Christian Boarding Schools for Troubled Teen Boys and Girls

ALA Family Profile for Troubled Teens and Their Parents

The typical Abundant Life Academy family is a Christ-centered family who loves Jesus with all of their heart. 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 child. 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 teen. 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 underachiever/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 knowledge of a loving God our students will return to their Christian heritage, and become the man/woman of God they were destined to be.

We believe that the three most powerful forces of life are leadership, creativity, and life management. The key to releasing these powerful life forces is usually found in the midst of one's struggle. For instance, the struggle for identity in the life of a teenager is an incredible potential training ground for future success. 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 these cases, a traditional Boarding School, Military Boarding Schools or Boot Camps are 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. We see their struggle as an opportunity to promote them into a prevailing place full of promise.

Prior to coming to Abundant Life Academy our student-leaders found them selves caught up in the ways of the world (self-centeredness, rebellion, drugs, 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-destructive lifestyle. The parents of the ideal Abundant Life Academy student has identified that he/she needs to make some radical changes, and needs some coaching and guidance to reach his/her awesome potential.

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.

Abundant Life Academy is not a placement for defiant 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 commitment to refrain from drugs, alcohol, 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 serves young men/woman who have successfully completed wilderness programs and other emotional growth schools. While these settings are very powerful, many emotional growth programs tend to "intuitionalize" their students, leaving them unprepared to deal with the pitfalls of re-entering the "real world". Moreover, traditional therapeutic programs lack the Christian perspective, and the student is often left with a desire for more truth. ALA could easily be considered a "transitional" situation, where a young man can establish a foundation before returning home or moving on to college.