The Honor Academy did not just transform my life, it defined who I am in Christ. I entered the internship straight out of high school and while I was considered a “good person” and had a great passion for the Lord, I lacked the character and leadership skills needed to be able to go to the level that the Lord desired me to be at. I don’t think I can say that there was anything easy about the Honor Academy, as it was a year packed full of spiritual growth and growing pains hurt; however, the results were incredible. If you put your all into this internship between the classes, accountability, retreats, work experience, leadership training, and ministry opportunities, you will definitely do just what the Honor Academy says: encounter God, be transformed, and collide with your destiny.
Since I was a small child I had a passion for Africa, but even in high school I wasn’t completely sure how that was going to fit into my life’s purpose. I decided to go to college to become a photographer with the dream of working for National Geographic one day. However, after joining Teen Mania on a mission trip to Guatemala, my vision started shifting and I ended up at the Honor Academy. Through my experience there the Lord showed me His purpose for my life and little did I know that shortly after graduating from the internship He would birth a nonprofit organization through me called Project Africa Ministries, Inc. (pamissions.com)
Project Africa started in 2003 with the vision to take young people on short term mission trips to South Africa and Swaziland. However, today the vision has greatly surpassed my imagination. I came across a saying at the Honor Academy that I still live by today, “Attempt something large enough that failure is guaranteed, unless God steps in.” And God has definitely stepped in and been the center of this organization. I am honor to have an amazing wife, Debbie, with me on this journey. Currently, we take teams to South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana, Tanzania and will soon be adding teams to reach out to refugees from Africa right here in the United States. We also do AIDS/HIV relief work, assist with church plants, village revitalization programs as well as tour the United States encouraging youth and young adults to forfeit the “American Dream” for God’s dream for their lives.
Since graduating the Honor Academy, I have been able to finish my bachelors and am currently working on my masters in World Missions. Before the internship I would have never guessed that one day I would be working for my own organization that the Lord has entrusted me with, but as I sit here today, I give glory to God for giving me the opportunity to lay one year aside and give my all while at the Honor Academy so that the character, passion, vision and leaderships skills could mold me through the Holy Spirit into the person I am today.

Upon graduating high school, I would have never imagined myself moving to “middle of nowhere”, Texas to what I thought to be just a hyped-up, extensive youth camp for overly emotional Christians.  I could not have been more wrong on so many levels.  Not only did God convince me move to East Texas, but I soon discovered that I was engaging in one of the finest and most rewarding programs I think I could have ever participated in.  God used the Honor Academy not only to strengthen my walk with the Lord, but to altogether better prepare me for my future.

During my two years at the Honor Academy, first as an Undergrad and then as a Core Advisor, I experienced what it is to have a relationship with Christ.  Through the example of outstanding leaders and informative classes, I learned about principle and character and how to use the gifts and abilities God has given me to lead others to Jesus. I also developed deep, fulfilling friendships that continue to have an impact on my life.  An important part of my HA experience was gaining new insight about my role in God’s plan to bring every man, woman, and child into the Kingdom, and I was provided with guidance and encouragement in pursuing that calling. Probably the number one lesson I took away from the Honor Academy is to not settle, compromise, or in any way sell yourself short of the potential God has given you, even if it means taking risks in life.  Though I am still far from perfect, as an alumnus of the Honor Academy and in view of my eternal accountability before God, I desire to make the most out of this short life I have been given as I strive to leave a legacy of honor.

Looking back, going to the Honor Academy was without a doubt one of the best decisions I have ever made.  I am very grateful to leadership of Teen Mania for all the growth and wisdom I received.  It was certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity!

The Honor Academy was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. It is integral to where I am at today. From day one until the day you graduate, you learn so much about life and how to live with character and integrity. Those things still are with me today. Everything from the classroom time to the different events is crucial to a successful year at the internship. They helped to mold me and shape me into who I am today, and my relationship with Jesus grew so much more as well.  I was able to become a carrier of the presence of God and I know this confidently when I left after my second year; this was vital to helping me grow and succeed in a world where the economic situation is tough.

After graduating from my second year at Teen Mania, I moved to Kansas City, Missouri to attend World Revival School of Ministry where I earned my Bachelors degree in Ministerial Studies. I have had so many amazing opportunities that the Honor Academy helped me with to be where I am at today, I have been part of a two-time Emmy Award-winning Television show called the “Steve and Kathy Show”. The church that I am at today is being aired live on the 2nd largest Christian TV network in the world because of the Honor academy. I am working with thousands of pastors and leaders across the country because of the experience that I gained working with Group Adventures.

If you are a young man or woman just out of high school or in your mid 20’s, I would definitely encourage you to consider going to the Honor Academy.  This will not be a waste of your time and it will give you more of a direction of what to do for the next 70 years of your life.  In the 6 years I have been out of Teen Mania, my life has been changed dramatically and to this day, I am thankful for the Honor Academy.  It was a great opportunity to serve the body of Christ during those two years; do not take this for granted.

I would like to thank the Honor Academy for instilling fundamental values and a solid foundation in my life and career. I came after already completing some college and owning a small business. I knew for certain there was a small whisper leading me and telling me there was more. The Honor Academy helped to not only set my focus but to provide insight on how to understand that whisper and how to better live my life. With powerful retreats and leadership training I was able to understand who I was. We had amazing speakers and popular authors who came from around the world to speak every week, including John Bevere, Truett Cathy, KP Yohannan, Cesar Fajarjo & Bill Wilson. I don’t think I can count the value of what these teachings have meant to me. The people and values I learned through my year at the Honor Academy have helped form the launching pad for the rest of my life and career.

It’s been several years since the Honor Academy. I now have an international small business, am a published author, and am working diligently on writing a Christian novel, with help from a publisher I met passing through at the Honor Academy. I recently married a beautiful Southeastern University graduate and had four of my Honor Academy classmates serve as groomsmen and had many more in attendance. I am nearly 85% out of debt, almost finished with college and have a partnership with my wife to work in some capacity in missions, specifically with children and orphans. I am proud of my year at the Honor Academy and would wish it on anyone before going to college. No regrets.

I remember when God called me to go to the HA. It is the clearest God’s voice has ever been to me. As the words Faith, Integrity, Relationships, Excellence, and Vision flashed across my computer screen, I knew that God would teach me those things through the Honor Academy, and I would never be the same. What I didn’t know is that I would learn and grow so much more.

I began the internship with high hopes to one day enter into full time ministry- although I wasn’t sure exactly what that meant. Through my time at the Honor Academy, I was able to hone my vision, and most importantly, my character. Paul says in Ephesians 4:1, “As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” At the Honor Academy, God taught me through many different people and events to do just that.

I am now a pastor at a thriving church called Mosaic in Oakland, FL. I am the student ministries and young adult pastor- I lead three gatherings per week: junior high, high school and young adults. God has used me by His grace for His glory, and I know that my time at the Honor Academy has been the launching pad.

I assure you, if you desire to live your life for the glory of God, a year at the Honor Academy would be an incredible way to learn how to do just that. May God bless your life to His glory.

My time at the Honor Academy was the best way I could have chosen to spend my time, not to mention that it was a very good financial investment as well. For someone leaving high school to spend a year searching, the internship cost a lot of money, but in the grand scheme of things, it was money well spent for the experience of a lifetime. The values I learned and the tests I endured have all shaped me into who I am today and continue to shape me towards the plan God has for me.

Despite being out of academic circles for two years, I learned a lot of patience and determination that got me through 4 years at Oral Roberts University where I graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s in Accounting.

Following college, I joined the United States Army to pay off the $45,000 in loans I had accrued. Adapting to the military was not a difficult transition for me, as I had learned physical and moral discipline during my time at Teen Mania. The Army values (Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage) were nearly all implemented daily in the Honor Academy, so I was a lot better prepared for the rigors of military life than most soldiers in Basic Combat Training were.

I’m currently serving as a Chaplain Assistant, part of the Army’s Unit Ministry Team. Even without the ability to counsel soldiers directly, I am available to listen to them and help them get in touch with those who CAN help. The experience in the Honor Academy helped me build principles that kept me from succumbing to the vices that so often lead Christians away from their faith.

I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me after my time in the Army. All I know is that I have been more than adequately prepared to take on the challenges that God lays before me.

My experience at the Honor Academy is one that I will always treasure. It was a great time of character building and spiritual growth for me. I had mentors who exemplified the Christ life and challenged me in my walk with the Lord. I really enjoyed the leadership training at the Honor Academy and have put it to use both professionally and working in ministry.
Since my time at the Honor Academy I have completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and have worked as an RN in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which has been an amazing place to encourage, love, and pray for families while caring for their premature or sick infants. I am happily married and blessed to have two sweet little boys. I am enjoying the journey of living for Jesus through the highs and lows that come my way!

The Lord has used the Honor Academy as a tool to change and direct my life in more ways than I could have known. Constantly being surrounded by Godly men and women who passionately love Jesus Christ has pushed me to a greater discipline and depth within my own personal relationship with the Lord.  Even though I know the environment of the Honor Academy won’t be with me forever, I know that the depth and intimacy that I have developed for the Lord over this past year while at the Honor Academy will continue to grow and flourish for the rest of my life.