The Lincoln’s Challenge program 
Implosion, Reconstruction and Restoration
Most Americans don’t believe in magic but they
do love those movies that tell the story of “dreams come true”.
Many young adults believe life can’t change and wouldn’t want to pay the
price if it could. Most people would willingly just sit still even
if they sit in the midst of pain, failure and a sprinkling of relief.
We are talking about the human condition. We are talking about the
absence of change in the midst of a failing life style. We’re talking
about the stuff that The Lincoln’s Challenge Program works with.
It is in the midst of defeat and discouragement;
mind-altering chemicals find fertile ground to grow. Alcohol, drugs
and smoke give relief and brief emotional feelings of calm. They also
offer the opportunity for prison time, behaviors that raise illegal money
and they bring the young adult into world of deviousness, secrecy and separation
from their community.
But in the midst of this bleak story, hope emerges.
It’s a hope based on “cleaning up”, restoring physical health and having
successful experiences. 
It’s a hope based on making new friends and a walking away from a failing
life style. It’s having a guide who will knock the cadet back on course
when he “slips”.
The steps to this success for the cadet begin with
giving up old ways, old friends and a life style of failure. It is
a forced change that fills the cadet with mixed feelings, a little anger
and a lot of exhaustion. The Lincoln’s Challenge program first takes
away past behavior patterns. That’s necessary before the cadet can
accept a new life pattern. It’s tough and some cadets will leave first.
That’s their choice.
It’s when the mind is empty, hurting, lonely and
hopeless in which the magic begins. It’s a gift from The Lincoln’s
Challenge Program. It’s self-pride. It’s the rebirth of hope.
It’s the concrete foundation upon which one can build a sturdy life structure.
It’s a strange new life experience for many cadets. It feels like magic
but it’s truly the life style that must exist before anyone can have success.
Like pulling the rabbit out of the hat, The Lincoln’s
Challenge program does magic. From failure,
the cadet moves to a hopeful future. From an imprisoned mind, the
cadet finds the confidence to follow the highest personal dream. From
a future of defeat, the cadet emerges strong and ready to meet personally
selected goals.
We really aren’t talking magic. We’re talking
about the “sleeping dream” of every young citizen to to find success in our
society. We’re talking about damaged human goods restored. We’re
talking about a second
change for a few folks who have nearly given up. The Lincoln’s Challenge
Program serves this community and the young adults who dwell here in a most
special way. It gives some of our youth a rare second chance.
It’s a priceless program
that restores hopeless lives.