Thank you for considering us for your year end giving. As we reflect on this year we are amazed by God’s provisions. This has truly been one of the most successful years in the history of Shepherd’s Hill Academy. We will have served well over 40 families by year’s end. Folks, because of your prayers, financial support, and servant hearts, we have seen teens radically transformed! Because of this, we have seen families in crisis restored and starting a new journey in life. All of this is made a greater reality through our faithful supporters. I want to provide you with a wonderful testimony that offers much more insight into the lives that are being transformed at Shepherd’s Hill Academy. Below is an actual letter written by a father to his son. Both of these young man’s parents are Medical Doctors, who have recognized the power of God to transform their son.
When you were in preschool you were diagnosed as having ADHD. In 5th grade, the school psychiatrist diagnosed you as having Asperger’s syndrome. At Carden Conservatory your diagnoses were oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder. At College hospital you were diagnosed with thought disorder and psychosis. At Aurora Hospital you were diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder. From my perspective, none of the treatments for any of these problems had any beneficial effect on you. I may be wrong, but I suspect that the people at SHA are a bit skeptical about the existence of all of these disorders. Trace Embry lists most of these problems as ones that he feels can be effectively treated at SHA. But he also lists one other diagnosis that psychologists and psychiatrists never talk about: “garden variety spoiled brat.” When we talked to him he also mentioned the word “sin.” At SHA all of your psychiatric problems seem to have disappeared. Your letters to mom are insightful and coherent and well written. You are doing well in school. You are doing your homework. You have successfully changed your behavior. The reason may be only to avoid consequences; but, you have changed your behavior. People with psychiatric disorders don’t suddenly become cured with a change in environment. I think the staff at SHA may have a lot better insight into behavior problems in teenagers than do psychiatrists and psychologists. What do you think?
Love,
Dad
