“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” Revelation 4:11. According to the Complete Biblical Library Commentary by Stanley Horton, all created things are not merely for man’s benefit but for God’s. He is honored only as created things are used for His glory.
It all started as a dream, a vision, a God-breathed desire to help women and men that struggle with life controlling issues, introducing them to Jesus Christ the Savior and to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. During a time of prayer and fasting, the Lord directed us to Gainesboro, TN. Through favor with God and man, that building was remodeled at minimal cost. October 2009, we opened a 6 bed crisis center for adult women in Gainesboro. Soon all the beds were full, and word traveled fast around the community and judicial system that a ministry in Jackson County was helping people find hope and freedom. People with legal issues, the homeless, and the broken, were able to come to a safe place and be set free by the power of God. The created, meeting their Creator, often for the first time, to God be the glory.
After quickly outgrowing that building, we prayed for more space, and God answered. September 2012, we relocated to the current 45 acre campus in Livingston. God provided the workers and the finances to turn the 5 bedroom, 3 bath house into a dormitory for 11 women and 4 live in staff with office space. We continued to experience growing pains with a consistently full house along with a waiting list. In 2014, we turned a barn on the property into a chapel that is used for morning chapel, daily classes, graduation ceremonies, family visits, and much more, all for the glory of God.
In March 2018, we opened up the new, larger dormitory that houses 16 students and 4 staff along with offices and 2 classrooms. The original dorm is now the Hope House re-entry program. Once in the re-entry phase, residents maintain a full-time job their last 4 months of the program. Upon graduation, they are able to begin to pay off legal fines and costs, obtain an apartment, and transportation. They have already begun to put into practice all they have learned about being a productive disciple for the kingdom of God. To Him be the glory.
This year, as we celebrate 10 years of ministry, plans are in the works for a multi-purpose building that will provide a much needed cafeteria, as well as a large meeting space for graduations and family visits for the 24 residents and their families. The building will seat 200 – 250 people. Why do we need this space? For the glory of God! We will more effectively minister to the families or residents with ample space for gatherings and teachings. The cafeteria will provide dining facilities for future addition of more dormitories and more residents.
All the students, staff, buildings and land of Adult and Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland serve one purpose and one purpose only; that is, for the benefit of God to receive the glory for saved, transformed and Spirit-filled lives. For the 10 years, the hundreds of women and men we have helped, the blessings of buildings, land and vehicles God has provided – we do it all as an act of worship and honor to the One True King. Not to be the biggest, not to say we have it, not for any other reason, but to God be the glory!
Thank you for all you have done the past 10 years to give God the glory by contributing to this ministry in many ways. We pray for and expect many more ministry years to come, as we honor God through our partnership helping those that struggle with life-controlling issues find freedom through the power of Jesus Christ our King. You can make a donation here to see more lives transformed!
Pastor Tim McLauchlin, Executive Director