In Proverbs 29:18, Solomon writes, “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.”

Sometimes it can seem as if the importance of vision is forgotten in the generation of 14-22 year olds.  Many of us live in the now, and fight just to stay afloat in the juggling war of school, relationships, work, and now and again thoughts of what we want for our future.  Subsequently we see the effects of this now-centered mentality in the lack of care taken in attitudes, lifestyle, and heart.

Remember the phrase “You Only Live Once”?  Either the thought before or after was what I do now won’t really matter.  This might be a mistake, but what is life without mistakes to look back on.

At the Honor Academy, I have been given different opportunities to truly think about my future and the reality of it all belonging to God.  As interns we are continually reminded to keep Christ at the center; reigning in preeminence of all we say and do.  Him being our everything brings Him right back into the determining of our next steps- of our vision.

What good is vision?

Part of my vision for the future is to speak truth and give glory to God in my lifestyle.  This gives me a foundation in my actions alongside my ultimate foundation and identity in Christ.  When I look at jobs to help me through University, I think How will I be able to glorify God in this job?  Will this give me skills/expertise in the journalism/speaking environment?  What kind of lifestyle must I be prepared to live with this job?

Having vision is a launching pad into living a purposeful life.  Without it, as Solomon said, we live wild lives because there is nothing to really anchor and direct us.

How do you get vision?

If you aren’t continually doing this, I would suggest you take some time to get to know who God is.  As you do this, you will get to know who you are in Him and then your identity will be shaped and unquestionable.

After getting a clear understanding of your identity and who it is found in, take some time to write out your interests.  What stirs your heart?  What burns within you to be accomplished and if it’s not you’ll die?

Write those things down and I’m sure you’ll begin to see some connections in your desires.  If not, don’t worry, those things are inside you, and God sure does know how to work it out for His glory.

In your time reading the Bible and listening to the promptings the LORD gives to your heart, ask Him what vision it is that He has for your life.  You now would have a better understanding of your desires and have a clear-cut ability to listen to His will.

Seek out God’s direction for your life.  Have a vision.  Move with purpose in your life because it will determine much of what you do and whom you get to know.

Get Vision. Be Passionate.  Change our world.

Raquel A. Russell is an Intern from Toronto, Ontario, working in Honor Academy Marketing.  She enjoys many things in life, like reading and worship, but ultimately seeks to bring glory to God.  Love God. Love People. 

My name is Logan and I have been going on missions since the 6th grade, and since then I have been hooked. What do you mean by hooked, you may ask? By hooked, I mean the barb on the hook is stuck in me and it will not let go of searching and seeking to making Christ’s name known. The passion that was developed at an early age has been cultivated over and over again through the process of gaining vision for the world. This vision based out of Ephesians 6:19-20,

“Pray also for me that whenever I speak, words may be given to me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray the I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”

The focus is to take the vision off of myself and putting it on the world. Asking questions like the following:

Will this effect me or the world?
Is this for eternity or or for selfish satisfaction?
Am I doing this to please someone or for His name to be glorified?

These questions do not come lightly; they have such an impact and true reverence on what one’s life is focused on. It amazes me how we focus so much on ourselves daily. In reality, we know the focus should be on him. Just as the verses previously mention state, we are to make him known, not ourselves. It is sad that the way the world’s focus has become, we focus on our own self gratification and what we want in this life and not what the King of King desires. Jesus even tells us in John 6:40, “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.”

As we follow Christ that should be our example and vision to live upon. To fix our eyes and wonder on the one who made, created, and calls us to higher than we can imagine should be the desire of our hearts.

So from the beginning, when Jesus has called me, He has called me to have a world vision focus. I have learned to not focus upon myself or what I can do, but to focus and give up all to the Lord of Lords. Why, you may ask.  Because he has changed me and set a light to follow in my life. I do not want to follow or seek something that is dark, because I will get lost, and I have done that before. Since, finding who he is and finding the light of my life I have found vision to give that to the world.

My challenge to you is what will your vision be? Whom will you find your joy, hope, peace, and love in? Where will it take you or will it take you anywhere?

Think about these questions and apply them to your life and seek King Jesus. Do not take this lightly, these are questions are fixed for eternity. Questions to ponder and pray about to do with your life.  Connect with other believers who have the same heart and encourage each other.  Places like the Honor Academy are wonderful for a time set-apart to seek what the LORD has for you to do.  Here you will be stretched and encouraged to think how you in every way your life can be used to make an impact for the Kingdom of God.  For your life is not your own, it is the Lord’s, so take the time to think about what His vision is for your life.

This is my vision and desire: to make Him known.

The best Sci-Fi writers of western civilization all have one thing in common. They are able, through their words alone, to paint within the minds of their readers visions of another world. With little more than paper and ink they are able to captivate people and take them on a journey, one the reader relishes in, enjoys, and follows every step of the way. Vision is the story that we are telling about our lives (or the life of our organization). Where we come from, where we are, and more importantly, where we want to go before our journeys end. Worry less about creating a great goal list and more about creating a great story.

Consider the biographies and success stories of successful men and women. Pioneers and entrepreneurs that created great organizations and conquered many obstacles to create social and cultural change. Their stories inspire us and for a moment their humanity touches us and we join them, not only on the mountain top, but on the journey. That’s why we’re so captivated by stories of the successful underdog, the abused and downtrodden, and the hero whose back is up against the wall. It is no coincidence that the majority of the book we as Christians read and rely upon is written as a narrative. When it comes to great stories we relate on a heart level. When these stories are told they show us visions of another world.

When it comes to small stories though, small visions, visions that include little humanity and little inspiration or wonder they have little power to move the hearts of people.

Many leaders become frustrated at the lack of response to a vision within their organization. I am convinced that the problem isn’t necessarily the vision itself, or the people. It’s the story the leader is telling them. It’s the internal narrative that we are telling about ourselves and where we’re heading that’s off. It’s not clear, it’s not compelling, it’s not worth it. Without vision as people we perish. (Proverbs 29:18) Without a compelling story, our life becomes aimless.

What if the reason your life is aimless is because the story you are writing about your life isn’t actually worth retelling?

What if people are not captivated by the vision you’re putting before them because the story you’re telling about the future is not actually captivating?

What if the reason why the church in North America is in decline because the redemptive story that God has called us to be a part of is no longer central in our pulpits?

These questions are harsh, but worth seriously considering.

At Teen Mania’s Honor Academy you have a unique opportunity to create a vision for your life that would make an inspiring epic. The stories of alumni and leaders that are serving on the front lines of ministry are there as pure inspiration to creating the life you want to live. The choice is up to you to take advantage of it.

Create a great story that you love telling and that others love hearing. That is the true power in vision. Dream, plan, and structure your life in such a way that brings honor to God and joy to others, relishing in the adventure both behind and before you. Because when it comes to vision, what moves people isn’t the success, it’s the humanity. The journey you’re inviting others to be a part of. In creating a great story for your life you move from inviting others to watch, to inviting others to take part in your joy, and my friends, that is how lives are changed.

There is a dream inside of you that is waiting to be lived out, an inward call of God that resounds to your very soul. Its destination may be uncertain, its risks apparent, but as surely as its song draws you onward to unsure places, follow it. Be committed to the journey, be determined to make the trip worth a retelling, and never look back.

Attached here is a list of questions, provided by the church I pastor, to help you through the process of creating a vision for your life that makes a great story.

Bio: Pastor Garrhet Sampson is an Honor Academy Alumnus and a Lead Pastor, Missionary, and Church Planter for Awaken Ministries, a recent church plant in Missoula, Mt. For more content or to find out more about their ministry, go to www.awaken-ministries.com

So many changes happen in life and there are those who try to speak into those changes. We might put so much stock into the advice of a person that their word affects what actions we commit to.  A best friend, a pastor, a group of peers, and/or a celebrity are some of those people we look to at different points in our lives.

My parents were a voice of reason when I was choosing what high school to attend, what university to apply for, and whether or not to come to the Honor Academy.  They have been instrumental parts in shaping the person I am today, and for that I am so grateful.

But there’s a point when there must be a balance…a prioritizing of whose voice and direction comes first.

In Philippians 1, Paul writes to the believers  in Philippi and encouraged them in their walk with the LORD.  In verse nine, he begins, “It is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”

Paul points out that the ability to approve what is excellent, and subsequently pure before Christ, is to grow in love, knowledge and discernment.  Perfect love comes from God and it is His Holy Spirit that gives us the gift of discernment.  This causes me to believe that in order to get any clear direction, to get any good understanding, I must draw closer to God.

This might sound like a common question in the Christian community, but how often do we run to others asking them about what life decision we should make and leave asking God to the last minute or last thought?

James 3:17 says that the wisdom of God is first pure, so we can be sure that whatever the LORD has for us to do is good and for good.  The question never has to be asked, “Does God know what He’s doing?”  God can be trusted.  He works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

So next time you need to make a big life decision…stop and check who immediately came to your mind to seek wisdom from.  If it’s not God, go back to Him.  If He is the first one you go to, be open to what He places on your heart and be ready to obey.*

There are many areas in my life that all require a unique sense of focus but I have had to learn exactly how to master the balance of them all without “dropping the ball.”

Before the Honor Academy, I was in college and it was a huge juggling circus for me. I had 2 part-time jobs, served in the youth ministry at my church and was taking a full load of classes. I am the type of person that will take on anything and everything and not realize how much of a task I have taken on until after the fact. I tend to think that if I don’t take on this duty, then who will?

I was reminded of the scripture in 2 Peter 3:17 which says, “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.” I had to learn the hard way during my four years of college that I wasn’t the only person capable of handling jobs but with God’s wisdom, knowledge and strength, I was able to balance these areas in my life that were all equally important to me and began to learn how to say “no” when I knew there was a chance I would get overwhelmed. Little did I know, God was teaching me some crucial life lessons about balance that I needed to be confident in before my life as an Honor Academy intern.

After I graduated college, I made a commitment to attend the Honor Academy in hopes of finding my identity in Him and gain some more professional experience and do a bit of traveling. When I arrived on campus and all of the interns and myself were briefed on the rules and expectations along with our work load, I was taken aback by how I was thankful that God had brought me through the juggling season of my life because I knew immediately what I needed to do in order to not fall behind. I literally did not think that the work load was going to be anywhere near what it was like in college but that’s what I get for falsely assuming, I guess.

Getting into a familiar routine on campus proved not to be as challenging at first but when challenges came and tasks were being handed at me left and right, either from School of Worship or the Honor Academy itself, I was more prepared for how to deal with them. God is always the whisper in my ear telling me, “With me, you can do all things…” which always motivates me not to forget to balance my life according to His word and move forward in life. It’s only going to get even busier after the Honor Academy, so now is the time where I can continue to go back to the drawing board and improve my methods of balance and priorities in life and see what fits best and allow God to teach me His ways. I would much rather learn here, at the Honor Academy, how to do this, than anywhere else, especially before my adult life gets catapulted out there.

All I know is what the Word says in 1 Corinthians 10:13 is true: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Eleana Rivera is currently an Honor Academy/School of Worship Intern.  In all she does she seeks to glorify God. 

How do you balance work, fun, and spending time with Jesus with the busy life of a Christian Internship?

Something I learned early on here at the Honor Academy is that if its important, you need to make it a priority! I had many things that were important in my life but just going through life without a plan, I was compromising on what got done, or I simply felt I didn’t have time. Making a schedule alleviated this for me.

Having a written plan helped me accomplish what I needed to do while leaving myself time for fun as well. I realized when I did things in specific orders, and even made them routine, my life kind of flowed into place. I had plenty of time for quiet times, hang out times, homework and even to pick up intensively training to run a 10k race. When you make a list of your proprieties and schedule them out, you find that you really do have enough time!

Don’t get me wrong, I love to be spontaneous and do random things, but you can plan to be spontaneous. How? By allotting free time. Once you have planned out what’s important, you can use that free time for other things!

Where did this free time come from?

A question I asked myself once I scheduled out my time. I realized when I didn’t have a schedule I spent more time figuring out what I needed to do next than if I had a plan. If you spend time planning what to do all at once, then once you are done with your list you will find you have much more time!

It takes at least eight minutes to get back on track after being interrupted from a task, so the same is true between tasks… if you know what’s next, you wont get out of your focused mindset as much and will actually be more productive!

Lauren Sullivan is a Graduate Intern that works in our Marketing Department.  She enjoys spending quality time with people and painting. 

Would it be comfort and security? Fame and success? A paycheck? A home? Strong relationships? When it comes to the gospel are you all in or are you holding back?

I find questions like this both inspiring and troubling. Inspiring, because it forces me to really call into question my motives. Troubling, because at their core I think they miss the point.

I know, it’s not the statement you were expecting. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think they miss the point because they are not deep and profound, it’s not because they don’t reveal the heart of a person, I find them troubling because without one question tying them all together they become meaningless.

“What has been sacrificed on your behalf?” 

The constant instruction of Scripture is that the act of us laying something down has never been enough to pay our way. (Hebrews 10:1) It was by faith that Abraham and the people of the Old Testament were saved. By faith they looked forward to the work of Christ (Hebrews 11:10) in the same way that we now look back by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7).  In the Old Testament, taking part in sacrifices were merely shadows meant to point believers to the day their Savior would come, providing the sacrifice for his people  (Isaiah 53:5-12).

God doesn’t do atoning sacrifices anymore, Christ was the final payment on our behalf. Christ was the final sacrifice and the only one that could pay our debt. He was the only spotless lamb. It is him who lived the life we couldn’t live, died the death we should have died, paying the price for our rebellion and sin once and for all. Upon his shoulders he took upon himself the burden for us all, through him we have received redemption, and by his blood we have received reconciliation. It’s over, there are no more sacrifices left to give. Only offerings of praise for his finished work.

Christ’s sacrifice was final and effective. It worked. We don’t need to add to it. Hebrews 10:12–14, “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Knowing that transforms the meaning of sacrifice. Your life becomes the offering. You lay it down joyfully, not to pay, but because the cost has been paid. Not to pay back, but to praise.

This is exactly what Paul is talking about in Romans 1:1-2, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” You want to give? Give out of joy. You want to serve? Don’t do it because you’re somehow doing God a favor, do it out of thankfulness and obedience to Christ.

See, I don’t think we think about it that way in Christianity. More often than not we see the sacrifice in the act of giving up something rather than stepping up to something. We see sacrifice as an act motivated by fear rather than  through joy.

This is the biblical meaning of sacrifice: Choosing the greater joys of following Christ, given to us through the gospel, over the temporal distractions of the world.

At the end of the day, in Christ, sacrifice comes from a place of praise. What can be called a sacrifice when that which we have in Christ we can never lose? What can we lay down that the Father has not already given us?

It’s knowledge of his sacrifice that draws us to sacrifice all for the advance of the Gospel. Echoing Hebrews 10:19-25, it’s this sacrifice that draws us to be [all in].

Hebrews 10:19-25, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Bio: Pastor Garrhet Sampson is an Honor Academy Alumnus and a Lead Pastor, Missionary, and Church Planter for Awaken Ministries, a recent church plant in Missoula, Mt. For more content or to find out more about their ministry, go to www.awaken-ministries.com

Perhaps you remember the story or the pop-up lessons in Sunday school; Jonah, a prophet from the Northern Kingdom of Israel, was told by God to go and preach to the people of Nineveh so that they might have the chance to hear truth and repent.  Instead of being obedient, Jonah went the opposite way, to Tarshish, and God whirled up a storm that forced Jonah to stop and think.  The sailors and Jonah cast lots, and Jonah was selected to be thrown off the boat and live in the belly of a whale for three days and nights.

Jonah has become an example of what happens when we disobey God and many times is lambasted as selfish, rebellious, and uncaring.  While those traits are true, the thought that should provoke us is, are these traits sometimes true of me as well sometimes?

Let’s back up a step and look at things through the eyes of Jonah.

For years, he and others of his culture viewed the people of Nineveh as sinful, unclean, lesser men.  Already, the Israelites had become insular communities built around ritual, protecting and defending their way of life, and raising good families and strong governments.  God asked him to leave everything he had ever known and go and tell these people about God and His ways.

God told Jonah to leave everything and go to the land of murderers, idolaters, and the sexually immoral.  Jonah was being told to go to a land that totally conflicted with his beliefs.  He was being asked to go speak to a people that hated his people.  Essentially, for Jonah, it would’ve been as though God were asking him to pull his beard from his face.

Jonah was being asked to put aside his prejudice, his plans, and potentially his life, to go to a people who might not even want to hear the message he had to share.

Here’s where my similarities to Jonah’s story come in..Coming to the Honor Academy was a direction by God, not something I dreamed up.

God clearly impressed upon my heart to come to the Honor Academy after a four-year application process.  There were so many options, so many other things that I wanted to do.  There were complications to coming here that ranged from finances to visa paperwork to my future schooling (I come from Canada and that means LOTS of paperwork).  Human reasoning said coming to the Honor Academy made no logical sense.

Coming was going to mean sacrifice.  I would be missing a year in post-secondary school.  I wouldn’t be able to support myself with a paying job.  I would be leaving the culture I had grown up in (I’m a Canadian from a Jamaican-British household in the heart of multicultural Ontario), the people I had grown up with, for a new country, state, and people.

I was being asked by the gentle whispers of the LORD to surrender.  I was being asked to surrender my independence (so many have blessed me financially to get here), my school plans (I wouldn’t be going to university with my class), and my mind (to new ideas and people).

When Jonah surrendered, he sang praises to the LORD, “I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried and you heard my voice.”  Through the sacrifice and the turmoil, God worked beauty.  He used Jonah to share about Him and saved hundreds of lives.

Through sacrifice, I’ve been taking my eyes off myself and putting them on others and how I can serve them.  By giving up, I’ve gained new friends, amazing experiences, and a deeper appreciation for what binds people together at the Honor Academy, as believers. And most importantly, in taking my eyes off myself, I am focusing them so much more on the absolute Lover of My Soul.

Sacrifice in itself is a beautiful act of selflessness.  We see that when Jonah finally turned and shared with the Ninevites.  I have begun to see it in my life as I continue to discover the depths of the LORD.

It’s good to take a break from yourself.  Think of others. Think of the LORD.

May HIS will be done in your sacrifice and surrender.

Raquel A. Russell is an Intern from Toronto, Ontario, working in Honor Academy Marketing.  She enjoys many things in life, like reading and worship, but ultimately seeks to bring glory to God.  Love God. Love People. 

There are so many ties we have in life, so many things that we may not necessarily ‘depend’ on, but have come to expect to be there.  We have basic ties to our family, our friends, and other people we interact with daily.  Some ties are created purposely and others just come out of no where and shoot you over the head with just how strong they are.  This type of connection can happen in relationships with individuals or groups that give you a sense of belonging.

As an intern at the Honor Academy, these past seven months, many things have been pulled out of my life.  My pride is being killed daily as I’m hit with the fact that I can’t do all things by myself.  I’ve learned about the importance of a sharp mind and subsequently all the areas that I’m lazy in are continuously brought to mind to work in and improve on.

I’ve lost close friends.  I’ve made new friends.  I struggle with making sure I’m not finding my identity in people.  However, amidst it all, I’ve learned an amazing fact that I hope you also learn or realize quickly…

God loves us.  And in loving HIM, He must become our everything.

My parents thoughts of me, my friends thoughts of me…whatever any other person thinks of me, must come into subjection to what God thinks of me.  When I’d experience loneliness on campus or feel like no one understands me, instead of getting lost in a pity party, I come back and run into the arms of my loving Father.  By going through all the things I’ve gone through and am going through (wow, what a phrase) I’ve finally come to a place where I am seeing this truth with real eyes and recognizing the frailty and vanity of living for anything else, but Him.

In Proverbs, it says, “In ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

How are you making Him your everything today?  How are you trusting Him with all you are and who you will be? Are you depending on some other person or thing to drive home an idea of who you are?

It may sound cliche, but when you truly fix your eyes on the Father; when you spend time with Him, and ask for His will in all…life may not get ‘easier’, but there is peace…your Father has got it all in control.

God loves you and He wants to be your everything.  How will you let Him in more today? 

Raquel Russell is an August Intern working in Honor Academy Marketing.  She enjoys many things in life, like reading and worship, but ultimately seeks to bring glory to God.  Love God. Love People. 

When I was an intern at the Honor Academy, I really hated to fundraise.  Everything within me would tense up when people even mentioned fundraising. I was insecure in asking other people to help me out financially. My hatred of fundraising led me to being extremely behind on my donation record.  At the same time of being behind, an opportunity to go on a relaxing retreat became available.  This retreat would be with my closest friends in a log cabin on a lake…sounds perfect!  Only catch is that I had to fund raise in order to go.

I put off fund raising for several days…and weeks.  I did NOT want to call people and let them know that I needed help.  I would have rather done 300 car washes in the summer heat than call one person…Eventually, it was 2 days before the retreat and I began fundraising.  A couple hundred dollars came in, but that wasn’t enough…or close to enough. I needed over $8,000 in order to go.

It seemed impossible. It seemed like it was a lost cause and I should just settle on not going. I didn’t want to be let down by trying so hard, so I didn’t even want to try.

But I knew God wanted me to fight.  I knew He wanted me, in my weakness, to trust in His strength.  At that moment, when  I still needed nearly $10,000 in less than 24 hours…I decided to say ‘Yes’ to God.
I looked up all the Scripture I could on faith, went into an empty field, and started boldly proclaiming them.  (I found out later that one of my friends heard me from her second-story window and watched me pray for about 20 minutes, slightly embarrassed I must say.) One of the verses I proclaimed that day was Luke 18:27 “Jesus replied, ‘What is impossible with men is possible with God.’” I knew that I was going on that retreat, but I didn’t want God provide just so I could have a good time; I wanted God to provide so that people could see His strength and power.

That night, a group of the leaders on campus came together and we fundraised together…from 8pm to 2am. We called and contacted anyone we could think of and rapidly, donations started coming in. From $1 donations to several $1,000 donations…God provided.  In 12 hours, over $8,500 was donated to my account.  THAT is the Lord.  That was nothing that I could have done myself. But, because I chose to have faith in the Lord’s strength and power, He provided.

Because I chose to say ‘Yes’ to God, He made the impossible easy for me.

Adriana Sviderskas is currently the Operation Manager for the Honor Academy.  She enjoys Worshipping Jesus, studying Biblical Womanhood, reading self-development books, and playing board games with friends!

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