Christian Troubled Teens Programs - Abundant Life Academy Admissions Criteria

Abundant Life Academy (ALA) is one of a few leadership-based Christian boarding schools for troubled teens, where the admissions criteria is straight forward and simple.  We are looking for troubled teens, gifted kids who are rejecting their Christian heritage, struggling to understand their own Christian belief's, rebelling against parental authority, and living for today with no concern for the future. Every Christian boarding school or program for troubled teens claim to be unique and different from all the rest, and each one has their own admissions criteria (student and family profile)  The truth is Abundant Life Academy is a very different program and our admissions criteria has defined who we are, who we serve, as well as who we don't.  Its not that we are exclusionary, judgmental, and haughty... the Abundant Life Academy admissions criteria is based on the following statement where we openly declare, "Jesus is the only answer!"  This statement has defined the Abundant Life Academy admissions criteria because parents of troubled teens who do not share this belief do not consider ALA as an option.

Moreover, Abundant Life Academy serves a very unique student population and our uniqueness is evident in our admissions criteria. Specifically Abundant Life Academy we work with both troubled boys and troubled girls, ages 12 to 18.  ALA is an excellent choice for a troubled teen that is struggling to find his/her identity and purpose in life, and their current identity has no relevance to who they really are, masquerading as something parents do not recognize. In the ALA admissions criteria the prospective boy or girl is making poor personal decisions, and has proven that they won't make decisions that are in their best interest.  More specifically, Abundant Life Academy is designed for the gifted, yet unmotivated Christian teen struggling with feelings of inadequacy, low self-worth, and therefore acts like a troubled teen; lazy, lacks appreciation for anything, and in rebellion toward parental authority.  Other elements of the ALA admissions criteria defines ALA as a Christian school for angry teens in need of emotional intelligence, emotional stability, and emotional maturity. 

Moreover, the young man/woman that ALA serves has demonstrated self-centeredness, selfishness, and is self-absorbed without any concern of how their behaivor affects others; troubled teens who are concerned about having fun, hanging out with negative peers, lies to parents, is sneaking out and/or skipping school, might be sexually active, and may be using drugs or alcohol (or is heading that way). Abundant Life Academy is the alternative to the typical program for problem teenagers; ALA is a powerful Christian leadership school where students are reconnected with Christ, restored to their families, and become pursuers of academic excellence.

To enroll your teen into Abundant Life Academy you need to make sure that ALA is God's will for your child. Our strongest admissions criteria is based in prayer. We ask you to pray and to seek Godly counsel. This is a huge decision, and most of the time parents don't have the luxury of time.  Sometimes things have gotten to a crisis point and a move has to be made.  Pray!  Seek God!  The peace He will give will get you through the crisis and beyond.  Sometimes parents have some time and can methodically go through the enrollment process.  Thank God if you have time.  What ever your situation may be, crisis or not, if you are certain that Abundant Life Academy is God's will for your family then the next step is to fill out the form to the left, and request more information.

"... The Ascent of a Leader... ALA is equipping the young leaders of tomorrow to love with Honor, through the glory and integrity of Christ..." -Craig Rogers , Abundant Life Academy Founder

When we evaluate a prospective student we look at the family as a whole. The Abundant Life Academy admissions criteria is not only about the troubled teen.  The family as a unified team prospers.  We will look at the parent's willingness to grow, forgive, and seek grace and mercy in all ways. Our family evaluation and admissions criteria are based on the family's commitment to the process of Christ-centered reconciliation. Many times the parents have a history of rescuing their child from difficult situations and in doing so have become the problem. At Abundant Life Academy we cannot work with parents that "rescue" their children, it just doesn't work, and everyone is undermined. Our job will be to slowly reintroduce adversity into the life of the child (we expect greatness from our students and we hold them accountable). Our hope is that the parents will refrain from rescuing their child from any struggle they encounter, and in doing so their child will grow into a powerful adolescent who can make good decisions, especially under pressure and through adversity.

In order to fulfill our goals we require a great deal of our student's parents. We expect the parents of our students to be a partner in the process of reconciliation. We expect the parents of our students to be supportive and a source of encouragement for our staff. We hope that our student's parents will join the battle by making a commitment to pray for the staff and students of ALA. "Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against powerful forces of darkness…" We need our parents to be prayer warriors and consistent encouragers to those of us in the front lines of the battle.

The Abundant Life Academy Christian boarding school experience will resurrect and grow the leadership potential in the lives of our students while preparing them to impact the world. We mentor our students until they catch their vision, and embrace a commitment to excellence. Our students will develop the tenacity, the perseverance, and the endurance necessary to be powerful leaders, overcoming the wiles of the world. Again, in order to accomplish such a feat we cannot do it without the full support and cooperation of the student's parents. One of the most important criteria for admission into Abundant Life Academy is the parent's willingness to work along side of us, offering support and encouragement in every possible way. We can't take the place of the student's parents. We require the parents to be an integral part of the child's success while at ALA. We ask the ALA parent to stand by us firmly and support us through a difficult battle. We require the parents to be in covenant with the staff of Abundant Life Academy, working together to ensure the successful completion of the program.

ALA Admissions Criteria: Prospective students of Abundant Life Academy are kids who are gifted, yet unmotivated (academic and spiritually unmotivated). Abundant Life Academy does not serve students who are in need of acute mental health services (self harm, suicidal ideation, or currently taking medication for psychosis and/or servere mental dysfunction), are convicted of felonies (violent crimes or sexual crimes), or in need of medical detoxification from drug addiction.  ALA is not a camp or program for troubled youth with severe emotional problems, but we can help you find the right program for your troubled teen. Please fill out the "Get Help Now" form in the far left column of this page.