Changing the World Wherever We Are

Even during the summer months, it’s great to be able to continue to rejoice with students and faculty who are engaging others for Christ and expanding their minds wherever summer takes them.

One evidence of God’s faithfulness and the dedication to our PCA family as we reach the world for Christ recently came in the form of the miraculous, legal departure from Cuba to the United States of our good friends, Pastor Gilberto, his wife and two young daughters.  They left everything they know to minister in America.  Pastor Gilberto and his family will be adjusting to life in the U.S. as they make Dallas their home and PCA their school.   The PCA community continually and graciously is stepping forward to assist this precious family who will for generations have the story to tell of their incredible journey in Christ.  Many of you have prayed for Pastor Gilberto’s family and they are a true testimony of changed lives and what God has planned that we cannot even imagine.

PCA students are using the summer months to stretch their thinking at Summers at the Academy, our Future Problem Solvers (FPS) students advanced to the International Competition in Michigan where they took the stage against 64 schools in the nation and came in 8th place, and PCA theater students just traveled to Nebraska for the International Thespian Society (ITS) Nationals where they took two of the top ten awards nationally.  Many PCA students are joining Prestonwood Baptist Church’s Student Ministry on their summer mission trip to Romania. This represents just a snapshot of the many activities PCA students are involved in this summer.

PCA is blessed to learn of stories of students sharing Christ and having unique experiences wherever their summer travels take them.  One student on a PCA-sponsored trip had to inadvertently unpack her Bible at the DFW Airport security checkpoint and as it caught the attention of a security officer, God opened the door for her to begin sharing her faith.  Another student, while traveling in Europe, got to experience first-hand the British Parliament in action and as it compares to our form of government.  Many of you are reconnecting with extended family or joining together for family camps and bearing witness for Jesus Christ in your summer journeys.

Let’s all practice changing the world whenever and wherever in the world we find ourselves.

“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’” – Mark 16:15

Summer’s in Full Swing!

I hope you all are enjoying a great summer filled with family activities, fun, ballgames, vacations and lots of time for rejuvenation.  One of our early summer highlights has been the opportunity to follow two great PCA alumni athletes competing against one another in the NCAA Men’s College World Series.  Cameron Rupp (class of 2007) of The University of Texas and Jordan Swagerty (class of 2008) of Arizona State faced one another twice in the Series.  It is amazing to see two students from the same school competing against one another out of all the schools and colleges in the nation!

It’s been exciting to see these two PCA athletes who were former teammates representing our school on the national level.  One of the two games featured a PCA-hosted a big screen “Watch Party” for Upper School students and alumni in the Horner Center that drew a crowd of nearly 150 students and supporters to cheer on Cameron and Jordan on just two days notice.  PCA Head Baseball Coach Mike Maack was on-hand in the stands in Omaha, NE when Cameron and Jordan went head-to-head during their first game. The coach that invested so much into his players then invested his time and support to be there in person.

Although UT eventually defeated Arizona State, we know that both of these young athletes are victorious for Christ, PCA and their respective universities.  In fact in a recent local newspaper article, Cameron reflected about his time at PCA, “PCA had everything to do with every aspect of my life today, “ he said.  “PCA not only taught us spiritually, but encouraged us to find a dream, believe and go out there and make it happen.”

I challenge all of us as PCA parents, faculty and staff to continue focusing on training up students to believe, dream and change the world whether it’s on the baseball field or any field they choose.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:6

God bless,
Larry

Over 1,000 Attend the Zig Event

 

Janet and Mike Huckabee, Congressman Sam Johnson, and Zig and Jean Ziglar

What a glorious night it was last week when more than 1,000 supporters gathered to honor Gov. Mike Huckabee with the first-ever Zig Ziglar Servant Leadership Award presented by Prestonwood Christian Academy (PCA) and the Prestonwood Foundation. Zig and Jean Ziglar, along with their family, were on hand as we joined together as a community to celebrate the true servant leadership example Zig steadfastly exhibits. PCA was blessed to have special guests such as Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Congressman Sam Johnson, Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert and numerous elected officials in attendance to honor Zig and Governor Huckabee. This successful, international event was made possible by the 56 corporate and individual sponsors who supported the award that was established to annually recognize recipients who embody Zig’s selfless leadership characteristics. God provided abundantly as all proceeds benefitted PCA’s Sponsor-a-Child Program that gives equal opportunity for each student to attend PCA regardless of financial circumstances. Servant leadership extended beyond the stage and into the audience that night and continues today. Thanks to the individual servant leadership exhibited in the audience through financial gifts and prayer, as well as those gifts we are still receiving, Sponsor-a Child can help more students and families realize a Kingdom Education. In fact, it’s not too late to send in your contribution to Sponsor-a-Child Program to show your support of PCA and the Zig Ziglar Servant Leadership Award.

 The evening gave us a very special opportunity to recognize Zig with a commemorative gift from PCA for the special privilege he gave us of lending his name to this important  award. We also heard from current students and their families who are benefitting from a Kingdom Education at PCA because of the generous hearts of others through the Sponsor-a-Child program. Personal video testimonies of support and congratulations were viewed for both Zig and Gov. Huckabee from international influencers such as Sen. Hutchison, Rep. Johnson, Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy, and financial expert Dave Ramsey. 

 As Prestonwood Pastor Jack Graham presented Gov. Huckabee with this inaugural award, it was evident that Governor Huckabee was truly touched to be our first recipient. Governor Huckabee concluded his remarks so perfectly in describing why PCA now honors an annual recipient that holds true to servant leadership when he referenced the Bible in stating those seven words we all hope to hear one day, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”