Blog
Distinctively CHA
Archives - November 2019
The Difference
November 19, 2019
Last weekend, CHA’s first Academic Bowl team competed at the Regional Tournament. Since they had not competed in such a venue in over ten years, the team had realistic expectations for their performance. After competing in six rounds, the team qualified for third place and will compete in the Area Tournament in January. This accomplishment exceeded their expectations. At the tournament, there were many amazing students from around the area who gave up their Saturday to engage in the intellectual challenge.
What was the difference with our students? One difference was joy. Our students laughed, encouraged each other, and smiled. There was genuine innocence in their approach and giddiness in their success. Another difference was seen in the final round of the tournament. The final categories for the “lightning” round were TV musicals, books of the Bible, and social studies. Our school was leading in the score at the beginning of the round. The other team had the opportunity to choose a category first. They chose the category, books of the Bible, which was a tactical play against a Christian school. The opposing team was composed of bright and polite students. As the books of the Bible were read, the team was supposed to give the name of the preceding book title. This was not an easy task. As our team sat and listened, they became more sober. It was evident that there was no Bible literacy.
Christian Heritage Academy is known for its strong academics. We have been blessed with many successes in our athletic programs. However, of all the accolades that we are known for, I am most thankful for our commitment to the teaching of God’s Word in every subject of our curriculum. What is the difference at CHA? We do believe that God’s Word is the foundation of each course. Our distinct method of instruction known as the Principle Approach produces Christian scholars who know how to reason Biblically in all academic spheres. It produces leaders who will impact the culture for Christ.
As the end of the year draws near, would you consider learning more about how you can provide scholarships for students at CHA through the Opportunity Scholarship Fund? Currently, was have 105 students who could not attend CHA if it were not for the OSF scholarship. We are hosting free informational breakfasts (7:30 am- 8:15 am) and lunches (11:30 am - 12:30 pm) on November 21 and December 5. If you would like to attend or know someone who may, please contact sdemoss@cha.org. If you would like to contribute directly to the OSF, please download this form off of our website. Thank you for partnering with us to make a difference in the lives of students. From reading with your students at home to attending school events, your labor is not in vain.
That the World May Know
November 12, 2019
One of the things that makes CHA special are the students. Time and again, in our faculty meetings, we thank God for our “good kids” and families. I am so impressed by is our students’ influence not only in our school but in our community. Within our school, the student leaders continue to raise the bar of excellence. The first annual CHA parade was held two weeks ago. The parade was not limited to CHA but the students took the opportunity to go by a local elementary school, Epperly Heights. Although it was a small parade, it was astounding that it was organized by a student! Another example of student leadership at CHA is the Salt and Light Clean-Up crew after the football games on Friday nights and the student leaders who cleaned up after the Fall Festival last Thursday night. Our students serve without grumbling. They rarely have to be prodded to work. In a world where work ethic is lacking, our students demonstrate the love of Christ so that the world may know the difference that He makes.
Our students are also making a difference in our community. Last weekend, three students from CHA starred in Oklahoma City’s KidsAlive production of Newsies. (Above is a picture of the play’s program.) Truitt Campbell, Hannah Blair, and Abby Blair lit up the stage with their performance. They are not the only students who perform in Oklahoma City’s community theaters. We have several students who are active in the musical and dramatic arts. Another example of engaging the culture is Carter Buchanan. He is completing an internship at York Engineering in Norman. Every Monday morning, he shadows at the plant before coming to school. This is part of his Calculus 2 curriculum plan. From AAU teams to political campaigns, our students are making a difference in our world. This is a fulfillment of CHA’s vision “to produce leaders in every sphere of society.” Why do we want to produce leaders in every sphere? That the world may know.
Save the Date
November 05, 2019
Christian Heritage Academy’s Heritage Banquet was established to provide alumni, current and prospective families “insight” into what God is doing at CHA. Each year, the Lord continues to increase our numbers at this time-honored event, with last year hosting over 620 guests. Each year alumni from over the past 45 years return to celebrate what God continues to do at CHA. Our faculty, staff and current families are encouraged and humbled as they see an even greater “insight” for how God is using them at CHA. The Heritage Banquet is also one of our best events for prospective families to see the difference CHA is making in the lives of students as we produce Christian leaders who have “insight” into today’s issues and are able to engage the culture. Finally, the banquet also helps raise much-needed funds for the academic programming of our school through gifts to the Heritage Fund. Last year with over $60,000 raised, CHA was able to provide technology packages in many classrooms along with providing $15,000 in grant money for teachers to develop curriculum last summer.
The theme is NSight 2020. 2 Timothy 2:7 states, “Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” We are privileged to have as our guest speaker Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. from Southern Theological Seminary. Dr. Mohler is the president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He is an esteemed authority on contemporary issues and has been recognized by such influential publications as Time and Christianity Today as a leader among American evangelicals. In addition to his presidential duties, Dr. Mohler hosts two programs: “The Briefing,” a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview, and “Thinking in Public,” a series of conversations with the day’s leading thinkers. Dr. Mohler has authored numerous books, including The Prayer that Turns the World Upside Down, We Cannot Be Silent, and his most recent The Apostles’ Creed: Discovering Authentic Christianity in an Age of Counterfeit. He also writes a popular blog and a regular commentary on moral, cultural and theological issues.
Christian Heritage Academy is committed to developing American Christian Leaders who will be used of God to engage the culture for the sake of the gospel. As one reads the paper or listens to the news, it is evident that we need “insight” on how to engage. May it not be said of this generation as it was in the time of Ezekiel 22:30, “And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.” May God continue to use CHA, our families and our churches to raise up a generation that is committed to upholding the truths of God’s Word and living in the resurrected power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Make plans to join us on March 31, 2020 at the Bricktown Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City. Invitations will be mailed in January. Table sponsorships and underwriting opportunities are available for this event. Please join us in praying that God will provide us with underwriters and table sponsors for this event so that the proceeds from the gifts will go directly to the internal needs of the school through the Heritage Fund. For more information, please contact Dr. Susan DeMoss at sdemoss@cha.org. You may also give directly to the Heritage Fund.