Phil Cookes

Phil began his first involvement with gangs at five years of age. Eventually, his experimenting with drugs and  alcohol  led to a 23-year addiction to heroin

Phil made the Dean's List while in college studying psychology, but he used drugs throughout those years. Phil mastered the theories of addiction in the classroom, but he despaired of finding a way out of his own addiction.

Desperate for help, Phil sought the help of psychologists when he was in prison. One time he sat in the office of a person with many college degrees proudly displayed on the wall behind him. The professional ably described the slavery that so crushed Phil's soul and killed his dreams.

Phil responded, "Yes, yes. That is exactly what has happened in my life. What can I do to change? I don't want to be this way. I want to be free, but I know the minute I leave this jail I will be looking for another 'high.' I'll be driven to use drugs again. What can I do? What can help me?"

This trained helper of men stared at Phil for a long time with sad eyes.

"I don't know, Phil. I truly don't know."

Phil's brother died in a drunken brawl. His father died arguing with Phil about the devastation Phil's drug addiction was causing the family. Phil's level of despondency overwhelmed him.

One day a former drug addict who had found help through the ministry of Teen Challenge met Phil. For the first time Phil felt hope return to his heart, hope he could really change. The friend introduced him to the ministry which provided his refuge - Teen Challenge.

Phil entered the one-year discipleship program designed especially for helping drug addicts learn how to live life God's way. He experienced salvation, God's forgiveness for all the mistakes of his past and found hope for his future. God put a desire in his heart to make a difference in the lives of other young people who are caught in the destructive web of addictions.

Phil enrolled in the Teen Challenge Ministry Institute, the one-year training program for Teen Challenge graduates who feel a call of God on their lives to serve in ministry.

Now, Phil gives direction to a ministry which provides a wide variety of outreach programs reaching those caught in the destructiveness of addictions or those at risk of becoming involved.

Phil is easy to talk to so many young people pour out the desperation of their own hearts to him. When they ask him a question similar to that which he asked the prison professional, "What can I do to change?", he quickly and with great passion points them to the Savior.

In what had become his custom each week, Phil Cookes was telling his mother, Margaret, about the many activities of the Los Angeles County Teen Challenge Center which he directs. Together, they marveled at the wondrous work of God in the hearts of so many desperate men and women. She delighted at every story of a young person finding freedom from drugs and being reconciled with his or her family. She cried and prayed for those who had such terrible needs and were still so enslaved to drugs or alcohol.

As he ended the telephone conversation, Phil explained he had to leave to represent Teen Challenge in a church service. He told his beloved mother he was going so he could say "thank you" to those church members who support the ministry.

She responded, "Tell them 'thanks' for me, too, Phil."

Margaret Cookes expressed in her brief way the gratitude that fills the hearts of so many mothers and fathers for your support which allows Teen Challenge to restore hope back into their hearts and lost children back into their families.

Just like Margaret Cookes, most parents truly raise their children to become decent, law-abiding citizens. There is such an overwhelming feeling of helplessness and hopelessness as parents see their children become involved in drugs and change so drastically. There is such conflicting emotions of parents who love their children with all their hearts, but who find it difficult to even like the people they are becoming as they slip further beyond the reach, the help and the bonds of the family

Margaret Cookes knows those feelings all too well.

Margaret Cookes died a few months ago. These past years have been peaceful, joy-filled ones for her. She thrilled at what God had done in her son's life and with how the Lord now was using him to help others. No mother could have been prouder of her son.

Although Phil's life is a memorial trophy of the love and power of the Lord, he also desired a way to honor the unfailing love of his mother.

Phil and Janie Cookes gave a Memorial Gift to Teen Challenge. He could think of no better way to honer the life of his mother than to make an eternal investment in the lives of other needy young people who are also being restored to their families through this ministry.

The name of Margaret Cookes appears in our Book of Remembrance. She will never be forgotten in the heart of this beloved son and a memorial tribute ensures her life will continue to impact others for God for generations to come.