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.

Academy Students on Mission this Summer

The following excerpt was written by Vice Principal Meg Mathews, who organized the Academy SLAM Nashville Week 2023.

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What a wonderful week we had as a student body of worshiping the Lord together, serving those in need in Nashville and studying His Word! I am so thankful for safe travels and for the Lord meeting us every night in Worship. This year’s theme was "How Much it Cost?" from John 15. I can say the energy that our students bring to worship is unmatched. I love watching our students give their all, even on the first night, without hesitation. 

The Service Projects that we participated in last week were as follows:

1. The Bridge Ministry 

1. THE BRIDGE, INC. exists to alleviate the suffering of underprivileged children, the homeless, and the working poor by providing life-sustaining resources and a message of hope.The Bridge is housed in a 20,000 square foot warehouse in Nashville, TN, that not only stores the food for the Tuesday evening services, but also acts as a local food bank for other area ministries. The Bridge Ministry also aids school children on assisted lunch programs by filling their backpacks with food on Friday afternoons so that they have food to eat over the weekend.  Academy students packaged over 1,000 care packages for the homeless. 

2. Dream Streets

1. Dream Streets is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Their mission is to protect and empower individuals living in distress. They provide supplemental groceries and family-strengthening tools. In addition, they foster positive community relations at our physical locations, mobile ministry sites, and the streets we serve in West and North Nashville. Students got to help distribute food two days this last week.

3. Mother to Mother 

1. Mother to Mother is a non-profit organization founded in 2004 with the sole mission of connecting those in a position to help financially with the case workers and healthcare professionals who see firsthand the enormous needs of struggling mothers and children.

4. Widow & Elderly Care 

1. Students got to help elderly residents in need by doing some much-needed landscaping around their houses, mulching and trimming hedges. 

5. TWO Refugee and Immigrant Kids Camps at the Summit and Overton Apartments

1. Students had the opportunity to get engaged with the next generation! We brought activities to each location, and facilitated kids camps, engaging the children with the gifts that God gave us.

6. Old Hickory Estates

1. Ms. Paula is the manager of the trailer park where Camp Skillz Madison is held each year. The trailer park community center needed some stain put on a new fence, as well as some landscaping around their offices. Students were able to complete this task, helping in this community of need with very limited resources!

7. Madison Church of Christ Garden and Meals on Wheels

1. The Madison Church of Christ Church Garden creates a common growing space for the Madison Church family to work together, practice stewardship, build relationships with each other, and provide a tangible expression of God’s love to their neighbors through providing fresh and healthy foods for the local community. They raise chickens, fish and grow fresh fruits and vegetables without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers in raised garden beds and aquaponic systems, which are then distributed to the local community through their Benevolence Center and Meals-On-Wheels program. In the short time our student group was there, the director reported that they knocked out the equivalent of two weeks of gardening projects!

2. Meals on Wheels: Volunteers prepare and deliver about 35 lunches per day, six days a week, to nearby residents. Most of the people who receive this service live alone, don’t drive, and live on a low income. Students served these recipients, doing everything from washing dishes to organizing and meal preparation.  

8. Dandridge Apartments, Trevecca & Chippington Towers

1. Students cleaned the apartments of the elderly by doing tasks that they no longer can due to their physical age. We are so thankful we can serve those that are in our city’s high rise apartments.

I can truly say that the Lord was with us every step of the way. I really am so thankful for all that transpired amongst our student body, and my prayer is that they will continue to reflect upon what type of friend they are to one another. 

I left the students with some questions to reflect on as they finished out the week: 

1. Are your friendships rooted in the shared value of loving Jesus? How can you evidence this?

2. According to John 15, how can you cultivate a mindset of joyfulness despite whatever circumstances you might be in?

3. How do you think we make God known through our relationships?

4. How can you be a better friend this summer, denying your preferences so you can love your friends like Jesus modeled?

My prayer is that as students go into the rest of their summer, that they will spend their time wisely investing into the things that matter, such as family and friends. May they look to the interest of others and not their own, and spend time with Jesus every day because that is the best time spent. 

Students Respond with Service During the Pandemic

Written by Jr High and High Vice Principal, Mrs. Mathews

This spring, our staff and students went from an on campus school to distance learning in a matter of weeks in response to the global pandemic. Although it was a transition for us as educators, how much more for our students? Much of the normalcy of their day to day, including a social outlet and the opportunity to learn and experience spiritual growth at school was changed all in a matter of days.

As the Vice Principal of Jr High and High, I wondered how our students would respond. How would they navigate this monumental moment in history? How would they spend their days as we transitioned to online school? I was deeply moved to learn of how our students were serving their families and neighbors in need.  

Freshman, Anna Roberson, used her skill with sewing to make 50 face masks for local healthcare workers to use during the pandemic.

One of our ninth grade students, Anna Roberson, took it upon herself to make 50 face masks for local healthcare professionals. She saw a need and met it with the skills that she had. It was amazing to see her rise up to the occasion and do what she could to help those on the frontlines combating COVID-19. 

One of our eleventh grade students, Genesis Garner, realized that God’s gifts should only continue during this time. Instead of letting distance keep her from exercising these gifts, she set up a bible study and worship time on her own volition for students both in Nashville and Arcola, IL. It was during this time that young people realized that even though a screen separated them, the love of God brings them together.

One of our 7th grade students, Ezrah Aaseby, recently offered to mow the lawn for her elderly neighbor. She went with a joyful heart and served despite knowing she wouldn't be able to visit with her neighbor. What a response of humility! 

Sophomore, Jones Warren, built a chicken coop in his backyard for his new chickens he is raising!

Many of our students also have the opportunity to raise baby chickens! They have put their skills to the test and built a chicken coop for their new flock. This time at home has given one of our 10th grade students, Jones Warren, an opportunity to practice several skills he has learned on our campus. What a great use of time during this distanced season! 

Furthermore, as part of their online curriculum, all of our Jr High students are now starting their own backyard gardens! We hope this task teaches them responsibility and a desire to be grounded during this pandemic experience. 

Our students’ world changed, but they did not. They have continued implementing the lessons and values they are learning at school, whether it be on campus or online. They are serving nurses on the frontlines, the elderly in their neighborhoods, and their own families. They did not look at this moment in history and become stifled. Rather, it has sparked something in them they might not have realized that they had, and they are spreading that light. These faces are the face of the future, and all I see is hope. I pray that they can continue to bless those in the face of adversity because they surely blessed me during this season!