Update: Mr. Austen completed at TCIMA toward the end of January 2007 and served on staff at Teen Challenge of Greater Cleveland in Perry, Ohio, for almost a year. On April 19, 2008, David J. Austen went to his eternal home.
It was at this time that God saw fit to take my 15 year old youngest brother in a freak accident at home. I was not mature enough in my faith and became very angry with God. I disassociated myself from my Christian friends, resigned my church membership and turned my back on God. I began a downward spiral that would extend for almost 30 years. My time was invested in my career, drinking and any sinful pleasures that Satan placed before me. I turned away from failed marriages, three beautiful children, several homes, wasted finances, and finally retired early from my career as an Assistant Police Chief.
I turned my back on God, but He never left my side. In Luke 15, Jesus tells of the good shepherd who leaves the flock of 99 sheep to find the lost one. Jesus had His hand on my life all these years, protecting me. I had tried different types of rehabilitation techniques to cure “alcoholism”, the problem as I viewed it. I’ve learned now that what I suffered from was a sin problem. Bitterness and unresolved issues in my life needed to be addressed through a return to Jesus. When I found Teen Challenge I truly believed this to be my last hope in salvaging what was left of my earthly life and redirecting my spiritual life to Christ.
My life had been spared on several occasions, the most recent a two month hospital stay, half of which I spent in a coma I was not expected to survive. God, in His grace and mercy, had other plans. He restored my physical life and opened a door here for me at Teen Challenge.
In Ephesians 6:10-18 Paul talks about the armor of God and using it to fight the spiritual war we are daily engaged in. Being a former SWAT member, I am no stranger to body armor, weapons, or warfare tactics. I studied my enemy, learned from my mistakes as well as others, maintained my equipment, was proficient with its use, replaced it and updated it. God had allowed me to be successful in these types of confrontations. However, I was losing ground in a spiritual war that I showed up for “unarmed.”
God directed my path here to Teen Challenge, where I have been able to focus strictly on getting right with Jesus and letting Him be the leader of my life. Group and individual studies have assisted me in renewing my mind and strength. Today I wear a different kind of armor and carry a weapon that doesn’t need a holster, “The Word of God.” Experience has shown me it prevents serious injury and in this case spiritual death.