Seven years ago I arrived in Garden Valley, Texas on a breezy day in the mid-80s, and began a journey which would utterly change my life. When I stepped onto the Honor Academy's campus I suspected that something good was about to happen, but honestly, I greatly underestimated how good it would be. I knew that I wanted to follow Jesus closer than ever before, I knew that I wanted to grow strong where I was weak, and I knew that spending a year in Texas with the Honor Academy (HA) would be a big part of all of this happening, but I had no idea that seven years later I would still be here, and that my love for the LORD would have turned into what it is today...

"Empowering Godly men and women to possess wisdom, vision, and discipline to excel as leaders whose lives advance the kingdom."

The Honor Academy's mission statement is short, but does a good job of wrapping an entire world up in one sentence. Young Christians in America are growing up in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, and many of them are entangled in "civilian pursuits" far more than they want to be. Recognizing the cry in many of our hearts for something greater than the American Dream, some blessed men and women of God have created this year-long internship, open to high school graduates. The HA is designed to constantly challenge interns in their walk with the LORD, and help equip them to be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish, shining as lights in the world. There is more to being a Christian than simply calling on the name of the LORD, and each year hundreds of young people come spend a year at the internship, fully devoted to pursuing God and to the work of the ministry, hoping and praying that as they are faithful, the LORD will build an unshakable foundation under their feet, strengthening their confidence and love for him for the rest of their lives.

The Honor Academy is designed to cultivate and develop the leadership potential in young adults while preparing them to impact today's world for Christ. The scope of the program is extensive and includes classroom instruction, practical hands-on experience, and life-transforming events. All are designed to give each intern at the Honor Academy a balanced, strategic approach to godly character and lasting leadership skills. The Honor Academy's website (http://honoracademy.com) describes the various aspects of the internship in great detail. If you're interested in finding out more, I highly recommend browsing through everything there.

My love for the LORD today makes my love for him before the HA look dim and far away. Along with thousands of alumni from the Internship, I am grateful for all God has done in my life, and the lives of many of my friends, through the leadership and structure of this blessed place. The Denver Root people know today has been substantially shaped and changed through the Honor Academy, and I've found that this depth of transformation is common amongst interns.

"Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain."
-from Philippians 2