Atlanta Area Boarding Schools for Teens

Jan 11th, 2010 by Trace

Most Atlanta area boarding schools for teens are not Christ-centered. And most, if any, are not wilderness-type programs. Shepherd’s Hill Farm is all that and more. With an emphasis on Christian apologetics, Shepherd’s Hill farm offers a unique approach to ministry—particularly as it pertains to troubled teens. There are a very few Atlanta area boarding schools for teens that stress the importance of adopting a biblical worldview for life; nor, do many understand the spiritual nature of a human being from the biblical, as well as from the scientific, perspective.

Though most secular theorists would probably label SHF “old school” or “politically incorrect” because of our biblical emphasis, our experience has given us overwhelming evidence to the fact that not just troubled teens, but all teens, even in today’s postmodern culture, are hungering for the kind of moral absolutes, relationships, and boundaries that are taught in Scripture. Because of SHF’s spiritual emphasis and intense discipleship and apologetic focus, it is not uncommon for a troubled teen’s entire family and extended family members, to accept and develop relationships with Christ as well. Other Atlanta area boarding schools for teens would do well to take their principles for mentoring troubled teens from Scripture.

The principles God uses through the Holy Spirit’s work here at SHF are supported by a two year study by the Commission on Children at Risk. The commission was birthed out of the Dartmouth Medical School, which produced findings, with empirical scientific evidence, supporting the very biblical principles by which SHF has operated from the beginning. The commission put together a book on their findings called, Hardwired to Connect–The New Scientific Case for Authoritative Communities. The book supports, with science, all that Scripture endorses through faith and obedience—including a study that produced empirical evidence for a human being’s biological need for a relationship/connection with his/her biological parents. This same study also produced similar evidence for an individual’s need for a relationship/connection with his/her Creator as well!

SHF is a proving ground, so to speak, for the effectiveness of an authoritative community model committed to living out the principles of a Biblical worldview and submission to God through Christ—especially when it comes to the transformation of troubled teens.