with this T.C. Philosopy is that brow beating God into people {young or old} to make them conform to acceptable behavior does one of two things to a person.
1: turns them into Jesus freaks that can no longer think for themselves.
2: hardens a persons heart against God
either one of these options is a terrible existance that I would not wish on anyone.
When news accounts state "escaped," that's exactly what it means.
*Statistics from Wikipedia
First ... Many thanks to Tommy Powers. We all know that you, alone, tried to stop the approval for the Teen Challenge Center for Juvenile Deliquents.
Second ... Remember that the Teen Challenge Center does not have any local connections, other than the donated land. They are incarcerating juvenile deliquents in Pike County and the Georgia Department of Corrections is not involved.DFACS should look into the Center.
Third ... a little refresher. Following the January, 2009 approval of the Teen Challenge Center for Juvenile Deliquents by all of the Pike County Commissioners, except Tommy Powers, we learned a lot about the dirt that is now called the Teen Challenge Center for Juvenile Deliquents.
*- The Church at Grace Hill was there for some years. It failed and a resident of Spalding County bought the property for $325,000. The weasel who "pastored" that church seems to have crawled off into the bushes with that $325,000.
*- The Spalding County resident who donated the property to the First Assembly of God of Griffin, Georgia (FAG). A legal transaction and very noble of the donor.
*- FAG then donated the property to Teen Challenge of FLORIDA ... not Georgia ... not Teen Challenge International BUT Teen Challenge of Florida.
*- Teen Challenge of Georgia operates similar centers and seems to have a grasp of their operation. Incidentally, there is a native of Pike County on the Executive Board of Teen Challenge Georgia. Apparently he was never contacted.
*- The "pastor" of FAG is known to be a control freak who has more contacts in Florida that he has in Georgia. Not sure if that is any motivation for donating the property to Teen Challenge of Florida but HMMMmmm ... looks funny.
Fourth - When the Church at Grace Hill failed, the First Assembly of God of Pike County assumed the incorporation and non-profit status of The Church at Grace Hill. (see GA Secretary of State website) HOWEVER ... The First Assembly of God of Pike County seems to have absolutely no interest in the Teen Challenge Center for Juvenile Deliquents. Why? What do they know? In the politics that infects church-life it may have been better not to fight the TYPE-A "pastor" of FAG.
SUMMATION - PIKE COUNTY CITIZENS:
*- you have been betrayed by all of the Pike County Commissioners, except Tommy Powers.
*- your commissioners have, for some reason, fought to rubber-stamp the efforts of the "pastor" of FAG to bring you the Teen Challenge Center for Juvenile Deliquents.
*- you have two choices live with it and "see what happens" or show up at all commissioners meetings and let your voice be heard. This approval can be revoked.
Give the Commissioners a call:
District 1, Mr. Roosevelt Willis: 770-567-8111
District 2, Mr. Parrish Swift: 770-296-8160
District 3, Mr. Tommy Powers: 770-567-3747
District 4, Mr. Don Collins: # not published
Remember, lawyers who are paid by the commissioners work for the commissioners ... not the citizens.
Regards,
Justin Cayce
I bet "They Won't."
I was a member of one of the churches that merged(Pike Assembly and Grace Hill) This merge took place before the sale of the property and Grace Hill ceased to be. Pike Assembly did not have to assume the non-profit status of Grace Hill. It had been a church long before Grace Hill had ever come to be, first on Kings Road and then on Highway 109. At the time of the sale, Pike Assembly had already merged with Grace Hill so all monies went through that church in order to further the cause of Christ in this county, home missions, and abroad. So therefore, no one hid in the bushes with anything.
Secondly I have never been under the impression that Pike Assembly has abandoned the Teen Challenge cause. Maybe you should call the church and ask them before you assume such.
I will not comment on your other points since I have no firsthand knowledge of them.
Respectfully yours
There was never any intention to cast any negative impression on The Pike County Assembly of God; nor its staff; nor its members. All are known, at least state-wide to be of high moral character. The Pike County Assembly of God, by all accounts, is focused on the high-calling of spreading the Good Word that Jesus Christ is Lord of All. The mention of Pike County Assembly of God was meant as a complement, since there is not a hint of malfeasance in the action(s) of Pike County Assembly of God.
Using an internet connection, ANYONE may go to www.georgiacorporations.org , provided by the State of Georgia, Secretary of State Office. Using this as a resource, search for any corporation with “grace hill” in the name and search for any corporation with “pike county assembly God” in the name.
As of April 13, 2009, the corporate structure and registration of “Pike County Assembly of God, Inc.” and “The Church at Grace Hill, Inc.” is as follows:
Both are active corporations and renewed as of 02/20/2009.
Both are shown at the same address – 4990 Hwy 19S, Zebulon, GA 30295.
Both have the same Registered Agent, which is part of the Articles of Incorporation.
Both have the same Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Both have the same Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
Both have the same Secretary.
It is … what it is … these items are factual.
Both may have the same board of trustees, but that has not been confirmed.
The Pike County Assembly of God and the former Church at Grace Hill are a part of the same local church. There is nothing wrong with that. It should be clear that the organization known as Pike County Assembly of God showed Christian Compassion to the remaining members of the failed Church at Grace Hill and welcomed them to join their congregation to worship Jesus, our Risen Lord. This item is factual, was recently confirmed and there is nothing wrong with that situation.
It should be intuitively obvious that the Pike County Assembly of God knew that the Teen Challenge Center for the Incarceration of Juvenile Delinquents at Grace Hill, a wholly owned subsidiary of Teen Challenge of Florida and managed by The First Assembly of God of Griffin, Georgia (FAG) was a mess that was not going promote the mission of Teen Challenge International.
Additionally, the top executive of the Georgia District Council of The Assemblies of God (www.gadistag.org) is a native of Pike County and could probably serve to get the First Assembly of God of Griffin (FAG) out of the daily business of maintaining the inmates at the Teen Challenge Center for the Incarceration of Juvenile Delinquents.
At that point, the three blind commissioners of Pike County could find their collective manhood and get back to promoting the safety and welfare of the citizens of Pike County. Pike County Commissioner Tommy Powers has tried to prevent this from the beginning.
Griffin didnt even want T.C. what's that tell you.
I don't know if this was addressed to me if not just ignore this. LOL I did address my points. I just dont see "just in cases" reasoning in bringing up the seller of the property. Especially when he doesn't know the specifics of the sale,where the money went,(which he implies that he does know), and what the ties are to people.Since when does the seller become responsible for what is done with the property after it is sold? He doesn't even know the name of the place. It is actually called Prayer Mountain Boys Academy. I have no problem with people voicing their views on the article, but what he did was drag in churches, pastors, and he didn't even get their stands on Teen Challenge right. I think you and I both agree that if people would make their voice heard at the ballot box we would be a lot more effective. If you want to know where people stand for goodness sake call them and ask them. At least then you won't be voting blindly.
As always
Respectfully yours
The Teen Challenge organization has a very long and honorable reputation. Reverend Greg W. Keylon has excellent qualifications and experience. By reputation, it is believable that Rev. Keylon will do everything in his power to perform his duties and make his chapter of Teen Challenge in Pike County a wonderful neighbor.
Let’s make a hypothetical assumption that The Teen Challenge Prayer Mountain Boys Academy operates on that beautiful 30+ acres in the South of Pike County for 25+ years without a negative report.
All involved will sing the praises of those who had the wisdom to bring Teen Challenge Prayer Mountain Boys Academy to Pike County, Georgia.
Now, let’s pose a hypothetical situation that The Teen Challenge Prayer Mountain Boys Academy operates on that beautiful 30+ acres in the South of Pike County and at some point a situation occurs that cannot be resolved by peaceful negotiation at a Pike County Commissioners meeting. Let’s further assume that, on behalf of the Citizens of Pike County, the Commissioners seek to remedy our hypothetical situation by law suit.
As of April, 2009, the property has changed hands from a long time church owner, to a private citizen, to a church in Griffin, Georgia and the current owner is Teen Challenge of Florida.
Who would the Pike County Commissioners sue?
All involved, under that situation, might wonder why the Commissioners didn’t take a look at the chain of ownership before granting the zoning request.
The long time church owner has done nothing wrong. The private citizen was noble in his gift and has done nothing wrong. The church in Griffin, Georgia has done nothing wrong. The current owner, in Florida, has done nothing wrong in the lawful transference of the ownership.
The Pike County Commissioners should think better!
WHAT IS THE POINT?
Let’s look at several examples that have happened in Griffin, Spalding County, Georgia over a number of years that those Citizens are enduring because elected officials did not perform “Due Diligence” in making their decisions. Those Commissioners, of past years, did not consider the ownership before awarding the zoning change request. Their Citizens have lived with some of those mistakes for decades.
1. Rock Quarry on Rover-Zetella Road in SW Spalding near the Pike County border. Drive by sometime and notice that it is much larger that the Citizens ever expected. There are a large number of vacant houses, in the area, because the residents could not endure the noise, dust and trucks. Their property may have been purchased but they did not choose to move. If the Commissioners had tried to remedy that situation in court, they might have had to file suit in Florida where the Company Headquarters is located.
2. Access to Butts County Land Fill on Bailey-Jester Road in East Spalding County. Drive by sometime and notice that it is much larger that the Citizens ever expected. During the day a constant stream of tractor-trailer garbage trucks bring garbage through Spalding County to the Butts County Land fill that is on their common border. Anyone can take anything to that dump. If those County Commissioners have to remedy some situation in court, they might have to file suit against Butts County as well as numerous Commercial Companies.
3. One Griffin Square, the New City Hall. Over a lot of protest, the Griffin City Commissioners purchased the Bank Tower in the middle of town. They can’t efficiently or effectively use that property but the taxpayers of Griffin & Spalding County are paying for it and they have no recourse.
HELP THE COMMISSIONERS!
Let’s make it the business of the Citizens of Pike County to think better about changes that affect daily life, as well as, future considerations. Remember that lawyers that are hired by the Commissioners work for the Commissioners BUT their bill is paid by the taxpayers. All Citizens of Pike County should be involved in the Commissioners meetings. Call your Commissioner and let him know where you stand. Each Citizen is entitled to be respected for their decision. Each Citizen is entitled to agree or disagree with other Citizens and/or the Commissioners.
This is freedom on a very local level. Use it while you have it!
HELP THE TEEN CHALLENGE PRAYER MOUNTAIN BOYS ACADEMY!
Approximately two miles north of the Teen Challenge property is a property that is 80+ acres, more than twice the size of the Teen Challenge property, which has been there for 50+ years.
Pike County Citizens have lived, at peace, with The Georgia Baptist Children’s Home for a long time. They do a great work. They are helping some of the most vulnerable in our society, our children. Let’s lock arms with Rev. Greg W. Keylon and try to make sure that they have the same support that the Good People of Pike County is known to give to The Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. Rev. Keylon will work countless hours to earn your respect.
FINALLY!
It seems intuitively obvious that the chain of ownership might be beneficial data to use in making decisions that affect zoning change requests. It is possible that the Commissioners found the same information that is available to ordinary citizens and decided that it was worth the risk.
This time, the three blind Pike County Commissioners, will probably never regret their decision. As always, Tommy Powers has done an excellent job. He did his best and voted his conscience. Thanks to Mr. Tommy Powers.
Many thanks, also to Walter Geiger and the Pike County Journal-Reporter for providing this “soap box” for open discussion. More Citizens need to participate in such open discussion in order to educate each other.
Regards,
Justin Cayce