Rashad Hamdan
Lead Director, New York Adult & Teen Challenge
Rashad Hamdan serves as the Director of Syracuse Adult & Teen Challenge. Rashad has been with Adult & Teen Challenge since 2015. His journey began coming through the doors as a resident in the program. His life had fallen apart, and he lost everything due to heroin addiction. When all hope was lost, and he ruined all relationships within his family, Adult & Teen Challenge was there with open arms. He arrived at the center that day, having lost everything and nothing to his name but the clothes on his back.
He was introduced to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and his life was forever changed. Through the discipleship process of Adult & Teen Challenge, he realized that God placed a call on his life to share the gospel with others who are struggling with addiction. After finishing the program, he stayed on as an apprentice, eventually joined the staff, went to the New York Ministry Network School of Ministry, married his beautiful wife Katherine in 2019, and now has two young toddlers, Jaxon and Carter.
In 2021, Rashad was ordained and asked to serve as the Director of the Syracuse Center. Rashad says, “What an honor it is to fulfill the call God has given me and to help come alongside other men who are currently struggling with addiction and show them the hope we all have in Jesus! Looking back on my wayward years before I knew the Lord, I never thought I had any future. I thank God daily for this “new creation” I am and this new life he has given me.”
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
James West
Director, Rochester Adult & Teen Challenge Men
James entered the program of Long Island Adult & Teen Challenge in 2009 where he was met by the saving power of Jesus Christ and was set free from the bondage of a 24-year drug and alcohol addiction. James graduated the program in 2010. Since graduating, James has served in the ministry of New York Adult & Teen Challenge through many roles. In 2018 James married his wife, Jessica, also an Adult & Teen Challenge graduate. They have two beautiful daughters; Abigail and Annabelle and a son, Noah James. Together the Lord has birthed passion and vision in their hearts to see souls set free. James has committed his life to fight for the freedom of those who are bound by the same chains that once enslaved him.James currently serves as the Director of the Rochester Men’s Center.
“The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.” (Deuteronomy 1:30-31NKJV).