Blog
Distinctively CHA
Archives - October 2019
The Church
October 28, 2019
Recently in an elementary chapel, the students were reminded of the role of the church. Pictured above are chapel notes created by some of Mrs. Crabb’s first graders. The emphasis on the local church and the importance of being an active member of a local church was shared. Our CHA mission statement states that “the purpose of CHA is to assist the home and the church in building a solid foundation in the life of each student.” Christian Heritage Academy is grateful for the vibrant ministries of so many area churches in the lives of our students. As we train our students in the role of the church, we also encourage them to pray for persecuted Christians around the world who are a part of the global church. Every Thursday during the FLEX period in the secondary, our students read a devotion focusing on a persecuted Christian or people group and pray for a country.
Every year CHA teachers and administrators sign the Faculty-Board Members’ covenant in which they pledge to be united with and maintain active commitment to a local evangelical, Bible-believing church; and in that same church to gather weekly with fellow believers for the purpose of growing as a disciple of Jesus Christ, and to be faithful in giving tithes and offerings, and to exercise their spiritual gift(s) in order to build it up and make disciples. Why? Because we value the church!
This month is Pastors’ Appreciation Month. If you have not already encouraged your pastor, we would encourage you to do so. This next Sunday, November 3, is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. We encourage you to pray for Christians around the world. We would also like to invite you to our secondary chapel highlighting the persecuted church on November 19, 2019, at 9:45am. During this chapel service, Mr. Lathan Watts from First Liberty Institute in Dallas, Texas will be speaking about persecution in America.
On another note, if you would like to learn more about redirecting a portion of your tax monies to the Opportunity Scholarship Fund which provides scholarships for students at CHA, please email Dr. DeMoss at osf@cha.org or call me at 672-1787 ext. 233.
Have a great week!
What Is It Worth?
October 21, 2019
What is the goal of education at Christian Heritage Academy? Our mission statement declares that “the ultimate goal of the Academy is to produce true Christian scholars who will be used of God to propagate the Gospel throughout the whole world and to restore our American Christian Republic to its historic, Biblical foundation.” We accomplish this goal at CHA through distinctives in our methodology.
First, we teach from a Providential view of history. We believe that history is “His” Story. God works in the lives of people to accomplish His plan. In each subject using key individuals and Christian timelines, known as our Chain of Christianity, our teachers have researched their subjects to determine God’s origin and purpose.
Secondly, we teach students to reason Biblically in each subject using our distinct five-step method. This is modeled first by the teachers as they research their subjects and identify the principles of their subject which underpin their curriculum and serve as the biblical basis for their course. From PK-12th grade, our students are trained to think and reason Biblically in assignments and classroom discussions. This method requires students to define their terms to bring clarity to the discussion. Once the topic is clearly defined, students research the Scriptures to analyze the Biblical worldview implications. Thirdly, students are asked to relate the topic to their lives or culture. Students engage the culture through the last two steps of recording and rhetoric. It is through writing and conversations that our world is impacted for Christ.
Another distinctive is the training the students receive through missions at CHA. Each class from PK- 12th grade has a mission project. In the secondary, each class has a missionary for whom they pray for and support. At Christian Heritage, summer missions are a vital part of our school program. This week, the secondary students had a special chapel service each day to highlight the mission trips for last summer and showcase what God is doing around the world. This summer, CHA will have trips to Roatan, Honduras, Mexico, Milwaukee, WI with LeaderTreks, and Germany.
Finally, from the founding of our nation to God’s continued plan of liberty, students are presented with a gospel purpose for the nations. Students in 6th grade participate in the Washington DC trip and learn about the role of government and the importance of Christian self-government. As seniors, students visit Plymouth and Boston, as a capstone to their studies in the birth and purpose of our nation. These capstone trips are the culmination of learning at CHA. It is not an ordinary senior trip. It is distinctive of CHA. Above is a picture of juniors and seniors working at Thomas the Train in September. Mr. Clay does an outstanding job of organizing fundraisers which include fun lunches, the senior silent auction, t-shirt sales, and Thomas the Train. The funds raised are applied to each senior’s trip account. If you would like to learn more about these capstone trips, you may visit https://www.cha.org/student-life/traditions.cfm.
In a world that is in desperate need of Christ and Truth, CHA is committed to producing Christian leaders in every sphere of society. What is it worth? Eternity.
Have a great week!
Opportunities
October 14, 2019
Each year, our senior class pairs with the incoming seventh-grade class. This program is known as “senior buddies.” The senior buddies write their seventh-grade buddies throughout the year and hang the notes on their lockers. After See You at the Pole in September, the seniors hosted a breakfast for their buddies in the cafeteria. They created intentional questions to get-to-know their buddies. This program is an opportunity for seniors to invest in underclassmen.
Another mentoring opportunity is chapel chats. Chapel chats are held each quarter during chapel time. Senior men are grouped with younger men and senior ladies are grouped with younger ladies. The seniors teach a Bible lesson and pose discussion questions for the group. There is also a time for the chapel chat groups to build relationships. Chapel chats are an opportunity for seniors to lead and for students to engage in meaningful relationships.
One of the things that makes CHA special is the opportunity to build relationships with underclassmen. Class sizes and proximity allow students to know each other. Our athletic coaches also do a superb job of allowing varsity players to invest in younger players through sports camps and practices. These opportunities leave impactful impressions on the lives of younger teammates.
This year, God has blessed CHA with over 617 students enrolled. Because of the Opportunity Scholarship Fund, 105 of these students received a scholarship to provide them the opportunity to attend CHA. The Opportunity Scholarship Fund is a program established by the state of Oklahoma which allows taxpayers to divert some of their tax dollars to the private institution of their choice and receive a tax credit. This year, because of the generous tax donors at CHA, we were able to award $389,813 in scholarships.
Would you please prayerfully consider learning more about OSF and how you may use some of your tax dollars to give other students the opportunity to attend CHA? We are hosting informational breakfasts and lunches on October 31, November 14, November 21, and December 5. Breakfasts will be from 7:30 am-8:15 am in the Alumni Room. Lunches will be from 11:30 am -12:15 pm in the Alumni Room. All events are free and anyone (parents, grandparents, business owners, friends) who is interested in learning more about this opportunity is invited to attend.
We are grateful for the opportunity that God has given us to train more students to be leaders in every sphere of society.
Have a wonderful week!
Susan Elaine DeMoss, PhD
Associate Headmaster