What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 5pm Tuesday 8am - 5pm Wednesday 8am - 5pm Thursday 8am - 5pm Friday 8am - 5pm

Smoky Mountain Children's Home

Home
United States
Sevierville, TN
Smoky Mountain Children's Home

Call Directions Website

Transforming lives through adoption, foster and residential care. James 1:27

10/26/2026

In Exodus 33, we find a powerful account of the children of Israel during their wilderness journey to the land God had promised them. This was a defining moment in their relationship with the Lord. The people had made and worshipped a golden calf, provoking the displeasure of a holy God.

When the people realized the seriousness of their sin, they mourned and humbled themselves before the Lord.

God then told Moses that He would send an angel before them to lead them into the Promised Land, but He would not go among them because of their stubbornness and disobedience.

Moses was deeply troubled. He understood that he could not lead God’s people on this journey without the presence of God Himself. An angel might guide them, but Moses knew that nothing could take the place of God’s presence.

Moses made his position clear:

If You are not going with us,
then we are not going one step further.

If God was not going with them, they were not going any further!

Moses understood that he needed the assurance of God’s presence every day, every hour, and every moment of the journey. He knew that the journey was too great, the responsibility too heavy, and the challenges too many to face without the Lord.

God responded to Moses with these comforting words:

“My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.”
— Exodus 33:14 (KJV)

What a promise! Moses had found favor in the sight of God. He had the privilege of speaking with the Lord, who knew him by name. Moses was not satisfied with simply reaching the Promised Land; he wanted the assurance that God would be with them every step along the way.

With God, all things are possible. Without Him, we cannot accomplish what He has called us to do in our own strength.

Is that where you are today?

Are you standing at a crossroads in your life, facing a decision, a challenge, or an uncertain future? Are you willing to declare, “Lord, I will not take another step without You?"

Look at what you are facing. Consider the road ahead. You may not know what tomorrow holds, but you can know the One who holds tomorrow.

Do not be satisfied with simply asking God to bless your plans. Seek His direction. Trust His timing. Depend on His strength. Above all, desire His presence more than anything this world has to offer.

Remember His promise:

He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

Whatever you are facing today, make this your prayer: “Lord, I need You. Guide me, strengthen me, and go with me. I do not want to move ahead of You or walk this journey without You.”

Let the presence of God be your confidence, His Word your guide, and His faithfulness your assurance. Lean into Him!

If He is not leading, don't rush ahead. If you don't have His direction, seek His face. And whatever you do, never forget how much you need Him every step of the way.

NOT ONE STEP…WITHOUT GOD!

10/20/2026

Thank you, Trillium TN, Inc—an accounting firm located right here in Sevierville, TN—for your recent donation of $242 in school supplies to our Alpha Educational Learning Center! The supplies were donated directly to support students and teachers with classroom and school needs. Thank you for blessing our students and making a difference! You're helping transform lives!

10/20/2026

Dr. Mauldin's Weekly Devotional: BUT IF NOT

In Daniel, chapter 3, we find the powerful story of three brave Hebrew young men: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

King Nebuchadnezzar had built a golden image and commanded everyone to bow down and worship it whenever they heard the sound of the music. Anyone who refused would be thrown into a fiery furnace.

But the three Hebrew youths refused to bow. They worshipped God and God alone, and they were determined not to compromise their faith.

Fellow Babylonians reported them to the king, and Nebuchadnezzar became furious. He summoned the three young men and gave them another opportunity to bow.

But these bold and brave young men knew the Word of God. Exodus 20:4,

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,
Or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above,
Or that is in the earth beneath,
Or that is in the water under the earth."

They knew the word of God they had learned in their childhood, and they remembered Exodus 20:5,

"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them:
For I am the Lord thy God."

The king was asking them to do something that went against the commandments of their God. In other words, he was asking them to color outside the lines God had already established!

But they had made up their minds. They would not bow to the king's image. Sometimes, you have to stand for God when everybody else is bowing.

In Daniel 3:15, the king challenged them, asking, “And who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? “

Their response is found in Daniel 3:17–18. They declared that their God was able to deliver them from the fiery furnace.

But then they made a powerful statement:

“BUT IF NOT!”

What did they mean?

They meant, “We know our God is able to deliver us. But even if He does not deliver us the way we expect, we will still serve Him! We will not bow to your gods, and we will not worship your image!”

The three teenagers understood their faith could not depend on the outcome.

They were not saying, “We will serve God as long as He gives us what we want.” They were saying, “We will serve God because He is God!”

That is unwavering faith!

It is easy to praise God when everything is going well. But what happens when the answer does not come? What happens when you pray and the situation does not change?

Will you still trust Him? Will you still worship Him? Will you still serve Him?

BUT IF NOT, WILL YOU STILL STAND?

There were three ways God could respond to their situation:

1. God could deliver them FROM the fire.

He could have stopped the king before they ever entered the furnace. Sometimes, God delivers us before we face the trial.

2. God could deliver them THROUGH the fire.

The king ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and had the three men thrown inside. The heat was so intense that it killed the soldiers who carried them.

But when the king looked into the furnace, he saw four men walking around unharmed!

Daniel 3:25 tells us that the king described the fourth figure as being “like the Son of God.”

When the three men came out, their bodies were not burned, their hair was not singed, their clothes were not damaged, and they did not even smell like smoke!

What a mighty God we serve! The fire was real, but so was their God!

Sometimes, God does not keep us out of the fire. He sustains us through it. And even when we do not understand what He is doing, we can trust Him to be faithful.

3. God could deliver them BY the fire.

They were prepared to remain faithful even if deliverance did not come. These young men did not know how the situation would end, but they knew they would not bow.

Their obedience was not for sale. Their convictions were not negotiable. Their worship belonged to God alone. They trusted God's power without demanding that He follow their plan.

That is the heart of “BUT IF NOT.”

What can we learn from these three Hebrew young men?

1. Make up your mind before the pressure comes.

They had already decided they would not bow before the music ever started. We must settle our convictions before the trials come.

2. Stand when everyone else is bowing.

Just because everybody else is doing something does not make it right. We must stand on God's Word even when standing makes us different.

3. Never make your faith conditional on the outcome.

Trust God when the answer is yes, when the answer is wait, and even when the answer is different from what you expected.

4. Remember that you are never alone in the fire.

The king sent three men into the furnace, but he saw four. God can sustain us in our hardest moments and give us strength to endure what we never thought we could face.

BUT IF NOT, WILL YOU STILL SERVE HIM?

Let me ask you today: Are you prepared to follow the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? Are you prepared to stand for God when it costs you something? Are you prepared to trust Him when you cannot see your way out?

When the healing comes, will you praise Him?
BUT IF NOT, WILL YOU STILL PRAISE HIM?

When the door opens, will you serve Him?
BUT IF NOT, WILL YOU STILL SERVE HIM?

When the breakthrough comes, will you give Him glory?
BUT IF NOT, WILL YOU STILL GIVE HIM GLORY?

Our faith must be built on who God is, not simply on what we hope He will do.

He is still God when the furnace is hot. He is still God when the road is difficult. He is still God when the answer is delayed.

So make up your mind today. Decide before the music starts playing that you will not bow to anything that takes the place of God in your life.

When the pressure comes, when the trials come, and when life does not turn out the way you expected, let your declaration be:

OUR GOD IS ABLE… BUT IF NOT, WE WILL NOT BOW!

BUT IF NOT, I WILL STILL TRUST HIM!

BUT IF NOT… I WILL STILL SERVE HIM!

10/16/2026

Gatlinburg Elks Lodge 1925 raised $10,524.64 through their annual golf tournament for the Smoky Mountain Children's Home.

Thank you Gatlinburg Elks Lodge 1925! We loved having you visit our campus yesterday. Your generosity is transforming lives!

10/14/2026

Every child deserves to dream.

That's why the new building generously donated by Betty Madison-Ogle and Dr. Steve and Cheris Madison will officially be named: The Smoky Mountain Children’s Home Dream Center.

The Dream Center will be a safe place where young women and men can discover their potential, heal from their past, develop their gifts, and forge their dreams into reality. Ministry there will focus on three vital areas:

A PLACE OF LEARNING...
Through our on-campus school.

A PLACE OF HEALING...
Through our therapy center.

A PLACE OF CREATING...
Through our arts academy.

Previously, The Home launched a capital campaign to raise an additional $2 million to complete the building. But this project is about so much more than just bricks and mortar.

It is about giving young people an opportunity to dream.

We want students to dream about finishing high school, discovering a career, developing a God-given gift, and exchanging trauma for healing and hope.

The Dream Center represents an investment in the whole child—mind, body, and spirit.

Smoky Mountain Children’s Home needs your support investing in the next generation.

Help us help students make their dreams a reality.

Visit our website for more information and donate at https://smch.org/buildingforthenextgeneration/

*Churches that wish to receive Church of God World Missions credit are asked to include Reference Number 715-0111-027 with their donation.

10/10/2026

Dr. Mauldin's Weekly Devotional: WHEN LIFE BECOMES MORE

An art piece hangs in my office that has a way of forcing me to think through daily challenges. Every time I read the text, it seems to hit me right between the eyes. At other times, I do not particularly like the statement it portrays. Most often, it is ignored.

This simple picture was certainly not placed there by me. No one seems to know for sure who hung this work of art, but it was more than likely placed there strategically.

The words on the canvas grab my attention every time I read them. Over time, these challenging words have become a personal mantra. The text states boldly:

"When life becomes more than you can stand...kneel."

Great advice!

That phrase, “more than you can stand,” identifies with me as we face the daily challenges of the children’s home. Most of the time, we tend to try to figure out how to solve problems on our own. We go to great lengths to overcome obstacles, remove roadblocks, and find solutions.

Yet there is a better way....

Personally, I have found that there is always a spiritual work that must take place before we see a physical manifestation. The bottom line is this: a spiritual work must precede physical answers. So, before we do anything, it must be bathed in prayer. That is where the spiritual work begins.

Think again about the artwork hanging in my office. This framed statement suggests that our first response should be to get on our knees and pray to God. I am not necessarily talking about physically getting down on our knees, although that is certainly appropriate. I am talking about getting down on our knees in the spiritual sense—a posture of humility, surrender, and dependence upon God. Come to God first, rather than later.

Before you do anything, pray first. Before you strategize, go to prayer. Before you plan your next step, just pray. And then pray some more.

We often want God to bless the plans we have already made. Wrong move! Perhaps what He is asking us to do is seek Him before we make the plans.

When the road ahead is unclear, pray. When the burden feels too heavy, pray. When you have exhausted every solution you can think of, pray. When life becomes more than you can stand, simply kneel.

Kneeling is not a sign that we have given up. It is a declaration that we know from where our help comes. It is choosing to surrender our strength, our plans, our fears, and our circumstances to the One who is greater than all of them.

There are times when life will bring us to the place where we simply cannot stand on our own. Those moments can become invitations to draw closer to God. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)

So before you try to figure it all out, kneel. Before you take the next step, kneel. Before you attempt to carry the burden yourself, kneel.

When life becomes more than you can stand, simply kneel.

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker!” —Psalm 95:6 (NKJV)

_______

Dr. Walt Mauldin, Executive Director
Tammie Mauldin, Co-Executive Director

10/09/2026

TEACHER SPOTLIGHT: Kristy Nipper

This month marks Kristy Nipper’s two-year anniversary working at Smoky Mountain Children’s Home. Before teaching at our Alpha Educational Learning Center, Kristy homeschooled both her sons for 10 years and says it’s the best decision she’s ever made! Her two sons are in their twenties now—her youngest works in IT and travels the country with his position, and her oldest is working as a foreman for a construction company in Florida. Kristy moved to Sevierville five years ago and loves living in the mountains. In addition to working with our youth at Alpha School, Kristy is involved with the youth group at her church.

Here's what Kristy shared about working at Smoky Mountain Children's Home:

“It makes my heart so happy when the kids realize that they CAN do their schoolwork and have fun while they do it! I have always had a love for children of all ages, but there is something about teenagers that is special. I get to help them with their final step in going out into the world and being the best that they can be!! My main focus is spreading God’s word and sharing the love of Jesus. I want them all to feel special and know that they are loved.”

Thank you, Kristy, for inspiring our students to achieve their goals and showing them that with God, all things are possible. You truly are transforming lives!

10/08/2026

*Wishlist Wednesday*

Some of our amazing followers have reached out to ask what items we need the most right now and what items they can donate, so we are sharing our current wishlist for anyone else who would like to contribute!

Our current most needed items are:

- Personal Care & Hygiene Products
- 13 Gallon Trash Bags
- Paper Towels
- Toilet Paper

Other items we can always use are:

- Bed in a Bag for Twin/XL
- Twin/XL Sheet Sets
- Mattress Protectors for Twin/XL
- Bath Towels

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to see what our current needs are! Every donation of everyday items like these directly blesses our youth.

Donations can be made to our campus at the Administrative Office front desk. You can also have items shipped to:

449 McCarn Cir
Sevierville, TN 37862

!

10/07/2026

Dr. Mauldin's Weekly Devotional: NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US

The Apostle Paul states it emphatically in Romans 8:38–39 (KJV):

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Nothing! Absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It does not matter what we have done. God’s love continues to reach out to us and overwhelm us with His grace, even in the midst of our disobedience, failures, or questionable choices. God’s love is still reaching.

Often, we hear young people, as well as those older say they have been involved in so many bad choices they believe they are beyond forgiveness. But when we are talking about God’s love, we must understand that no one is beyond His reach. God always loves, for God is love.

There may be individuals or groups of people who try to steal the joy we have in following Him. Sometimes people choose not to forgive, and that stands in direct opposition to the forgiveness God offers us. But we must remember that God’s love is greater than the difficulties we face—greater than the rejection, disappointment, guilt, and struggles that can cause us to doubt His nearness.

He is always there.

Nothing can keep us from His presence. Nothing can make His love disappear. Nothing can place us beyond the reach of His grace.

So, trust in His forgiveness.

Know that He cares.

Understand that He loves you through every challenge and every circumstance of life.

When you feel unworthy, remember His love.

When you feel forgotten, remember His presence.

When you feel that you have gone too far, remember His grace.

Nothing can separate us...from God’s love!

----

Dr. Walt Mauldin, Executive Director
Tammie Mauldin, Co-Executive Director

https://conta.cc/3VlA7A2

Address

449 McCarn Cir
Sevierville, TN
37862

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+18654535471

Website

http://www.smch.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Smoky Mountain Children's Home posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.