18/08/2026
He was 18 and believed death was his only option. Today, he helps others choose life.
Matei grew up in a loving family in Bucharest, but by his teens, drugs had taken over. What started with ma*****na quickly progressed to M**A, amphetamines, ketamine, and he**in. He dropped out of school, lived in abandoned buildings, and did whatever it took to support his addiction.
Then his father told him about a Teen Challenge support group.
At the Grădiștea men’s center, Matei encountered something he had been searching for all his life: hope. When he heard about Jesus and what He could do in his life, he surrendered everything to Him—and his life began to change.
He finished high school, pursued his passion for film, was baptized, shared his story with thousands of teenagers, and saw his relationship with his parents restored.
Today, Matei serves with TC Smart’s prevention team and as a staff member at the men’s center.
What once seemed like the end of his story became the beginning of a new one. Jesus gave him a reason to live—and now he’s helping others find hope too.
