A Lesson in Service: River’s Reflection on the Cox Family
River, a senior intern from the Academy for GOD, is working with the Community Services program at Global Outreach Developments Int'l. During his time with Community Services, River has been involved in local initiatives that support Nashville’s youth and elderly, gaining valuable experience in community service. In his reflection, River shares a memorable experience with the Cox family, where he learned from their wisdom and kindness. We invite you to read his reflection, where he highlights the impact of service and the deep connections that make this work so meaningful.
River, a senior intern from the Academy for GOD, is working with the Community Services program at Global Outreach Developments Int'l. During his time with Community Services, River has been involved in local initiatives that support Nashville’s youth and elderly, gaining valuable experience in community service. In his reflection, River shares a memorable experience with the Cox family, where he learned from their wisdom and kindness. We invite you to read his reflection, where he highlights the impact of service and the deep connections that make this work so meaningful.
”Last Thursday, I had the wonderful opportunity to serve the Cox family and help Mr. Cox prepare his famous biscuits for the Academy staff. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are people of strong faith who have lived extraordinary lives devoted to the Lord, and it was truly special to serve them and hear some of their inspiring stories. They were so generous in sharing their wisdom, and I am deeply grateful for that.
Before we even started making the biscuits, Mrs. Nsubuga and I spent time asking questions, listening to Mr. Cox’s stories, and getting to know him better. His life is full of remarkable experiences, and I loved hearing about them. He shared how he had opened his home to teenagers who had been kicked out of their own, how he stepped in as a principal when the need arose, and how he served his church by becoming a pastor. Hearing these stories was powerful, and it became clear that Mr. Cox is the type of person who always says "yes" to the Lord. He often mentioned that even when he wasn't sure about something, he trusted in the Lord, and that struck me deeply.
Reflecting on my time with Mr. Cox, I thought about the parable of the wise and foolish men. In Matthew 7, it says, "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Mr. Cox has built his life on the solid foundation of God’s word, listening to the Lord and living out His calling, saying "yes" to whatever He brought his way.
Once we began making the biscuits, Mrs. Nsubuga left, and it was just Mr. Cox and I in the kitchen. It was such a special time learning his secret recipe and talking with him. He continued to share more stories from his life, answering my questions with humor and wisdom. He has a remarkable gift for telling stories that are both funny and meaningful.
Mr. and Mrs. Cox are truly a blessing to be around. Their hospitality was overwhelming, and they generously sent me home with a bag of the biscuits we made. I’m grateful for the time I spent with them, learning from their wisdom and experiencing their kindness.”
Varsity Volleyball District Champs & State Runner-Up
On Saturday, October 12th, the Academy for GOD’s High School Varsity Volleyball team made Phoenix history! In a display of talent and teamwork, our Phoenix squad brought home the TSIAA North District Volleyball Championship with a dominant 3-0 win. This is the first time any High School volleyball team from Academy for GOD has won a district championship, and we couldn’t be prouder of these incredible athletes and their dedicated coaches.
Our Varsity Volleyball team didn’t stop there; they went on to achieve an incredible 22-3 season record and competed in the TSIAA High School Volleyball State Championship game, where they proudly finished as state runner-up! Their dedication, resilience, and unity have set a powerful example for our entire school community.
We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the Phoenix fans, families, and supporters who packed the stands and brought energy to every match. Your encouragement and love have been a foundation for these players all season long. Congratulations, ladies! Your hard work, sportsmanship, and faith have made us all so incredibly proud.
Celebrating Educational Excellence: Cognia Names 60 Schools & Systems of Distinction
At the Academy for GOD, we are passionate about promoting academic excellence and fostering environments that support growth for students, teachers, and leaders alike. This commitment aligns perfectly with the work of our accrediting association: Cognia, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to educational improvement, which recently recognized 60 institutions worldwide as “Schools and Systems of Distinction” for the 2023-2024 year. These schools exemplify top-tier education standards, having excelled through Cognia's rigorous Accreditation Engagement Review process.
At the Academy for GOD, we are passionate about promoting academic excellence and fostering environments that support growth for students, teachers, and leaders alike. This commitment aligns perfectly with the work of our accrediting association: Cognia, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to educational improvement, which recently recognized 60 institutions worldwide as “Schools and Systems of Distinction” for the 2023-2024 year. These schools exemplify top-tier education standards, having excelled through Cognia's rigorous Accreditation Engagement Review process.
Academy Administration is presented with The Cognia School of Distinction Award by Head of School, Gregg Garner, during a school assembly in October 2024.
The Academy for GOD applauds the selected institutions for achieving this distinction, highlighting their dedication to high-quality education, continuous improvement, and a positive learning environment. Cognia, whose reach extends across 90 countries and serves 40,000 institutions, provides accreditation and certification based on a globally respected framework. This year’s distinguished list of schools includes 41 individual schools and 11 systems across 23 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and eight international schools in five other countries. These 60 institutions were selected from among nearly 2,000 that participated in Cognia's Accreditation Engagement Review process during the 2023-2024 academic year placing the Academy among the top 3% of all 2,000 schools. Furthermore, the Academy is the only school in our state of Tennessee to be recognized.
Cognia’s review process is designed to maintain and elevate educational quality. This thorough evaluation includes a period of self-assessment by the school, an external review by trained evaluators, and an improvement plan based on evaluation outcomes. Schools meeting the Cognia Performance Standards show strong evidence of quality teaching, a supportive school culture, effective leadership, and engaging instructional environments. Achieving Cognia Accreditation means committing to this excellence over time, with reviews conducted every six years to ensure sustained quality.
"Congratulations to the 2024 Schools and Systems of Distinction for demonstrating excellence in education in meeting the Cognia Performance Standards,” remarked Dr. Mark A. Elgart, Cognia's president and CEO. “These institutions are benchmarks of school quality in their commitment to continuous improvement.” Institutions honored this year have shown exceptional educational practices and a commitment to fostering growth, learning, and success among students.
As an organization that values educational advancement, the Academy for GOD is inspired by these institutions’ achievements. The Cognia award reinforces the importance of quality standards, ongoing evaluation, and improvement to ensure students receive the best education possible.
Cognia’s role in educational improvement highlights the significance of institutional dedication to high standards, and these 2024 Schools of Distinction serve as models of what schools can achieve through continuous improvement efforts. They represent a global vision for education that resonates with our mission at the Academy for GOD. Together, we are moving toward a world where all learners are empowered to succeed, and where education is continuously evolving to meet the needs of tomorrow’s leaders.
For a closer look at this year’s Schools of Distinction and more information on Cognia’s impactful work, visit Cognia's website and explore how these exemplary schools are setting new standards for academic success.
Local Foods For School Grant Recipient
October is National Farm to School Month and our school nutrition program is pleased to announce the results of a recent farm to school grant that we have facilitated during both the 23/24 and through the first two months of the 24/25 school year.
The Local Food for Schools grant was part of the USDA’s program to bring local foods into schools and infuse funding into our local small farming economy. We are thankful that this grant did both! The school nutrition program purchased chicken, beef, turkey as well as some fresh vegetables over the course of the grant duration.
What was the impact of this grant on the menu? We were able to serve close to 3,000 lbs of chicken, almost 1,000 lbs of turkey and nearly 900 lbs of ground beef to our students. This amounts to about 100 meals in which our students had a local meat source on the menu. To put that into perspective the students have 180 days in a single school year. This accumulates to about 80% of their meals having a local protein that was served from August of 2023 through September of 2024.
What was the nutritional impact of this grant? The beef, turkey and chicken served through this time frame was mostly from Pure Pastures, a local small farm. They produce high quality meats that are: Non GMO, ethically raised, no vaccines, no chemicals, no medications, no antibiotics and no animal by-products. Their beef is 100% grass fed which creates a nutrient dense protein.
Grass fed beef tends to be higher in Omega-3 fatty acid, more antioxidants, more vitamin k2 giving more nutrient dense qualities to the beef and in turn the consumer. Pasture raised chicken “contains 50% more vitamin A compared to conventionally raised chicken.” Vitamin K is essential for immune function, vision and overall skin health.
Pasture raised chicken can also be found to have higher levels of iron, higher levels of omega 3 and higher levels of vitamin E. Overall the quality of the meat is greatly increased with pasture raised/grass fed animals. With this grant we were able to infuse our students' diets with high quality proteins and give them the nutrition they need to fuel a wonderful day of learning!
The Academy for GOD Launches ProDev Partnerships for 2024-2025 Academic Year
The Academy for GOD is excited to announce the launch of its Professional Development (ProDev) Program partnerships for the 2024-2025 academic year. Now in its second formal year, ProDev connects students' biblical education with real-world work experience, enabling them to graduate debt-free and confident in their career paths. Institute for GOD President and Academy Founder, Gregg Garner, a theologian and entrepreneur, has been developing this program iteratively since 2011. Together with The Institute staff, he is committed to breaking the stereotype that Bible college graduates struggle to find employment.
The Academy for GOD is excited to announce the launch of its Professional Development (ProDev) Program partnerships for the 2024-2025 academic year. Now in its second formal year, ProDev connects students' biblical education with real-world work experience, enabling them to graduate debt-free and confident in their career paths. Institute for GOD President and Academy Founder, Gregg Garner, a theologian and entrepreneur, has been developing this program iteratively since 2011. Together with The Institute staff, he is committed to breaking the stereotype that Bible college graduates struggle to find employment.
Aligned with the college’s mission to produce "spiritually mature, competent professionals for global impact," The Institute combines rigorous Scriptural study with practical work experience and extensive global internships for every on-campus student. Since 2011, this unique combination has resulted in a 100% job placement rate for graduates—14% higher than the national average.
How Does It Work?
Traditional on-campus students enrolled in The Institute’s undergraduate program are invited to participate in the ProDev program. Here’s how it works:
"This is my second year at the Academy for my Pro-Dev. This has been my favorite work environment that I have been apart of. My bosses and co-workers have given me feedback and encouragement throughout my time here. I love being able to grow in my ability to work with children and grow in my teaching skills." - Ms. Vavold
Preference-Based Placement: Students undergo a personalized matching assessment that seeks to align individual career goals with available experiences with Christian businesses and nonprofits committed to investing in the next generation of professionals in Nashville
Scholarship Support: ProDev Partners contribute to a scholarship fund that significantly reduces the cost of students’ biblical education, helping students to graduate debt-free while gaining professional experience in their field of interest.
Real-World Experience: Students commit to 15-25 hours a week of professional experience in fields as diverse as medicine, education, hospitality, construction, social services, and the arts.
Flexible Learning Opportunities: Students may switch ProDev placements each semester to explore different career paths or to stay in one role to build a specialized skill set toward a specific career goal.
Career-Ready Graduates: By the end of their undergraduate education, students will have earned a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies or Community Development, complemented by a resume rich with workplace experience, additional microcredentials, and a wealth of soft skills developed through mentorship and practical engagement.
ProDev is more than a scholarship program, it’s an opportunity for incredible personal growth. President Garner explains: “Students participating in the ProDev program will have the chance to determine if what they imagine they want to do is truly grounded in reality. In this way, students don’t find themselves realizing after earning their degree that it’s not what they want to pursue. Instead, they gain that insight before even completing their general education. This saves families money, it saves students time, and it significantly enhances their experience. Once a student identifies their passion, they become more eager to learn about it. By the time they reach their upper-division courses, they’ve already filtered out what they realized they didn’t want to pursue. Now, they’re driven to learn. When you combine someone driven to learn with opportunities for practical application, explosive growth follows. That’s what the Professional Development program offers.”
2024-2025 Partnerships
In the fall of 2024, The Institute is thrilled to provide professional opportunities to its students working in the following areas, alongside the college’s departments of assessment, admissions, A/V tech, and marketing:
CASE After School Program
Hopewell Family Care Integrative Clinic
Nyumba Food Services (Califarmia Food Truck)
Nyumbarista (Coffee Shop)
GOD Int’l Facilities & Maintenance
The Arts at Center Street (Music and Theatre)
MCH Nashville (Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC, Utilities, Geothermal and Solar)
Academy for GOD (Preschool-12th Grade)
A Collaborative Effort: ProDev at The Academy for GOD
Mr. C is a valued member of the Academy, respected by students and staff. As a second-year ProDev student, he significantly contributes to campus life as a recess supervisor and teaching assistant. He fosters a safe, enjoyable recess, encouraging inclusive play and providing support with conflicts and schoolwork.
The Academy for GOD has provided experiences in K-12 education to Institute students for over a decade in volunteer, internship, and staff capacities. The Professional Development program has allowed us to partner even more effectively with the Institute to provide students seeking future educational occupations with real-time experiences. During the 2024-2025 school year, our professional development students are fulfilling responsibilities related to lunch and recess monitoring, teaching assistance, administrative assistance, receptionist tasks, building cleaning, and traffic duties. Institute students are learning skills related to classroom management, conflict resolution according to God’s word, and assisting students on campus and via remote learning channels. As students spend consecutive years working with us, responsibilities increase to develop their capacities toward holding faculty and staff positions into the future. We are thankful to spend time investing in Institute students in a way that trains them into our future teachers and leaders in innovative Christian education.
Call to Action
For businesses and nonprofit organizations interested in joining this innovative program, or for students eager to enroll in a program that combines faith with practical experience and financial freedom, please visit the instituteforgod.edu or contact Laurie Kagay, the college’s VP of Enrollment, Marketing, and Communications (laurie@instituteforgod.edu).
About The Institute for GOD
The Institute for GOD is a Bible and Missions college in Nashville, TN, accredited with The Association for Biblical Higher Education. Their mission is to develop spiritually mature, competent professionals for global impact. Learn more about The Institute for GOD on their website or via their episode of The College Tour on Amazon Prime (Season 10, Episode 2).