Anchor Academy
Boys' Home
Helping Wayward Teens
Up-Dated -
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Table of Contents
*
About Anchor Academy
* History
* Typical Example
* Bible Based
* A Baptist Church Ministry
* Program
* Schooling
* Great Results
* The Anchor
About Anchor
Academy
Dennis McElwarth
On the plains of Northern Montana, a place where many describe as
“the middle of nowhere,” stands an academy for rebellious teenage
boys called the Anchor Academy. The landscape is truly striking at
first sight. Vast, open, and remote, the scenery supports Montana’s
nickname “Big Sky Country”. In the wintertime the temperature can
drop to –30 creating what looks like an enchanted wonderland of
snow, frosted tress, icicles, and unbearably cold air.
Top
History
The Anchor Academy began accepting young men in trouble, between the
ages of 13-17, back in 1999. They have the capacity to keep fifty
boys at a time and usually run full. The adolescents seem to
struggle with every problem on earth, but by the time they leave the
academy they are respectful, hardworking, and significantly
different young men.
Though the Anchor Academy is not nationally known,
it has no problem finding enrollees. On average the academy receives
three calls a day from parents who desperately need help for their
teenage sons. Not all the boys who come to the Anchor Academy
succeed, but most of them will return home and be hard working,
respectful members of society.
In
six years of working at the Anchor it has been my privilege to
minister to hundreds of young men in need. I believe the work done
at the Anchor Academy is an investment in the future. The destiny
of our nation rests in the hands of today’s young people.
Top
Typical Example
When Brandon (Student) first came to the Anchor he looked like a
full-fledged gang member and even had the attitude to go along with
it. “I always knew I was missing something and tried to fill the
void with drugs, rap music, and the wrong friends. I was constantly
getting into trouble and my parents and the judges were getting sick
and tired of seeing my face in court."
“My parents tried everything until they heard about
the Anchor. When I first got here my heart was hard as a rock but
one month later during a Sunday night service I felt a heavy
conviction because of my sin. I broke down in tears and cried out
to God to
save me. I’ll never forget that night as long as I live,”
Brandon says with a convincing smile.
Top
Bible Based
The Anchor Academy believes that the Bible is the instruction manual
for solving life’s problems. The boys attend chapel services,
memorize Scripture, and often sing at area churches and community
events. The church services center on enthusiastic congregational
singing and preaching. Visiting parents and area residents often
participate.
“We stand strong on the biblical values this country
was founded upon and we make no apologies for it!” says Dennis
McElwrath. “So many of these young men were searching for
significance in their lives and we have the unique opportunity to
show them the truth."
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A Baptist
Church Ministry
The Anchor Academy is a faith-based ministry of the Hi-Line Baptist
Church in Havre, MT.
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Program
We take troubled and at-risk boys ages 13-17 for a minimum stay of
one year. The program is very structured and focuses on character
building, respect for authority, hard work, establishing goals, and
reconciling families. We work on changing the outside, while God
works on the heart. This creates an atmosphere of tough-love
discipline where the young men are taught to take responsibility for
their actions.
The boys have daily Bible reading and prayer,
memorize scripture, attend daily chapel services, and participate in
weekly worship services. The boys are also taught to work with
their hands and participate in building projects, maintenance work,
upkeep on the grounds, and cleaning buildings.
Top
Schooling
We run a private Christian school that uses the ACE (Accelerated
Christian Education) curriculum. Each student is given diagnostic
tests to place him in the correct level of work. The curriculum is
self-paced and focuses on each student’s individual needs to enable
him to succeed academically. The boys attend school Monday-Friday
during the regular school year, and summer school sessions are
offered for students who need additional “catch-up” work.
Top
Great Results
With so many troubled youth in our society, we are excited that
young men exiting our program demonstrate a
changed life. The
majority will stay in school, hold down jobs, respect their parents,
and become law-abiding citizens. Presently, our ministry takes 3-5
calls per day from parents hoping to get their sons into our
program.
Top
The
Anchor
Dennis McElwrath, Superintendent
406-394-4454
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