Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy

We were blessed once again by the ET women's prayer group! They put out an awesome baked potato bar filled with lots of delicious food! They also had a special time of sharing, praying and always hugs with the students! Their ministry is always such a blessing to our students!

The students also enjoy filling their time with games, music, exercise, sports and creativity!

Several students expressed a desire to follow Jesus' example and command to be baptized in water!

Meet our four CGA July 2024 graduates! It was a great graduation service and we give God all the glory for His transforming power! We are so proud of the graduates and all the hard work they did in parternering with God to make life-changing decisions that have eternal significance!

Check out their grad photo shoot and a powerful testimony shared by one of the graduates on graduation day posted below.

​"Before I came to Teen Challenge, my life revolved around boys, drugs, and alcohol. I was very promiscuous around boys, and because I carried myself with no worth, I was taken advantage of several times. This damaged my soul deeply and caused my dissociative tendencies to intensify. I also numbed myself daily with the use of drugs like ni****ne, ma*****na, and alcohol. I would do anything to escape the reality I was living in. Doing drugs became a lifestyle for me, and I couldn’t see myself without it. I was breaking all sorts of laws and going against every rule. It was by the grace of God and the unconditional love of my parents that I survived without worse consequences.
​These things ultimately fell short of meeting the needs that I had in my life for meaning, love, and acceptance. I wanted to live out my sinful ways so badly that I ended up taking a prodigal path away from home. I thought that I could feel happy by just partying all the time. I tried to find my meaning in my best friend who in due time failed me. I tried to find love in s*x without a genuine relationship. I also tried to find acceptance in people who condoned my rebellion against my parents. I pushed away everyone I greatly needed and held on to the things that I needed to let go.
​The way I was living my life put great fear in my parents about my safety. They wanted to ensure my well-being and spiritual growth, so on July 7th, 2024, I was sent to Columbus Girls Academy. I was convinced that I was not going to change and that I would go back to the same way of reckless living. I hid and dissociated nearly every day and did not even start accepting help until my sixth month. I was still confident that I wouldn’t change, but I did allow myself to trust my counselor with my internal struggles and thoughts.
However, it was around my eighth month that I gave Jesus another chance. In April, I rededicated my life to Christ. It was a spiritual battle, but I believe that it was worth it. I let him in, but I still felt unworthy of being called “His.” I eventually went on a missions trip to El Salvador, where I had a fantastic encounter with the Lord. I thought that God could never work through someone like me because of how impure and broken I am. Nevertheless, during a farewell party in El Salvador, the Holy Spirit used me to speak tongues. I tried to make sense of it myself but I just couldn’t. The true answer was love. Jesus died on the cross for me so that I could be in a relationship with the Father, no matter how messed up I may be. It was only then that I began to comprehend that the Good Shepherd really does leave the ninety-nine for the one.
There have been extreme changes in myself, my family, and my plans for the future. I once chased after a life filled with worldliness, but God provided me one with His blessings. I always hid myself emotionally, but through Christian counseling I have been able to use my voice and break free from the fear of love. I have lost the desire to be numb all the time, and I actually find pride in my sobriety. Additionally, my parents also worked on themselves through the program and became even better than they already were before. My father had left me when I was young. This had caused my mother and me to believe that we would never experience a godly male in the household. But God proved to shine through. He provided my mother with a man after God’s own heart and gave me a father demonstrates to me how God loves me. As I leave Teen Challenge, I will be working full-time with my new dad (who I believe is soon to adopt me around my birthday) and learning how to be a functioning adult. I will produce music and horseback ride in my free time to avoid my hands being idle. I will attend church with my family and attending youth group weekly. When the time comes, I also plan to attend college to become a pediatric physical therapist."

"​I would first like to thank God for pursuing me even as I walked away from Him. If it wasn’t for his persistent, powerful love, I would not have made it to where I am today.
​I would also like to thank my family for supporting me throughout my entire program. They never gave up on me and continued to pray for me no matter what.
​I am thankful towards the staff at Teen Challenge for putting up with me every day and empowering me to continue life. I am forever thankful to those who reached my heart and expressed Christ’s love to me.
​Lastly, I thank all the students at Columbus Girls Academy who stood by me through thick and thin. I truly will never forget you and you guys have greatly strengthened me in every moment."

Program Verse: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” Ephesians 3:20

Youth Camp 2024-Give me a "C"! What does it stand for? CGA Camp Champions!!! We are so proud our students for their excellent sportsmanship and attitudes which led to a team championship victory at camp! They had an amazing time of fun, fellowship, recreation, and spiritual refreshing! Thank you to our fantastic staff who worked tirelessly to make it an awesome week!!

Meet our three CGA June 2024 graduates! We are so proud of them and know that God has great plans in store for their lives!

Check out their grad photo shoot and some words of gratitude posted below.

“I would like to thank God for revealing Himself to me. I thank my family for bringing me to the program. Even though I did not want it, I needed it. I would like to thank all the staff and all the counselors for being here and helping me get to my graduation. I would also like to thank my friends and dorm mates for having faith in me.”

My program verse: Hebrews 6:19, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.”

Another day at CGA…Campus life; Fun at the park; a Blizzard on a hot sunny day!

What better way is there to touch the hearts of the CGA students than through hugs, prayers, words of encouragement and great food! Thank you to the faithful group of women from ET who have a special place in their hearts for the CGA students. They have made it part of their prayer ministry to pray faithfully for the students as they meet along with ministering to the students at the altar on Sundays. They have also made a big investment into the students lives by blessing them with a special luncheon every other month! We are so grateful for their love!

More Memorial Day Fun...

Memorial Day 2024
The staff knocked it out of the park planning a day of fun activities and making lasting memories for the students! We made sure to honor those soldiers who made the ultimate sacrafice for our country paying the price for our freedom! Highlights of the day were kareoke in pj’s (CGA got talent), pool activities, great food and memorial day crafts! The big event of the day was colors wars! Thank you staff for all your hard work!

Spirit Week - Spring 2024
More highlights…Spa Night, Twinning, Charades, Wacky Day, Hippie Day, “Case for Christ,” Crumbl Cookies! More to come!

Spirit Days - 2024
CGA students and staff have definitely gotten into the spirit participating in Spirit week! Each day this week leading up to Memorial Day, the staff has planned some fun activities! Monday was wacky hair day, Tuesday was Nerd Day, Wednesday was Twinning Day, Thursday is Wacky Day and Friday is Hippie Day! The afternoons have been busy with Spa experiences, manicures, skits, games, treats and more! Here are a few highlights so far. More to come…

The students were blessed with a special concert performed by the traveling choir of students from Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri! Some CGA students shared that they were inspired by what the Evangel students shared about being committed to trusting God with their futures!

Prom 2024
Thank you to North Highland Youth leaders for putting on an awesome prom event for the youth including our CGA seniors who are graduating from high school! Thank you also to the staff who brought the students shopping for their formals and helping them with their hair and makeup! The theme was a country western prom! The students had a blast and enjoyed being recognized for their major accomplishment!

El Salvador Missions Trip Highlights - Spring 2024
What a life-changing experience it was for students and staff as they ministered alongside the King’s Castle team to the children and families of El Salvador! Each day they travelled to the villages ministering in song, dance, skits, prayer, handing out toys and loving on the children!

Today we celebrated the graduation of 2 students from CGA. Both completed High School and have great plans for their new adventures. We are so proud of you both and will miss you!

Check out their grad photo shoot and their words of gratitude posted below.

First I would like to specially thank God. He has guided me every step of the way and given me the strength and comfort to carry out His plans. Secondly, I would like to thank my dad and stepmom for never giving up on me, always wanting the very best for me, and also loving through it all. I would also like to thank the staff here for loving and supporting me every step of the way and never holding my past against me. Finally, I would like to thank the students who have helped me along the way and encouraged me to keep going.

Most importantly, I would like to thank God for giving me guidance and answering my prayers at the right time. I would like to thank the staff for giving me the words of encouragement and motivation to continue throughout the program. I want to thank my family for always supporting me throughout my time here and keeping a close connection. I would like to thank the students for the connections I’ve made with all of them.

Whether it's during free time, or crafttime, group time, Kareoke, youth group, a special luncheon, or an outing, girls know how to have fun!

Revival on the River 2024
Our students and staff had an awesome time attending the annual community-wide event worshiping alongside almost 3,000 in attendance! The evening was filled with powerful worship, inspiring testimonies and a challenging message!

We are so proud of our most recent graduates from CGA. We know that there is greatness ahead for each of you. We miss you already!

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I'm forever grateful that I was sent here to have this second chance to find a better path. I want to thank the staff for making the holidays fun and just having an uplifting positivity when coming to see us. I want to thank all the staff for not giving up on me when I wanted to give up. I especially want to thank my parents for not giving up on me and helping me through this tough time to get me on the right path. I want to thank the students who have helped me through this time of my life.

My program verse is Ezekiel 36:26 "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

Spring is in the air and we have been taking advantage of the nice weather and the great outdoors! After our Sunday morning Easter service worshipping our risen Savior, Jesus, the students enjoyed our annual Easter egg hunt and a weekend filled with fun games, delicious treats, kareoke and time to goof off! Thanks to the staff for all their hard work!