The Story Behind "Unbound"
Unbound didn't emerge overnight. It grew out of decades of ministry, refinement, and God's faithfulness, and it has been shaped by real people walking with real struggles toward real freedom.
Where It Began
In the mid-1980s, Pastor Troy Smith felt called to minister in Portland, Oregon. What he found there troubled him deeply: nothing being used—inside or outside the church—was producing lasting freedom for those in bondage to addiction.
He had been working with people from all walks of life who were overcome by drugs, alcohol, and other besetting sins. And he kept running into the same painful reality: people who had surrendered their lives to Christ were still being controlled by destructive habits, unruly emotions, and addictive behaviors.
They prayed. They read their Bibles. They went to church. They had been baptized. But try as they might, they could not break free and stay free from the bondage they had carried for so long.
After an especially significant defeat—the death of a woman who had seemed to be making remarkable progress—Pastor Troy resolved that the 12-Step model was not producing the lasting change people needed. Only God could supply him with a program that did.
After a period of concentrated prayer, God helped him pull together the basic principles and practices that formed the heart of what became the S.A.F.E. Program (Setting Addicts Free Eternally).
He had been working with people from all walks of life who were overcome by drugs, alcohol, and other besetting sins. And he kept running into the same painful reality: people who had surrendered their lives to Christ were still being controlled by destructive habits, unruly emotions, and addictive behaviors.
They prayed. They read their Bibles. They went to church. They had been baptized. But try as they might, they could not break free and stay free from the bondage they had carried for so long.
After an especially significant defeat—the death of a woman who had seemed to be making remarkable progress—Pastor Troy resolved that the 12-Step model was not producing the lasting change people needed. Only God could supply him with a program that did.
After a period of concentrated prayer, God helped him pull together the basic principles and practices that formed the heart of what became the S.A.F.E. Program (Setting Addicts Free Eternally).
How It Developed
Over the years, S.A.F.E. Ministries went through many changes. Eventually, Pastor Troy handed the leadership to another man, who faithfully stewarded it through a season of transition before the ministry was dissolved and the curriculum reformatted.
Pastor Troy, who held the copyright, worked with Thomas Nelson Publishers to republish the material under his own name as The Transformation Principle: Journey to Freedom. He continues similar work today through The Transformation Principle Ministries.
For those interested in exploring the roots of Unbound, we highly recommend The Transformation Principle by Pastor Troy Smith. The basic building blocks of that material have impacted thousands of lives, and the order of the lessons reflects a dynamic pattern that one cannot help but see as God's hand at work.
Pastor Troy, who held the copyright, worked with Thomas Nelson Publishers to republish the material under his own name as The Transformation Principle: Journey to Freedom. He continues similar work today through The Transformation Principle Ministries.
For those interested in exploring the roots of Unbound, we highly recommend The Transformation Principle by Pastor Troy Smith. The basic building blocks of that material have impacted thousands of lives, and the order of the lessons reflects a dynamic pattern that one cannot help but see as God's hand at work.
Truth In Love Expansion
Over the course of many years, while using these materials in different settings, under different circumstances, and addressing an ever-widening range of sin and brokenness, the Truth in Love Biblical Counseling team saw a growing need for deeper, more foundational matters to be addressed, even for those who had been part of the church for many years.
Gradually and prayerfully, adjustments were made. Supplementary material was developed. Updating and fine-tuning took place. Under the leadership of Pastor Warren Lamb, TILBC Founder & Director, these efforts came together into what is now Unbound: Growing Ever-freer in Christ, the program we have today.
Unbound is the fruit of decades of biblical counseling experience, an expansion of both the original S.A.F.E. curriculum and Truth in Love's own A Journey to Freedom material. It has been tested, refined, and used by God to bring freedom to thousands.
Gradually and prayerfully, adjustments were made. Supplementary material was developed. Updating and fine-tuning took place. Under the leadership of Pastor Warren Lamb, TILBC Founder & Director, these efforts came together into what is now Unbound: Growing Ever-freer in Christ, the program we have today.
Unbound is the fruit of decades of biblical counseling experience, an expansion of both the original S.A.F.E. curriculum and Truth in Love's own A Journey to Freedom material. It has been tested, refined, and used by God to bring freedom to thousands.
A Note of Gratitude
Pastor Warren, TILBC Founder & Director, was blessed with the opportunity to serve under Pastor Troy at S.A.F.E. Ministries and, for a short season, at a church he pastored. The foundations he laid and the lessons learned in those years have shaped much of what Unbound has become. We remain deeply grateful for his faithfulness and the work God has done through him.
We have done all we can to ensure proper credit has been given throughout Unbound. If anyone discovers a deficiency in that regard, please notify us by email at [email protected] so we can make it right.
Our goal and intent remain the same as they were from the beginning: to provide the best resources we can to help those living in bondage to lies, sin, and evil find true freedom in Christ—to be unbound, set free, and let go.
Soli Deo Gloria
We have done all we can to ensure proper credit has been given throughout Unbound. If anyone discovers a deficiency in that regard, please notify us by email at [email protected] so we can make it right.
Our goal and intent remain the same as they were from the beginning: to provide the best resources we can to help those living in bondage to lies, sin, and evil find true freedom in Christ—to be unbound, set free, and let go.
Soli Deo Gloria
