With its foundation rooted in the same ministry founded in 1958 by Rev. David Wilkerson in Brooklyn, NY, Adult & Teen Challenge of Sandhills was established in 1987 by Sal & Debby DiBianca who served this organization faithfully for over 34-years.
Located on three separate campuses in the beautiful state of North Carolina, students begin their recovery journey in our initial “Ready Now” Phase I program. Afterward, they are enrolled into Phase II, an Induction Program located in either the Greater Charlotte area, or in Elizabethtown. Following the successful completion of Induction, students transfer to Phase III, the Sandhills Adult & Teen Challenge Training Center, located on 31 serene acres in Moore County (Southern Pines/Carthage, NC).
Since its original launch, Sandhills Adult & Teen Challenge has enrolled thousands of men desperately needing hope and healing to overcome drug and alcohol addiction. Our program staff and leaders continue to conduct crisis intervention, referrals, and outreach within the cities of Raleigh, Charlotte, and Fayetteville as we plan for residential program growth and the expansion of our services to these places within the next few years.
About Our Founders
Sal DiBianca has passionately served as the director of the Sandhills Teen Challenge ministry helping youth, adults and families since 1987. Pioneering the men’s residential recovery program, it has enrolled thousands of men desperately needing hope and healing to overcome drug and alcohol addiction. Sal is an accomplished music minister and loves surfing. He is a 1980 graduate of Teen Challenge in Southern California and TCMI ministry institute. He is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and has served on the North Carolina Assembly of God District Youth Ministries team and Missions Committee, Drug Free Moore County and community task force.
Sal and his wife Debby, also a 1981 TC graduate have been speaking to teens for over 30 years in assembly programs in public schools, WinterJam Concert tours, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, True Love Waits and youth camps across the US. He and Debby have been happily married for 41 years and have two children, Jamie and Brandon and 2 grandchildren, Allie and Jonah.
Now retired and residing in Hawaii with his family, Sal currently serves on the organization’s Board of Directors.
