Friend,

I want to share something we're praying and working hard toward.

In Mount Hope, West Virginia stands the Eisenhower Building — the former U.S. Mine Academy. The federal government built it in 1958 and spent decades maintaining it: 34,000 square feet, 64 classrooms, a cavernous garage, and a football stadium right next door that would make a ready-made training field. Today it sits empty.

We intend to change that.

Our vision is to turn this building into the Appalachian Leadership & Training Academy — a one-year residential academy for young men straight out of high school. A place that forms them in three things at once: godly wisdom, first-responder skills, and a marketable trade — electrical, plumbing, welding, HVAC, automotive. A young man would arrive the fall after graduation and leave twelve months later with his faith deepened, his body and character tested, a first-responder certification, and a skilled trade that can support a family for life.

Here's the opportunity: the building was listed at $690,000 two years ago. Because the seller is motivated, we can acquire it today for under $300,000. But we have to own it before any of the rest can happen — and that's where you come in.

We've already raised $20,000 toward our $350,000 Building Fund goal. Every gift moves us closer to the deed, and to the first young man who walks through those doors.

🔗 See the full vision and give here: https://www.frontierforge.org/vision

The goal is not a building. The goal is to build men. Would you help us build it?

Gratefully,

Chuck Holton

Founder, Frontier Forge Institute

Frontier Forge Institute is a program of the James Megellas Foundation, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 27-3047777). Your gift is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸 As America celebrates 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, I want to revisit a remarkable speech that almost nobody remembers. In 1839, John Quincy Adams—son of a signer of the Declaration and America's sixth president—explained what he believed was the true foundation of the American republic. His message wasn't about military power or politics. It was about God, virtue, liberty, and the character of the American people. As we celebrate our nation's birthday, his warning may be more relevant today than ever.

For months, the White House has maintained that diplomacy remains the best path to preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Public statements have consistently portrayed negotiations as productive, suggesting that Tehran is engaged in meaningful discussions that could reduce tensions across the Middle East.

Recent developments tell a different story.

Despite repeated claims that diplomatic channels remain open, Iranian officials continue to refuse direct negotiations over the issues Washington considers non-negotiable. Instead of discussing limits on uranium enrichment or nuclear inspections, Tehran has focused almost exclusively on recovering billions of dollars in frozen assets while maintaining its strategic leverage in the Strait of Hormuz.

The growing disconnect between public optimism and the reality of the negotiations raises an uncomfortable question: Are these talks moving toward a genuine agreement, or are they simply buying time for both sides?

Conflicting Narratives

The latest diplomatic effort has been marked by contradictory public statements.

American officials continue to insist that discussions are ongoing, describing technical meetings and indirect contacts as evidence of progress. Iranian leaders, however, have repeatedly denied that meaningful negotiations with the United States are taking place. According to officials in Tehran, the only subject worth discussing is the release of Iranian financial assets frozen under international sanctions. Nuclear concessions, they insist, are not part of the conversation.

That difference is more than a matter of political messaging. It reflects two governments pursuing entirely different objectives.

Washington continues seeking an agreement that would limit Iran's nuclear capabilities and reduce regional instability. Tehran appears focused on securing economic relief without making concessions that would weaken its military or strategic position.

When both sides define success differently, the prospects for a lasting agreement become increasingly uncertain.

The Strait of Hormuz Remains Iran's Greatest Source of Leverage

Iran's negotiating position is strengthened by geography.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints, carrying a significant share of global oil exports each day. Even the threat of disruption can drive higher shipping costs, increase insurance rates, and inject uncertainty into global energy markets.