Student Profile

The prospective Abundant Life Academy student does not have a mental or emotional illness, nor does he/she respond well to secular counseling/therapy. Why? Because there is nothing mentally or emotionally wrong with this child and therapy has never produced emotional maturity or spiritual growth anyway. The typical ALA student is "entitled", "selfish", "self-centered", or "self-engrossed". In earlier times this child would be considered to be "spoiled", "demanding", or a "brat". At Abundant Life Academy we consider them to be “troubled teens” (please note: the term “troubled teen” is a generic term with a broad interpretation. ALA does not consider a “troubled teen” to be a child who is in need of psychological or psychiatric help, nor do we refer to a troubled teen as a teen who is drug addicted, defiant, rebellious, or participates in criminal activity. To Abundant Life Academy the youth in need of psychological or psychiatric intervention will not be considered as a student candidate. Additionally, a youth who has a criminal history or is in need of drug and alcohol treatment will not be considered as a prospective ALA student. Abundant Life Academy specifically serves students and their families who are in need of academic and spiritual redirection. Again, Abundant Life Academy is an early intervention school for troubled teens that are academically unmotivated and rejecting Christian values). Besides, there is no therapy in the world that will help a child to grow into an adult. The student who attends Abundant Life Academy does not need a therapist or medication; he/she needs to be filled with the Holy Spirit!

How is a “troubled teen” created? Basically, due to the parent's determination to protect and provide for their children… their child has lacked the adversity needed to induce and promote spiritual maturity and emotional growth. Moreover, this child has rarely been required to invest into his/her family; thus, the parents have inadvertently trained them to believe that the world revolves around them. Their day-to-day life has revolved around getting their own needs met even at the expense of others. Additionally, they have been rescued time and time again from their immature behavior/poor choices, and very rarely have they felt the consequences of their actions (although their parents and siblings have). Due to the fact that they believe that the world has been created to serve their needs, coupled with the parent's determination to provide for their every need, this prospective student has contracted "Entitlementitis". And, Jesus is the only cure.

The Abundant Life Academy student is not in need of mental health treatment, they need the reality of Jesus Christ in their life. Additionally, they need to know self-discipline, self-sacrifice, and service towards others, giving, charity, and adversity. They need to experience hard work, perseverance, and longsuffering. They need to get outside of themselves long enough to see how well they have it, and begin to appreciate all that they have been blessed with. They need to be grateful for all that they have and begin to invest themselves in the lives of others.

"...In addition to leadership and academic concerns, we are dedicated in training the young people of Abundant Life Academy to live and operate in personal responsibility, practicing excellent communication skills, exercising respect and submission to all authority ordained by God, and the ability to self-govern..." -Craig Rogers , Founder of Abundant Life Academy

Because of the lack of respect for parental authority the prospective ALA student is in need of an alternative educational setting (with a spiritual Christ-centered root). The ideal Abundant Life Academy student has began to "struggle" as he/she makes one poor choice after another (following the desires of the insatiable flesh). Not too long ago this student seemed to be the perfect child. However, around the time of puberty things started to change and the sweet kid turned into a stranger. Instead of maturing into a healthy sound adolescent with a strong moral compass, this student now identifies more with the latest hip-hop rapper or gangster. Some of our student spent countless hours playing video games, or messaging friends through the Internet until the wee hours of the night. Some of our students have become sexually active or have begun to experiment with drugs. Most of our students are insensitive to how they hurt others and are developing an "I don't care attitude". Again, they need Jesus.

The prospective Abundant Life Academy student is most likely rejecting his/her Christian upbringing, or at least seems spiritually lost in comparison to where they once were. This student has dropped their affection for sports, healthy hobbies, and good friends. Good grades are no longer important because working hard in school takes away from their social life and school is not cool with their new circle of friends. As a matter of fact their new friends have become the center of their universe and their values no longer are in alignment with their parents.

The typical Abundant Life Academy family

The typical Abundant Life Academy family is a Christ-centered family who loves Jesus with all of their hearts, and strives to be led by the Holy Spirit. The Abundant Life Academy family is a family of faith, fully submitted to God. Furthermore, this family has provided everything they can to their children. The ALA family is not perfect, but there is nothing more important then their children. The ALA family would sacrifice their own lives for the life of their child. Providing and protecting their child has always been of the utmost importance to the prospective Abundant Life Academy parent. Moreover, the prospective ALA family has been devastated by their troubled teen's decline. Even though the parents have always model strong Christian values their precious child has turned away for no apparent reason. Not only that, but the other children in the family are starting to be adversely affected by the actions of the troubled one. The typical Abundant Life Academy parent is willing to do whatever it takes to turn their son/daughter around before it is too late.

How Abundant Life Academy views the troubled teen

At Abundant Life Academy we see our students a little differently than most, as we see the current underachieving rebellious teen as a future leader in training, only he/she has yet to see the inherent power within himself through Christ. We believe that with the intimate relationship of a loving God our students will return to their Christian heritage, and become the man/woman of God they were destined to be. Only by the Holy Spirit can a troubled child be led to make good choices for themselves. There is an enemy who is battling against the destiny of our children, and only through a Spirit-filled life can one prevail.

We believe that the three most powerful forces of life (when led by the Holy Spirit) are leadership, creativity, and life management (God's gift to us). The key to releasing these powerful forces is usually found in the midst of one's struggle, but only as we put our faith in God. For instance, the struggle for identity in the life of a teenager is an incredible potential training ground for future success. However, without faith one cannot “see” through the struggle. Unfortunately, most kids fail in the midst of the struggle for identity without ever realizing that their failure could be used to promote them into a powerful position in Christ. Only through a life submitted to Jesus Christ can the blind eyes be opened and the “crisis” be used to glorify God. In these cases, a traditional Boarding School is not the answer. Abundant Life Academy is anything but traditional.

At Abundant Life Academy we see failure as opportunity, and potential power, while others see failure as a problem that must be eliminated. Where other schools and programs see kids who are defiant and rebellious, we see them as the next generation of leaders, full of creativity, only they lack adversity and life management skills to put it all together (they lack the leading of the Holy Spirit). We see their struggle as an opportunity to promote them into a prevailing place full of promise as they re-discover Jesus (replacing beauty for ashes).

Prior to coming to Abundant Life Academy some of our student-leaders found them selves caught up in the ways of the world (self-centeredness, materialistic, etc.). They struggled to make good choices, and now they need to be set free from the negative consequences that come with living in a self-centered lifestyle. The parents of the ideal Abundant Life Academy student has identified that their child needs to make some radical changes, but without outside help such as coaching and guidance, their child's awesome potential wont materialize.

"ALA is an alternative to the traditional emotional growth school, as we present a fresh approach, coming from a Christian perspective, perfectly suited to help young men and women find their personal identity and DESTINY in life" Wendy Rogers , Co-Founder and Admissions Coordinator

Abundant Life Academy is not a placement for defiant youth with major behavioral or mental problems. Again, the typical Abundant Life Academy student is a good kid from a good family who has gotten caught up in a world he/she was never destined to be a part of. Within a short time after enrollment most of our students declare their renewed commitment to refrain from pre-marital sex, drugs, and other self-sabotaging habits, and are restored to Christ-centered lifestyle. ALA is a safe place for teenagers to avoid the reoccurring pitfalls of adolescences.

Additionally, ALA does not serve young men/woman who are in need of a therapy wilderness program or any other type of program for emotionally troubled youth. While these settings are very powerful for teens that need that kind of treatment, Abundant Life Academy does not provide ANY services of that nature. Abundant Life Academy is a Christian boarding school for students who are looking to be reconnected with Jesus.

"...Are you an Eagle who has been hanging out in the chicken pen, scratching around like the chickens, but having an overwhelming desire to fly the coop? Then ALA is the perfect place for you!"
Craig Rogers , Founder of ALA