Pastor Tim McLauchlin Executive Director
1 Corinthians 4:20-21 says, “For the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power.” Christianity is more than something said; it is something marked by miraculous power.
We understand that a lot of people say a lot of things that have no merit or significance. People write books about 12 ways to do this, 10 ways to do that, and so on. There are many programs that boast about recovery, run billboard ads, newspaper articles, and even receive government assistance for drug and alcohol recovery, only to have no success.
Am I boasting that Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland is better than everyone else? Absolutely not!
However, the Word of God says in Matthew 7:20 Jesus says, “Therefore by their fruit you will know them.” The Greek definition for Word is logos, which means, “something said.” And the Greek word for Power is dunamis, which means, “miraculous power.”
At Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland, we have more to offer than nice and encouraging words. We have a power that is available to all who confess, all who believe and all who live the name of Jesus - power to transform, power to deliver, power to heal and power to redeem! The world has words……we have The Power!
The Apostle Paul said the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. Luke 17:20-21 says, “Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, ‘The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.’ ” Jesus said the Kingdom of God “is within you.”
Some look at the Kingdom of God as a place where we will arrive at after death, but Jesus said the kingdom, the power, the anointing, is within those of us who believe. The Kingdom of God will not change man’s outward appearance but will change their hearts and lives by the power of The Holy Spirit.
I am sharing this with you for three reasons: First, without the power of God we would have nothing to offer the residents of Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland. It is the power of God that transforms their lives and brings them to a place of deliverance and freedom from life controlling issues. With all the curriculum we have, all the teaching we do, and all the chapel and church services residents attend, absent the power of God, Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland would be just another rehab or program.
Second, as ministry leaders, we need the power of God to direct us and give us wisdom. God has given us a vision for the future of Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland. Without His wisdom, we could insert our own plan which would never lead to long term success. However, with the wisdom of God that comes through the power of His Holy Spirit, we are seeing lives, land, and lodging developed and constructed completely for His glory.
Third, we need the power of God to overcome the oppression of the enemy. Satan, the ruler of this world, would try to tell us that the drug epidemic is too big and that we are not making any progress against it. Or he would say that the economy is not good and we will never get the funds Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland needs to grow and fulfill God’s vision. The enemy has even lied to Teen Challenge graduates and said because they have stumbled they never really were delivered. All of these are lies! We will not receive them for we believe 1 John 4:4 that says that “You are of God little children, and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
I am proud to say Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland is a spirit-filled work where we believe in the miraculous power of God to transform lives from defeated to completely victorious. Because of this power at work, more than 300 men and women have been placed into long term programs and over 200 women have come through Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland since 2009. The power of God has touched over 259 individuals who made a decision to follow Jesus. What does the future hold for Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland? With the power of God working, there is no limit!