The Good News Boys Home traditionally has operated two programs: a 9-month residential Academy and a 6-week 40-Day Challenge during the summer. The 40-Day Challenge was the original concept that the Boys Home started with in 2010. Every summer, 25-35 troubled teens would be invited to participate in the highly evangelistic program and many of them trusted Christ as Savior and began a whole new life. From that program a few would be selected to join the nine-month Academy.

But the 2024 Summer Challenge was the last one we will conduct. The decision was made to create a full residential Boys Home where the students stay year-round until they either graduate or their parent(s) pulls them out of the program.

The purpose for this change is two-fold. It allows us go deeper and longer into discipleship with the boys, which will generate greater growth and deeper roots into the truth of God’s Word, which is the basis for all teaching and instruction at the Boys Home. Secondly, it will give the students a better chance at achieving a Core 40 diploma. Most of the program participants are way short in the number of credits needed to graduate. Our new year-round Academy structure will operate three trimesters, providing more classes per year than traditional schools, so our kids can catch up and make up classes they have failed.

At the Boys Home, students not only attend traditional classes such as English, math and history, but also Bible studies, counseling sessions and vocational courses. The school is free, with all costs covered by Good News donors.

The fall semester began on Monday, August 19, 2024, with 13 boys enrolled. Two full-time teachers provide instruction.

As our Boys Home Director explains, “The mission hasn’t changed. We’re still making sure the boys who come here have an understanding of the Gospel and an opportunity to accept Christ as their Savior. And then we’ll disciple them and pour into them and allow them to continue to get additional credits so they can get back on track on the education side.”