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John and Lynne Shewman
After an addiction that started in his teens, John finally decided to get help at the age of 29. In 2001, he left his wife, Lynne, and their children to enter the Teen Challenge of Middle Georgia program. After graduating, John received a call from God. So he stayed at Teen Challenge of Middle Georgia where he began work as an intern. After working for a year, his family began the process of physically reuniting. In 2004, Lynne and the children moved to Dublin to join with John and begin their life serving the men at Teen Challenge of Middle Georgia.

Lynne eventually joined the team as an Administrative Assistant in 2006 after feeling her own burden for ministry. Their 16-year marriage is now stronger than ever, as they feel their call to ministry confirmed every day. They have two daughters and one son.

John currently serves Teen Challenge of Middle Georgia as Program Director.

Kathy Bracewell
In June 2006, after recently moving to the Dublin area, Kathy began work at Teen Challenge of Middle Georgia as a part-time Receptionist. Shortly thereafter, she became a full-time team member.

Kathy had been self-employed for most of her adult life, so when she was given the opportunity to be a part of the Teen Challenge ministry; she felt it was her blessing, her reward! Kathy expresses that she is humbly honored to be able to witness the miracle of lives changed through trust in Jesus. She says that seeing and hearing the testimonies, gives you a feeling that words just can’t describe.

Kathy is a life-long Georgia resident. She is married and has 2 children, 2 step-children and 3 step-grandchildren.


Charlie Bradley
Bro. Charlie Bradley serves as a Counselor at Teen Challenge of Middle Georgia. He was born in Sylvester, Georgia and is a veteran of the United States Air Force. After realizing that his drug and alcoholic addiction was destroying his life, Charlie cried out to God for help. Subsequently, God directed his footsteps to a substance abuse treatment program at the Carl Vinson Medical Center in Dublin. After his deliverance, the Lord placed a desire on his heart to help others who were suffering from addiction. In 1996, Charlie returned to college and in 2004, he graduated from Brewton Parker College. In 2005, the Lord blessed him with an opportunity to become a part of the awesome ministry of Teen Challenge. Since coming into this ministry, Charlie has been blessed to witness God’s transforming power in the lives of numerous men and their families.


Jim Fennell
Rev. Jim Fennell is the head of our Pastoral Counseling department. A pastor for more than 30 years, Bro. Jim has a deep concern for the students, their families and the ministry of Teen Challenge. His extensive experience in pastoral counseling makes him especially suited for sharing both the Mind of Christ and the Love of God with both the student body and the staff.





Brian Grady
Brian hails from Thomasville, Georgia. He completed the Dublin Teen Challenge program in December of 2006 and has been a servant here ever since. Prior to coming to Teen Challenge of Middle Georgia, Brian was a music teacher. He holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. The desire of Brian’s heart is to give back to the students that which was so freely given to him and to help the students form a meaningful relationship with Christ. Brian currently serves Teen Challenge of Middle Georgia as the Vocational Coordinator.





Jerry Hart
After 15 years of addiction to drugs and alcohol, Jerry found himself totally hopeless and bankrupt in every way-- Mentally, physically, emotionally, socially, financially and spiritually. It was then that he cried out to God for help and began to experience God’s hand in his life. God began to place Godly people in Jerry’s life and with the help of a pastor in Savannah, GA., he was introduced to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to the Teen Challenge program. Jerry completed Teen Challenge in 1996 and has been a part of the ministry ever since. Today he serves in the Educational Department and helps equip others with the tools needed to face challenges in their life. God has blessed him with a wonderful wife, (Melissa) who is also actively serving in the Administrative Department. THERE IS HOPE FOR YOU TODAY!

Melissa Hart
Melissa started working at Teen Challenge of Middle Georgia five and half years ago. After graduating from the Teen Challenge women’s center in Columbus, Georgia, she knew God had placed a call on her life for full-time ministry. She considers herself blessed to be a part of Teen Challenge and to see the lives of others changed by the POWER OF GOD, just as her life was changed six and half years ago. Melissa and her husband, Jerry, live in Eastman, Georgia. She is the mother of four children; Will, Laken, Harley, and Isaiah.

Melissa currently serves Teen Challenge of Middle Georgia full-time in the area of Administration and Program Intakes.


Corey Paradie
Corey Paradie is a Counselor at Teen Challenge of Middle Georgia. Corey attended and graduated from Mid-America Teen Challenge in Cape Girardeau, Missouri where he gave his life to Jesus Christ. After graduating, he went to TCIMI (Teen Challenge International Ministry Institute) in Jacksonville, Florida. There he studied Biblical counseling and gained additional training geared towards men with life-controlling problems. Corey has been at Teen Challenge of Middle Georgia for over three years now and feels honored to serve. His goal is to guide the men that come here seeking help, into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.




Clayton Stone
Raised in a Christian family in Senatobia, MS, Clay found himself straying from God throughout his late teens and twenties. After several treatment centers and much personal loss, he showed up at the doors of Teen Challenge of Middle Georgia in 2003. It was there that God was able to begin mending and molding. Clay expresses his excitement about a fulfilling life in Christ and to know that he is still being molded into the Christian man that God intended. Clay humbly and diligently serves this ministry because of all that Christ, through this ministry, did for him. Clayton serves in the area of Information Technology.