TEEN CHALLENGE TESTIMONY
20 years free - Chris Coughlan
In 1998 I was homeless and using crack on the streets in London. I met a woman in a homeless centre who witnessed to me about the love of God over a three month period and eventually she got me into Teen Challenge London on 23rd April 1999. I did 12 weeks in London and then moved to Wales. I was very vocal when I was there to the fact that as soon as my programme was finished, I was arranging to leave and never come back as I thought Teen Challenge was too strict. However, midway through phase 3 God had really got a hold of my life and on my knees one night in my bedroom I said to God that I would do whatever He wanted of me.
The night before I was coming back to London to get a job and get on with my life, when the manager of the London centre called and asked would I help him out for a month as he was short staffed. I did not want to do it but I thought Teen Challenge had done so much for me I would like to give a little back, that was 18 and a half years ago. I am still giving back!
In 2001 I married the woman who I had met in the homeless centre that had got me into Teen Challenge, she had been a Christian for 10 years and had been praying for a husband for most of that time. She had gone to various Churches over the years hoping to meet someone, little did she know she would meet a homeless crack user who would go on to be her husband. We now have 3 boys, who are a real blessing to us. We have been through many trails over the years but our commitment to Christ and each other has kept us together through our hard times.
Keep praying for everyone at Teen Challenge and for God to continue to use them to transform lives.