INLAND EMPIRE TEEN CHALLENGE
In 1919, Charles W. Benedict returned to Riverside, where he lived as a child, and built his dream home, a Spanish style castle he named “Castillo Isabella.” After building for ten years, construction was finished in 1931 and Benedict lived there for seven years until his death in 1938. His wife continued to live at the castle until 1949. The castle was then sold to two individuals who owned it for three years. In 1952, it was sold to a Catholic group, the Servants of Mary (Order of Servites).
In the late 1960s, Teen Challenge’s growth required us to look for larger quarters where young men in our drug addiction recovery program could go for further spiritual training and academic and vocational preparation before re-entering society. In 1970, the castle was listed for sale. The directors of Southern California Teen Challenge heard about the pending sale of the castle and sent representatives to determine if it was a good fit. A series of miracles permitted Teen Challenge to buy the castle in 1971. Miracle number one was that the asking price for the castle was reduced by $100,000, enabling Teen Challenge to purchase the property. Number two was overcoming the concerns of the neighbors and the city of Riverside. Through prayer and the help of local churches, Teen Challenge won the hearts and minds of all who were initially opposed to a residential treatment center in the community.
SUPERINTENDENT OF OPERATIONS: CARLOS OSNAYA
Carlos Osnaya grew up in San Diego in a solid family, but with alcohol present at all family get-togethers, drinking became a fact of life. As a young man, drinking led to fighting and a DUI. After one particularly bad fight in 1999, Carlos was tried, convicted, and sent to prison.
But it was in prison that he heard about Christ. Through others who had given their lives to God, Carlos learned how to live differently. When he was released from prison in 2001, he knew he needed help—but not yet. It wasn’t until after many more bad decisions, three more DUIs, and several broken relationships that he finally decided to make a change. And God brought him to Teen Challenge in 2010.
“Here I got the help, support and power to overcome in Christ,” Carlos says.
After graduating from the Teen Challenge program, Carlos began serving in ministry at San Diego Teen Challenge, where he faithfully ministered to men who were fighting the same battles he once did. In 2017, he joined the team at Inland Empire Teen Challenge in Riverside as the Dean of Students, helping lead and disciple the men in the program, and in 2025, he became Assistant Operations Manager, assisting with the oversight of the daily operations of the campus
Carlos is married and the proud father of two children. He and his wife are grateful for the redeeming work God has done in their lives and family.
In March 2026, Carlos was appointed Superintendent of Operations. Today, Carlos continues to invest his life in the mission of Teen Challenge, helping men discover that no life is too broken or too lost for the redeeming power of Jesus Christ.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
School Teams reach more than 8,000 students each year, including during Red Ribbon Week. Choir and Drama Teams visit many churches, organizations and other places, sharing their personal testimonies that bring a message of hope. Outreach Teams work with different businesses and ministries to strengthen our community.
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Upon successful completion of the three- to four-month Induction Phase at one of our regionally located centers, male students are sent to our long-term residential Christian Life Center in Riverside, California. This part of the program is nine months plus a four-month apprenticeship that is served in one of our Southern California centers. At the Christian Life Center in Riverside, students begin intentional discipleship that brings about life transformation. Chapel services, classes, growth groups and vocational training are part of the weekly discipleship curriculum. Through cooperation with the local school system, it is highly encouraged for students to complete their high school education or acquire a GED certification if applicable. Vocational training is also provided to help the student successfully re-enter society upon graduation. Teen Challenge utilizes a peer-to-peer model for discipleship during class work, recreation and free time. Students are brought together from different ethnic, cultural, social, and economic backgrounds and this alone can be a large part of a student’s growth experience. Skilled advisors, most of whom are former graduates, are on-hand to help students make the changes essential to victorious living in society. The nine-month Riverside Christian Life Center is divided into four phases. Each phase helps the student grow spiritually, emotionally, socially, physically, and mentally. Upon completion of the Teen Challenge curriculum, the student participates in a graduation ceremony and is awarded a diploma.
ADMISSION INFORMATION
If you would like to apply for admission, you can speed up the intake process by downloading and filling out the admissions forms, then taking them to the center you have an appointment with. You can download the forms below: