How It Works
Elevation Family Ministries consists of three phases and typically takes between three to five years to successfully complete the program. During their time with us, all youth receive a quality education, and with our state recognized school (Elevation Christian Academy), students are able to earn high school credits and receive a high school diploma. The three phases are: Acceptance, Repentance, and Christ-Centered Benevolence.
In phase one, called “Acceptance,” we understand that when an adolescent starts with us, they are primarily oriented toward themselves. We gradually introduce our young disciples to spiritual formation as a conversion of the self to God. Some arrive to us from Christian families, but most are experiencing a Christ-centered culture for the first time. Often, those we serve come to us with some pain around the idea of a loving God. They ask, “How could a loving God allow me to experience so much pain and rejection?” Everyone has personalized discipleship plans created to meet them where they are on the faith spectrum, and we prayerfully seek God's leading as we know only the Holy Spirit can facilitate a heart change. At the right time for each individual, we guide them as they face the brokenness that has shaped them, confront the lies they have come to believe, forgive those who have traumatized them, and break the habits that are enslaving them.
In phase two, called “Repentance,” we teach our young disciples that repentance goes beyond simply regretting our sins. We believe repentance is a change of the heart and mind that leads to a change in behavior. We guide those we serve in developing a learned understanding of God’s will for their lives. As they develop a deep relationship with God in a consistent and honest way, they experience the change of heart required for spiritual formation in Christ. As they expose the lies the enemy has planted, they learn to continually ask Jesus to replace the lies with truth. They learn the need for giving Him complete freedom to minister his healing power. As they embrace this kind of living, they learn the love of God is mending them, and the acceptance of God redeems them.
In phase three, called “Christ-Centered Benevolence,” we teach them how to be fit for the kingdom of God. We extend a loving invitation into fellowship with a self-giving God. Opportunities are provided to practice love for God and others. In a context built on the gospel, young disciples make the transition into a mindset of a disciple-maker. They move from being painfully enslaved to their own wants to living with a commitment to seeing others develop a relationship with Christ. Ultimately, they learn what it means to live a gospel-centered life: a life grounded in an increasing awareness of God’s holiness, and an increasing gratitude for the grace of God that has come to them in Jesus Christ. In this phase, they learn to assume leadership roles over those in phase one, and provide an example for them of what it looks like to pursue Christ daily.