Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy Announces October 2010 Graduation

Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy has the honor of announcing four October graduates. We were blessed to have in attendance Teen Challenge students, staff and families. Also attending were several board members, a guest youth pastor from World Changers Church, representatives from Global Teen Challenge Headquarters and Directors from Russia Teen Challenge. Thank you for sharing this special day with us and witnessing with us the beautiful testimonies of each of our October graduates.

All graduates received a completion certificate recognizing their completion of the Teen Challenge Program as well a certificate acknowledging their achievements in our Bible/Life Skills Curriculum, PSNCs. One graduate also had the reward of being presented with her high school diploma on graduation day; two others will earn their high school diploma before they complete their internship. Three of our October graduates have enrolled in our Emerging Leaders program and will be serving our students in an intern capacity, working alongside the staff. One graduate will be returning home to complete high school and serve at her church, whose members and staff have supported her wholeheartedly through her stay at Teen Challenge.

In addition to the testimonies and presentations, the Columbus Teen Challenge choir performed “Thou O Lord”. Our talented graduates performed a beautiful human video that they put together to the song “He Wants it All” by Forever Jones. The closing remarks were given by Dave Batty, Chief Operating Officer of Global Teen Challenge.

What we have seen develop in our October graduates is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. It required integrity, commitment, an honest transparency and willingness to grow to complete this task. We are proud of our October graduates, job well done. We know that this is only the beginning.

Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy is a Christian Therapeutic Boarding School for girls ages 12 to 17. Our school is a disciplined and structured environment that emphasizes character development and personal responsibility. Our program is designed to develop the whole person in four main areas: spiritual, social, academic and physical. To learn more about our school, please call (334) 855-3695.

Separated – Positioned - Anointed – Redeemed - Equipped – Determined: That’s what SPARED stands for and it was the first ever youth conference just for Teen Challenge
 students! Our students attended this conference September 27-30.  It was an awesome opportunity to experience God working in our lives, have fun, and bond with fellow students and staff. The conference featured daily worship times, special guest speakers, graduate success stories, musical guests, team building games and activities, food, and excitement. Approximately 170 students and staff were in attendance from this Teen Challenge region.

Here’s what a few Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy students had to say…

“I enjoyed the fact that the Teen Challenge graduates wanted to come to talk to us so badly. It really impacted us to see that people who graduated as far back as the 70s are still doing great and going for God.”

“Prayer and Praise and Worship at the conference was great because it was so intense and focused. I also got to get into my own space and pray and seek God. It was so productive. I was glad that it was only Teen Challenge students, because it made it relatable. “

“I think it was the best idea in the world to have an only Teen Challenge Conference!!! We were being taught on a personal level.”

Students also expressed greatly benefiting personally from hearing speakers who spoke on topics such as forgiveness, trust, dealing with life’s highs and lows, Identity in Christ, and the unconditional love of God.

We want to say THANK YOU to all the directors, staff, volunteers, and students that helped make the conference possible and a success. It was amazing!



Talent Show at Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy

This week our Emerging Student Leaders coordinated a much anticipated event for our students, a talent show. Entries from our talented students included instrumental pieces, vocals performances, skits, short sermons, poetry, and even juggling and other hidden talents. This is what our students said:

“I thought the talent show was really well thought out, it made me feel really involved, like it was just for me. It fostered a lot of creativity, it allowed me to show part of myself while I got to know other people better and their talents. “

“It was really fun; I just had a good time. I felt like the interns put a lot of time into, it made me feel special.”

“It brought a lot of unity in the dorms; we all worked together as a team for the talent show.”

“The talent show was great, it was so much fun and a break from the schedule, it was a really good kick off for the summer, it was exciting.”

“It was good to see how many people got up there to show their talents without fear.”

We are proud of our student interns and ELP representatives for putting forth a great effort in making this a special day for our students. Job well done!

Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy is a Christian Therapeutic Boarding School for girls ages 12 to 17. Our school is a disciplined and structured environment that emphasizes character development and personal responsibility. Our program is designed to develop the whole person in four main areas: spiritual, social, academic and physical. To learn more about our school, please call (334) 855-3695.

Special Musical Guests at Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy

This summer we have also enjoyed special guests from Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Sound Of Spirit Youth Choir. This group of 45 traveled to our campus from Montgomery, AL to give our students a special performance from their musical summer tour. This special group of young people also visited us last year during their summer tour and then came back a second time to do a work project on our campus. One student had this to say about the event: “It was really good to see other people our age and to see them worship with their voice.” Sound of Spirit Youth Choir: we appreciate you and admire your giving hearts, thank you for coming to visit us!

Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy is a Christian Therapeutic Boarding School for girls ages 12 to 17. Our school is a disciplined and structured environment that emphasizes character development and personal responsibility. Our program is designed to develop the whole person in four main areas: spiritual, social, academic and physical. To learn more about our school, please call (334) 855-3695.

Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy participates in Community Event

Tuesday, May 25th, students from Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy had the privilege of participating in community event, “Lunch with The Lord”. “Lunch with the Lord” is a weekly luncheon open to the community. Those who come are encouraged with an uplifting message of faith, presented by the guest speaker for the week.

Executive Director, Bob Lee, shared the Teen Challenge history spanning over 50 years. The Teen Challenge Columbus Choir shared two beautiful arrangements directed by choir director, Randy Roberts, along with testimonies from students whose lives are being transformed. There were approximately 85 people in attendance. Thank you to Lunch with The Lord and letting us share in this very special day.

Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy is a Christian Therapeutic Boarding School for girls ages 12 to 17. Our school is a disciplined and structured environment that emphasizes character development and personal responsibility. Our program is designed to develop the whole person in four main areas: spiritual, social, academic and physical. To learn more about our school, please call (334) 855-3695.

Campus Life:

Just enjoyed having 2 Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy graduates back to visit! We are so proud of you girls, keep up the good work!

Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy Students Visit Local Nursing Home Residents

Students from Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy’s Emerging Leaders Program traveled to a local nursing home to participate in Community Outreach. This is a special service that gives our students the opportunity to look beyond themselves and reach out to others who may be hurting and in need.

At the nursing home our students ministered in song and with a message of encouragement that was followed by time for visitation. Following are comments from the students about their experience:

“It gave me an appreciation for elders that I did not have before because it is not something that I have thought a lot about.”

“It encouraged me, made me feel like I really connected with them when they said that it changed their whole day when I prayed with them.”

“It was my first one on one ministry experience and I was really nervous, but it gave me a lot of peace.”

“I felt like it was a new level of ministry to a different group of people and it was cool to learn how to reach out like that.”

“I really enjoyed praying with the residents because it was real. It really encouraged me to see how hopeful they all were and how content they were in their situation.“

Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy is a Christian Therapeutic Boarding School for girls ages 12 to 17. Our school is a disciplined and structured environment that emphasizes character development and personal responsibility. Our program is designed to develop the whole person in four main areas: spiritual, social, academic and physical. To learn more about our school, please call (334) 855-3695.