Words from our Director:
My name is James N. Hughes, III and I am the Director of the Alabama Teen Challenge - MCS. Born and raised in a small town in Northwest Alabama named Sulligent, I now reside in Daphne, AL with my beautiful bride, Naida Lynn. We are newlyweds who enjoy traveling, taking our dog to the dog park, and serving our local church.
A childhood sports prodigy with dreams of playing collegiate ball and one day coaching, my future was set. That was until life threw a curve ball in the form of my father passing when I was 15. Having already been dabbling in drugs and alcohol, the death threw me into a despair that would lead to 14 years of major drug abuse, several rehab stints, 14 arrests and years of imprisonment.
As the saying goes, ‘But God!’ In 2014, God came calling in a way I couldn’t ignore. Through a series of events that only God could orchestrate, I found myself walking through the doors of Teen Challenge Bay Minette. My life would never be the same. Through the ministry of TC, I was radically saved, delivered, filled with the Holy Spirit, and called into ministry.
Upon graduating a year later, I moved back home and served at my local church for 2 years before going to ministry school in Charlotte, NC in 2017. There I obtained a 3-year Bible degree in Practical Ministry with concentrations in Church Leadership & Evangelism. I was ordained as an Evangelist and served as youth pastor and Outreach Coordinator at Fire Church International for 2 1/2 years before relocating back to Alabama in August of 2020.
Upon returning to Alabama, I went on to serve as a Life Coach and Intake Coordinator at Teen Challenge Lincoln for several months. It was during this time that I met my wife, Naida, who among other things is a Pastor’s Daughter, worship leader, and has served in ministry for several years.
Soon after we got engaged, I was given the opportunity to lead the Teen Challenge Bay Minette Center in April 2021 as Director. It was a full circle moment and exactly 7 years after I had first stepped foot into the building. It is now my privilege to lead both my home and MCS toward greater levels of life and fruitfulness through the person of Jesus Christ.
