This is Natasha’s first testimony from when she came to the crisis center in December 2012….
My name is Natasha. Before I came to the Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland Crisis Center, I was in a lot of bondage. When bad things would happen to me or things didn’t go my way, I would always turn to drugs. I thought drugs were okay, because “I had control of my
using”. The truth is, I never had any control. My crack addiction had control over me. It later led to me doing things that I would have never done if I would have had Jesus in my life. Life went on like that for a few years, until I went to jail and heard about Teen Challenge.
I heard how it was changing lives, so I decided to give it a chance. Since I have been at the Crisis Center, I have been saved. I have also learned a lot of things about my Heavenly Father that I didn’t know. Of course, I know that I still have a big journey ahead of me, but I cannot wait for whatever God has in store!
This is her testimony she shared while she was at her long term center…
I was not raised in a Christian home, I was raised around drugs, alcohol and abuse and watched my parents split up when I was 5 years old. My mom began a relationship with a raging alcoholic when I was 6, and he abused me in every way possible for several years. When I was 13 I began hanging out with older kids and got involved in dealing drugs, and by the age of 17 I was addicted to crack cocaine. By age 23 I had a felony on my record. I began prostituting myself when I was 25 and my life continued on its downward spiral out of control for the next three years until I felt a pull to get to know more about God, and reached out to Teen Challenge. I was accepted into Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland on December 10, 2012, and then went onto Illinois Teen Challenge to complete my long term program.
Since being at Teen Challenge I have realized that something really amazing has happened inside of me. I am happy to be alive and I understand that I’ve been given a second chance at life. Before Teen Challenge, I did not care about anybody at all, and now I find myself full of compassion and love for others and I have a desire to help them in any way possible. I am aware of areas that I have struggled but I believe that I am completely free. I just thank God that I am no longer a part of that old life that I left behind, and that I am a new creation in Christ.
Natasha graduated from her long term Teen Challenge center in April. She is looking forward to going back to school and completing her education! Because of the faithful support of our partners, life-transformation stories like Natasha’s are possible!
God bless you,
Pastor Tim McLauchlin