A Transformative Spring Break on Mission in Morristown, TN

Wow, what an incredible way to kick off Spring Break! Last week a team of about 50 Academy high schoolers and leaders set off from our campus in Nashville, to spend four days serving in Morristown TN. There, we partnered with our sister church, La Iglesia Comunidad de Dios, to minister to communities of need in that city. 

Going into the trip, Headmaster Garner exhorted the high schoolers to make each moment count. Referencing Psalms 90:12, he encouraged students to be aware of each task at hand, from worship to fellowship to service, and engage it fully. “Four days can seem short, but if you are present and intentional in every moment, the Lord can multiply the impact of those days.” 

The trip began with intentional conversations during the car ride. Students were given prompts to engage in discussions about their spiritual giftings. Taking time to identify each other’s strengths and speak words of encouragement, they also shared personal hopes with each other. These conversations laid the foundation for a sense of unity and purpose within the group as they began the mission trip.

A stop at Buc-ees Travel Center provided a practical lesson in selflessness and working with limited means. Given a small budget, students were tasked with organizing themselves into groups, and selecting snacks to share that fit within their limited means. They had to consider dietary needs and preferences within their group, along with nutritional value of the snacks they chose, to best nourish them for the afternoon ahead. This exercise served to reinforce collaboration and stewardship, but also as a contrast to the very common mindset of “splurge on snacks while we travel.”

Upon arriving in Morristown, students wasted no time immersing themselves in meaningful service projects on our first day! From repairing homes and landscaping to leading worship sessions and organizing Vacation Bible School programs, they tackled each task with energy, with hearts prepared for giving. That evening, Pastor Efrain (our host and lead pastor of the Community Church for GOD) shared a precious testimony of how on the other side of years of faithful service, he now gets to see his children follow in similar pursuit of our Lord. With tears in his eyes he communicated how truly grateful to see his college-aged daughters participate in ministry. This vulnerability softened the team’s eyes to see and understand the importance of not only service, but of hearing stories of God's faithfulness through obedience.

One of the most memorable moments of the trip occurred when our Academy students were welcomed into host homes within the Hispanic church community. They got to experience firsthand the power of generosity through the hospitality of their hosts. Some hosts gave up their master bedroom to accommodate the students. Others stayed up late sharing stories of ministry. Still others got up early to prepare hand-made tortillas for a delicious breakfast. These encounters left a lasting impression, prompting reflections on the biblical principle of hospitality and the obligation to care for one another as members of God's family.

Jesus said that he did not come to be served, but to serve. Through times of service, our students' hearts were impacted and softened to the move of God. In each project they encountered individuals whose stories and struggles deeply touched their hearts. From adults with disabilities to children living in poverty, each interaction served as a reminder of the inherent dignity and value of every individual made in God’s image. The teens later shared how these encounters sparked a desire to advocate for the marginalized, and to be instruments of God's love and compassion in a world often marked by injustice and inequality. Vice Principal, Ms. Mathews, testified, “I served with the upperclassmen at Hope and Thrive Academy, and we were immediately met with the Lord’s spirit as we entered the room with 20 adults with disabilities ready to sing and praise the Lord. The students led worship. Watching these adults use sign language while singing, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so,” brought tears to my eyes. God was truly in our midst and the students were impacted in ways I did not anticipate. I was impacted in ways I did not anticipate!”

As the days unfolded, students found themselves confronted with the realities of poverty, disability, and systemic injustice. Yet, amidst the challenges, they also discovered moments of joy, resilience, and hope. Whether leading worship for adults with disabilities or hosting Vacation Bible School for children living in poverty, students embraced each opportunity to serve with humility and compassion, embodying the spirit of Christ in their actions and attitudes. We were so proud to see our students giving of themselves fully! They stepped out of personal comfort zones to engage with people, practice their Spanish, and even serve in the midst of rainy weather. On Friday afternoon our students hosted a Vacation Bible School at a low-income housing complex in Morristown. When they pulled into the run-down area, driving through huge potholes, they were greeted by 35 laughing children waiting for them in the field, already anticipating their program. The students made the Lord proud through their planning and selfless giving, making children smile, play and feel seen by our Lord. 

In our evening times of worship and Bible teaching, Headmaster Garner spoke on our theme, “Rek’nize” from Colossians 3:1-3, sharing how Jesus raises us up into a strong identity by identifying with him. In a world with so much confusion and insecurity about identity, Jesus invites us near, to learn about who we are from the One who made us. The prayers of the righteous are effective because at the end of only the second night, students were already giving testimonies of how the Lord was giving them sight for their future and what it all holds. The culmination of the trip was marked by moments of spiritual growth and reflection. Engaging in worship and fellowship with the local church community, students experienced a renewed sense of purpose and calling. They heard testimonies of personal transformation and reconciliation, which underscored the power of faith and community. It was inspiring to all who were present, to embrace their identities as children of God and agents of His grace and mercy in the world.

We concluded our Morristown mission trip by cooking and eating a wonderful breakfast alongside the La Iglesia church members. This was a sweet experience to witness as our students got immersed cross culturally both in language and fellowship. Students then were given time to journal and go on a prayer walk on the property before we had our final morning session. As the students returned from their walk, we began our testimonies from our time together, and more and more strongholds were breaking. God is truly helping these students move their sight from an earthly perspective to a heavenly one. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, and our students are able to see those in need, and are ready to answer the call within the spiritual giftings that God has given them. 

In retrospect, the mission trip to Morristown was more than just a week of service; it was a transformative time of spiritual growth. Through intentional acts of kindness and service, students discovered the true meaning of discipleship and the love of God. As they carry the lessons and memories of their trip forward, they are empowered to live out their faith boldly and compassionately, making a tangible difference in the world around them and embodying the spirit of love and service that defines the kingdom of God.

The Nutritional Benefits of School Meals

March is national nutrition month, which is a perfect time to review the nutritional benefits of school meals. Dietary diversity and nutritional guidelines are two ways school meals can benefit a school age child’s nutrition. 

1. Dietary Diversity: Dietary diversity is the variety of foods or food groups in a person's or household’s diet.1. Eating a variety of food and food groups is a key component to dietary diversity, which in turn allows for a greater amount of nutrients, vitamins and minerals to be consumed. “Low dietary diversity in children is linked to nutrient deficiencies that lead to a range of health conditions such as anemia and stunted growth” 2,3. School meals present a unique ability to address a potential lack of dietary diversity and ensure students have access to a variety of meals. In a single week students have access to what are called ‘sub groups’ of vegetables. Per regulatory guiltiness students must have each of the following sub groups of veggies: leafy greens, dark greens, legumes, red/orange and a miscellaneous group that includes items like cucumbers. This means by default school meals will present students with the opportunity to take in a wide range of nutrients from just vegetables alone. This doesn’t include offerings of whole grains, proteins, milk and fruit. School meals are prepared meals, meaning they are cooked for the students daily. Because of this dietary diversity increases just for the fact we are not limited to just grab and go foods or cold foods such as sandwiches or prepackaged items. Students have on the menu several types of whole grains throughout the week as well as a wide range of fruits, all of which present their unique nutrient dense qualities.

2. Nutritional Guidelines: The second way that school meals present a huge nutritional benefit is through the USDA nutritional guidelines for meals. As a school we have to ensure students receive items that have the appropriate amount of calories, fat, sodium and in some cases sugar. Students receive meals that have been tailored for their age/grade. The meals also have to have all the appropriate components including, grains, meat, vegetables, milk and fruit. Students will undoubtedly have a more nutritionally balanced when the meal has been planned out and calculated down to the calorie. 

School meals are a fantastic way to ensure your student receives 5 meals a week that are pre-planned, diverse and meet strict nutritional guidelines.


1. Mason, P. & Lang, T. Sustainable diets: how ecological nutrition can transform consumption and the food system. (Routledge, 2017). 
2. De Benoist, B., Cogswell, M., Egli, I. & McLean, E. Worldwide prevalence of anaemia 1993-2005; WHO Global Database of anaemia. (2008). 
3. Rah, J. H. et al. Low dietary diversity is a predictor of child stunting in rural Bangladesh. European journal of clinical nutrition 64, 1393 (2010).

"Do You See this Woman?"

By Esther Bargatze, Junior

An original artwork created by Esther to reflect her poem.

For my Historical Biographies class, taught by Ms. Mathews, last semester we all read a book about a different hero of faith. At the beginning of this semester we created a verbal expression based on what we learned from our books. I chose Cathrine Hamlin and read her autobiography. She was an obstetrician from Australia who went to Ethiopia to work at a hospital for three years, she ended up spending the rest of her life there and founded the first fistula hospital in Ethiopia. Her ministry became healing women who suffered from fistula’s which was an injury that occurred during childbirth. In first world countries fistulas were (and still are) very rare and quickly treatable, but in Ethiopia they were a tragic commonality. Cathrine Hamlin gave her life to treating women in Ethiopia who had been suffering from a fistula, these women were often neglected and ostracized because they were seen as unclean. 

The piece I wrote is about the experience of these fistula patients in Ethiopia and their journey, including being treated. I wanted my piece to challenge people to consider if they let cultural norms and what they feel is normal effect how they perceive a person. I also created an art piece to go along with what I wrote.

She labors for days

Lacking medical aid results in mysterious complications.

She’s left ashamed of an unknown ailment, incurable.

If she's not ostracized by her community she isolates because of humiliation.

Her vulnerability leaves her susceptible to being trampled

but what was forced upon her left calluses.

What was a giver of life gave birth to death.

She is either forced to embrace motherhood alone

or forced to embrace the loss of a child alone.

Forced to embrace the medical repercussions of childbirth, alone.

Forced to navigate the disgust, disgrace and dishonor of being an unclean woman who is facing alone

the result of a reality that takes advantage of her vulnerability then declares her impure, repulsive,

and untouchable.

“Untreatable,” at the risk of having to face the personal discomfort of seeing someone so broken

so hurt in a part of the body that makes you uncomfortable to even think about.

So she is seen but disregarded.

It wasn’t until a hospital by the river that she heard, “daughter, your faith has made you well.”

There she was told, “child, arise.”

“Do not weep,” she was comforted,

healed from her wounds and freed from her societal “sins”.

The love of those who committed themselves to healing ushered in a calm voice that spoke

peacefully, “woman, you are freed from your disability.”

She had traveled weeks to receive a procedure that took fifteen minutes.

Those fifteen minutes cured her of a life lived neglected.

Before she had been downcast and miserable; now she was reborn as a beautiful, smiling woman,

with a look of joy in her eyes.

Do you see this woman?

Or do you only smell filth?

Do you only see her injuries?

Does it make you uncomfortable to see another human being so completely drenched in discomfort?

Or do you have the eyes to see this woman?

Can you strip away every cultural and personal concept for what you believe is normal…

Dr. Cathrine Hamlin with one of her cured fistula patients in Ethiopia.

or will you live blinded by a veil you’ve unknowingly accepted and accustomed yourself to?

Look up and let the veil fall off your face

your eyes will be redirected downwards to unexpected places,

to unexpected people.

But you will truly see them.

And you will see them as precious.

You will see them as God does.

Phoenix Basketball 2024 Season Comes to Close

We wanted to take a moment to recognize the achievements of our basketball teams and coaches for the 2023-2024 season. Our athletes and coaches have shown dedication, skill, and perseverance this season, and we are proud to acknowledge their performances.

The 2023-2024 jr high boys basketball team, coached by Ben Young and Teeyha Campbell.

First, we wanted to congratulate the Jr. High boy's team, led by coaches Ben Young and Teeyha Campbell. With a record of 16-4, they secured a second-place finish in the TSIAA conference, showcasing their talent and teamwork on the court.

Next, the JV Girl's and Boy's teams, with coaches Jen Nyago, Shaun Galford, and Isaiah Aaseby played an independent schedule that allowed them to elevate their game, providing invaluable experience and development opportunities that will shape their future contributions to our basketball program. The JV Girl’s team still has a couple of tournaments left to play in February and March.

Special recognition goes to our Varsity boy's team, led by coaches Andrew Bartlett, Isaiah Aaseby, and Stephen Ownby. They reached the semi-final game of the division 2 state playoffs, a testament to their hard work, skill, and determination throughout the season.

The 2023-2024 boys varsity basketball team, coached by Isaiah Aaseby, Andrew Bartlett, and Stephen Ownby.

We also want to honor our seniors, Antonio Thomas and Justice Garner, who have been integral members of our basketball program for all four years. Their leadership, dedication, and talent have left a lasting mark on our program, and we are very proud of their contributions.

We extend our sincerest gratitude to our senior captains, all our players, coaches, and loyal Phoenix fans whose support contributed to our teams’ successes throughout the season.

Some notable individual highlights of the season were the following (pictured left to right):

• Elam Littleton received All-State honors with the TSIAA

• Caleb Muñoz was awarded the Star of the Game for the Jr. High Championship game

• Justice Garner's record-breaking performance, scoring 32 points in a single game on senior night.

We look forward to the continued success of our basketball program in the years to come. Together, we will continue to rise as the Academy for GOD Phoenix!

Congratulations once again to all our teams and coaches on the 2023-2024 season!

Academic Achievements for Semester 1, 2023

It's time to celebrate the incredible academic achievements of our Junior High and High School students at the Academy for GOD for the first semester of the 2023-2024 school year! These students have demonstrated hard work and dedication in pursuit of academic excellence.

In Junior High, the following students achieved Academic Honors, which is awarded to students who earned all As and Bs during the Fall 2023 semester.

7th Grade

• Yonah Arroyo

• Olivia Brooks

• Brenton Buck

• Abram Davis

• Solomon Horst

• Charlee Kagay

• Jude Montgomery

• Phillip Motorny

• Landon Perryman

• Eve Willis

8th Grade

• Caden Aaseby

• Daniel Cameron

• Ruby Edmondson

• Eliana Galford

• Noah Galford

• Eden Loeffler

• Ajay Maute

• Nanozi Nyago

• Hudsyn Roberts

Also, in Junior High, the following students achieved Academic High Honors, which is awarded to Jr. High students who earned all As during the Fall 2023 semester.

7th Grade

• Judah Aaseby

• Isaac Muñoz

• Caleb Muñoz

• Abela Roufs

8th Grade

• Tobin Nadeau

• Stephen Ownby

In high school, the Principal’s Award was given to the following students students who achieved a Fall 2023 High School GPA of 3.5-3.86.

9th Grade

• Zuri Aaseby

• Caleb Lasater

• Joshua Lasater   

10th Grade 

• Malachi Aaseby

11th Grade

• Ethan Benoit

• Blessing Davis

• Tyler Worlow

12th Grade

• Tasha Andrews

• Kiah Roufs

Furthermore, the Headmaster’s Award is given to the following high school students who achieved a Fall 2023 High School GPA of 3.87-4.0.

9th Grade

• Evie Arroyo

• Adia Bargatze

• Esperanza Davis

• Owen Kagay

• Amani Kurtz

• Ethan Olson

• Shae Ownby

• Sailor Reichert

• Sarieli Reyes Sauls

• Jaelyn Roufs

• Jonah Willis

10th Grade

• Camden Cole

• Sophia Galford

• Luke Loeffler

• Joselyn Muñoz

11th Grade

• Ezrah Aaseby

• Esther Bargatze

• Mckenzie Castlen

• Eved Roufs

12th Grade

• Sawyer Cole

• Jackson Kurtz

• Luci Muñoz

• Zeke Nadeau

• Moriah Olson

Congratulations to all the students at the Academy for GOD for their outstanding accomplishments during the first semester of the 2023-2024 school year. Your hard work and dedication inspire us all!