Archive for ‘Updates’

Quest Packing List Update

April 3rd, 2008

We are excited to make available the updated packing list for this year’s summer Quest program. You can download it here:

Quest 2008 Packing List

Many of the items on the list may be purchased through our store www.thealertstore.com and held for pickup when you arrive this summer.

Registration is Now Open!

March 13th, 2008

We are now accepting applications to attend this year’s exciting Quest program. If you are interested, just download an application from the link on the right, fill it out, and send it in.

We will review the applications and get back to you within one or two weeks. If you have questions, feel free to call us or email us: Our phone number is (903) 636-2000 and our email is quest@alertacademy.com.

Finally, if you have attended a previous Quest, are over 16, and would be interested in serving as a leader this summer, email us and we can send you the leadership application.

Update - July 23

July 23rd, 2007

Wow, week two sure went fast. The beginning of the week was challenging, with several people sick. One young man was taken to the hospital with stomach pain and ended up having his appendix removed. Daniel is already back from the hospital, and while he still in recovery mode, he has been able to participate in a number of the sessions and classes.

Major Farr This week had three primary speakers: Rick Grubbs (speaking on time management), Samuel Kordik (speaking on the attitude of a spiritual warrior) and Maj. Roger Farr (speaking on Life Purpose Planning). Rick Grubbs www.lifechangingseminars.com emphasized the importance of “redeeming the time” through effective time management. He challenged the Quest students with three messages on the importance of using our time for God’s glory, avoiding procrastination, and successful tactics to best use the time we have. At the heart of his teaching is the question, “What does God want me to do right now?”

Maj. Roger Farr is the Commanding Officer of ALERT Cadets www.alertcadet.org, a program of IAA designed to “turn the hearts of the fathers towards the sons and the hearts of the sons towards the fathers.” Maj. Farr’s experience in raising two sons of his own has contributed towards his desire to help young men acquire a vision and a purpose in their life. Assisting students through the Life Purpose Planning handbook, he has encouraged them to seek God’s wisdom and their parent’s counsel as they follow God through these formative years.

Samuel Kordik www.samuelkordik.com is the Quest Coordinator (and author of these updates). He has a passion to see young men embrace the dominion of Christ in their lives and live the life of a spiritual warrior—a Christian man dedicated to fighting sin and evil effectively. He shared his personal testimony and then taught on the attitudes and actions of a spiritual warrior.

Electrical The skills training this week consisted of basic maintenance skills for Blue Group, canoing for Red group, and First Aid for Green group. We were excited as each group excelled in their classes.

Saturday, we took an early morning hike covering about 8.5 miles on trails and a roads here on IAA’s campus in Big Sandy, TX. This hike was very challenging, but in the end, the students all enjoyed it. The remainder of Saturday was spent cleaning and resting.

Sunday was another day of rest and focus on the Lord. Over the weekend, each student was supposed to call home and seek their parent’s input as they completed the Life Purpose Planning homework assignments.

Update - July 18

July 18th, 2007

Quest has been busy!

The first week ended well, and everyone was rewarded with a brief, fun midnight hike. This was enjoyed by all—we all came back wet, muddy and beaming.

Saturday, the guys had an inspection (which everyone failed) and then did a navigation class in the afternoon.

Sunday was a day of quiet and focus on God. The students were supposed to call home to their parents, however, some apparently didn’t. If your son didn’t call home, please email him at quest@alertacademy.com (put his name in the Subject line) and tell him to call you.

This week, Green group is doing First Aid, Blue Group did Automotive on Monday and Tuesday and is doing Home Electrical and Home Plumbing on Wednesday and Thursday. Red Group is doing canoing all week.

Please keep Daniel in your prayers. Daniel is a young man from Idaho who was sick over the weekend. Monday, we took him in to the hospital and they found that he had appendicitis. His surgery was Monday evening and went well without complications. He is still in the hospital recovering and will probably join us today or tomorrow and finish recovery here.

The Start of Great Things

July 10th, 2007

Yesterday, on Monday July 9, sixty-nine young men arrived to start the Quest program. Although there were unexpected challenges, check-in went smoothly and the students settled into their rooms, met the leadership and started connecting as teams.

Be praying for these young men! Specific requests:

  • That God would reveal Himself to them.
  • That they would find comfort in God as many struggle with homesickness.
  • That they would adapt quickly to the fairly intense schedule.

More updates to come!