THANK YOU TCA -  A FAMILY'S EXPERIENCE AT TCA

I am writing this as a word of humble thanksgiving to the Lord for TCA, and the invaluable role it has had in the life of my whole family, especially the life of my eldest son, Luke.

Both of my sons Luke and Silas Attended TCA.  Luke was impacted significantly when he attempted Temple in grade 7.  He moved to TCA after being in the public School system, where he languished socially and academically and spiritually.

Luke has a learning disability and the teachers had told my husband and I that he would never graduate from high school with a diploma; only a certificate. Spiritually he suffered from hopelessness and discouragement due to his marks and bullying in the public school system.  Every day he took Zantac to ease the discomfort in his stomach.  School was dreaded by everyone in our home.  To say that we were in a place of despair would not be untrue.  Then our hope was renewed when there was room for him in Temple.  When Luke moved to TCA he was supposed to be going into grade eight, but we held him in grade seven just so he would have a window of opportunity which had been lost in the past.  I can never say in mere words what happened when he went to TCA. TCA is a place filled with imperfect people whose hearts are fully for the Lord and for children.  It was perfect for us because we are an imperfect family whose hearts are fully for the Lord and our children.   Luke was transformed into a confident young man when he graduated.  He believed even though he had much work ahead, because of the role TCA had played he could be all that God has planned and destined him to be, if he worked hard enough. Today this same young man is travelling in Europe, finishing his third semester at St. Stephen University.  Next spring God willing, he graduates with a degree in Liberal Arts with a history major.

This is a story of  TCA, a place that was strong and safe and filled with hope ….and as such it made my son the same way, strong, safe and full of hope.  Thank you so very much Mr. Harding, Mrs. Naus and everyone at TCA.  We honour you and the great gift you have given.  To all of you who are members of Temple Baptist Church, can I say to you directly a most heartfelt, thank you for giving time, money and space to this ministry of TCA.  It is truly a ministry changing and shaping the lives of children and their families in your community.  May you be richly blessed.

-----------------------

TCA Matters - Family Testimony

Each day, our children spend a minimum of 7 hours at school.  There are days where there are more waking hours spent at school then spent at home.  There is never a concern for our children as to who is influencing them throughout the day.   Our children spend their day in the presence of teachers and staff  who have a heart for the Lord.  They see their positions as a mission field, and our children are their mission.  They reinforce the values and lessons that are taught at home. 

Not only are character building and values significant at TCA, but here our children are not asked to leave their bible at home, but rather they are encouraged to read, speak and sing, in Jesus’ name.  Our children are not asked to keep their “religion” quiet, but are encouraged, in every situation to act, respond and speak, in Jesus’ name.  Our children are not asked to leave Christ out of their daily learning life, but encouraged through acedemics to seek Christ’s hand in all aspects of life and learning.  Our children are not asked to keep prayer out of the classroom, but have the freedom to bow their heads and pray out loud.  They are taught, and encouraged daily by their teachers, who have the love of God in their hearts, to go to God in prayer, for each and every need, freely, with their peers.

These are a few of the many reasons as to why TCA is so close to our hearts.  These aspects will not guarantee that our children will have deep committed relationships with God, but, we know, as parents, we have invested in an eternal reward.  We are doing all we can to leave the door to Christ wide open for our children to enter.  The foundation that is being laid in their hearts at such a young age, is solid. 

--------------------------------------

Testimony for TCA by Stacey Nobel

There is so much to say about this year’s life developments.  In late August of this year, I had major surgery and received a clean bill of health.  However, I came home to news that my son’s beautiful school Lighthouse was closing.   With less than 6 days to the beginning of the school year, I broke the news to my little boy that he would have to go to Public School.

 “Oh Mommy!”  He cried, “Teachers without the love of the Lord in their hearts.  No learning about Jesus.  You can’t!”

Another day passed and the visiting Nurse came to my house.  In conversation, I told her about my son’s little heart.  She smiled and said “You know it is God’s desire for your son to attend Christian school.  You should contact Temple Christian Academy.”  So I contacted the school and set up an appointment to meet Mrs. Naus and Sally.  They were warm and welcoming.  They promised to do their best by my little boy, even though we might still be a low income family.

With poise and grace, Temple welcomed in a total of 17 new students in the space of 7 days.  The Lord had shown His answer to the prayer shield’s request for students.  “The prayers of a righteous man are effective” 

My little boy indeed got his heart’s desire to be taught everyday by those with the love of Jesus in their hearts and learning about God every day.

I also found what I wanted for my son.  Other friends who believe in the Lord and parents who believe in Godly discipline and try their best to raise their children in the Lord.

None of these prayers would have been answered without the generosity of the Board, and friends of TCA.  Thank you for being the hand of Christ for my son’s education.

---------------------------------------

PARENT TESTIMONY - Our Experience at TCA

"We moved over from the public system to TCA when our children were in grades: 1, 3, 5. We felt like what we were teaching our children at home spiritually was not supported in the public system and that it was even counter productive. At TCA we enjoyed the fact that the whole school helped support what we were teaching the children at home. Also, we really like the amount of parental input we had at TCA and that our involvement was encouraged and we had more of a voice in our families education." -Wendy McKay

------------------------------------------

STUDENT TESTIMONY - TCA Sunday Speech [Reagan Butler]

My name is Reagan Butler and I graduated from Temple Christian Academy four years ago today. I went to school at TCA from kindergarten to grade eight. When my older brother was 4, my parents went to look for an elementary school and after looking at many other schools, they were led to TCA which was just opening in 1991. My parents prayed long and hard over what to do because TCA was a private school, which meant more money. They decided that God wanted them to invest the money while their kids were little and so that is what they did. I asked my parents how they felt having put myself and my three siblings through TCA. They both said that they were very very glad that they did. I am extremely thankful that God blessed me with the opportunity to come to TCA. In regards to academics, the education I received here fully prepared me for high school, but the main thing that I am thankful for about TCA was how it prepared me spiritually.

 I was blessed to have grown up in a Christian home and to go to a Christian school and as a result, I was not just able to see Jesus in my parents and at church on Sundays, but every day of the week through my teachers and classmates' parents as well. Seeing people that I looked up to live for Christ and seeing God work in them everyday strongly influenced me in my walk with Christ. The teachers here at TCA were always willing to do whatever they could so that I would be able to excel and it was always obvious to me, even as a child, that they taught because they loved being an influence in the lives of their students. Aside from just being in an environment that reflected God's love, and among many other valuable lessons that I learned at TCA, there were two things that strongly affected me and still have a part in my life today. The first is prayer. It is a rare opportunity for a child to be able to pray with her classmates and teachers every day, but that's what we did. It was specifically in grade seven and eight that this affected me. Every morning we would take turns doing devotions in front of the class and we would pray together, asking each other if there was anything that we could bring to God on behalf of those in our class. I don't know that prayer would play the significant role that it does in my life today had it not been made part of my life when I was younger. The second important aspect of TCA that has affected me was Bible Class. By studying God's word, we were able to not just learn the stories and their significance, but we got to know the character of Christ, which is important to know because God has told us to be like Christ. We also learned how to memorize scripture and the importance of “hiding God's word in our hearts.  Verses that I memorized when I was at TCA still come to mind when I encounter different situations. Mr. Harding always told us that he would still be happy if all we remembered from TCA was this one Bible verse: Matthew 6:33 which says “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.”  Thankfully, I do remember the other things that I learned at TCA, but this verse definitely does stand out. I learned the most important lesson at TCA; to seek God above all else so that He will be honoured in my life.

-------------------------------------------------

PARENT TESTIMONY - Our Experience at TCA

When our family first came to TCA, we believed in God, but our relationship with Him was non-existent. From the day we arrived, we were welcomed with open arms, and we were encouraged by our new found friendships to start attending church again. For the first time in many years, we began to grow in God. It was evident that God had placed TCA on our hearts for a reason. He was bringing us, as well as our children, straight into His arms. What a difference TCA has made in our lives as a couple, as parents, and as a family. We now have a deep, constant growing desire to serve our Father, a wonderful church, as well as a loving, supportive family in Christ at TCA.

----------------------------------------------

FAMILY TESTIMONY - TCA - The Value of Chirstian Education

In Canada, we are so blessed to have access to excellence in education, but also  the freedom to choose how, by whom, and where we choose to educate our children. As young parents, Rick and I hoped to raise our children in a way that would please God, and equip them to live out God's loving kindness in this world. I remember debating if we would be better to invest our money in Christian education when the children were young, or to save the money for post secondary education? Both seemed expensive at the time. We scouted out various schools, both public and private. We prayed and listened for God's direction the best we knew how.

At that time, Temple Baptist Church had a new school. It had been birthed one year earlier with a lot of love and 13 children. After visiting and praying, we sensed that God wanted us here at TCA. We decided that through TCA we could invest financially and spiritually in our children during their youngest years. We were excited at the prospect of our children having teachers who would not only teach them, but love and pray for them as well. It made sense to us that the morals and character that we valued in our home would be reflected at school as well.

  We had made a good choice! What a rich and productive journey TCA was for our family.  Although no school is perfect,  TCA  is a diverse and gifted gathering of God's people, with a common goal: to educate, mentor and prepare children and families academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually to fulfill the plans that God has for each and every one.  Along the way, the other TCA families, children, teachers and support staff became very dear to us. We worked, played, prayed, fellowshipped and worshiped God together. What an unexpected gift to find at a school: God's family.

 We have never regretted our decision. TCA has been a strengthening force for our family. Our children have all transitioned very well to both public high school and to post secondary education. Each of them have voiced their appreciation for their years at TCA. They have maintained valuable TCA friendships that strengthen their Christian walk and enrich their lives.

 My advice to parents considering Christian Education would be to visit the schools that they are considering, public schools, home-school families, and Christian schools. Talk to families who have children in those schools. Pray, asking God for wisdom and direction. Pray as a family if you can, watching and waiting for Him to answer. God loves to care for His children. I pray that you will sense His direction in  your family choices.

-------------------------------------------------------

PARENT TESTIMONY - TCA SUNDAY

TCA Sunday, June 6th, 2010
This morning I want to give thanks to the Lord for leading my family to attend Temple Christian Academy. I also want to thank my church family this morning for the value you place on Christian education.

 My family hasn't always belonged to the TCA. Over the years our kids have been in the public & the Catholic school boards and we've also homeschooled. But our daughter Zoe has been a student at TCA since grade 3, and she's just finishing up grade 7. 

Each of the schools we've attended has had its benefits, and we've met some wonderfully gifted teachers. But we've been particularly blessed by our time at TCA, and I want to brag on Zoe's school a little bit this morning.

Right away we noticed that TCA had a family atmosphere. Zoe got such a warm welcome from Miss VanderHeide's  grade 3 & 4 class.  She made new friends from the very first day. One of the things I've really appreciated, especially when she started making play dates after school, was not having to wonder if her friends' parents had the same values that we do in our home.  

Another thing I love is that missionaries teach at TCA. Every single teacher at our school is on a mission for the Lord Jesus Christ. They are actively sharing their faith and  living it out on a daily basis with their students. I remember Zoe's excitement when she came home one day and told me that Mrs Phillips had led a new classmate to faith in Christ. Imagine your child's entire classroom being able to celebrate a new baby Christian! Imagine knowing that your child is being prayed for by his or her principal and teacher and classmates,  on a regular basis.  

At TCA Zoe is exposed to the Bible throughout the week -- from morning prayer and devotions, to Bible study, to weekly chapel messages from Christian leaders in our community. She regularly tells me about things she's learning about the Lord Jesus from Aunt Bette or Pastor Sam Parker or Claude Bourque. She's being taught how to build a relationship with Christ, and everything she learns at school is supporting and reinforcing what I'm teaching her at home. 

According to the world's perspective, the Bible is a collection of ancient myths. At TCA the Bible is God's inspired, inerrant Word, and it's at the centre of the school day, every day. History isn't taught as a series of random events, history is the unfolding of His Story. At TCA, science isn't the study of laws of nature at work, it is observing the outworking of God's laws in His Creation.  My daughter is learning to evaluate the world around her through God's eyes, not from man's perspective. 

 But one of the biggest reasons I'm grateful to TCA is that Zoe is learning to share her faith with others. One day when Zoe was in grade 5, I asked if she'd like some help learning her memory verse for that week. She said no, she'd been practicing her memory verses with her Dad every morning on their drive to school, so he'd be able to hide God's Word in his heart. You see, Zoe knows that her dad isn't a believer yet. Thank You, Jesus, that Zoe is learning just powerful Your Word is, and how much You love her daddy.  Actually, it was her daddy's idea to send her to TCA in the first place.  I was worried about whether we could afford it, as a one income family. But George said we shouldn't look at TCA as an expense, but as an investment. 

There have been times when we've felt the pinch, and I've worried. But then, I see the character of the godly young woman our girl is becoming...... I think about the small class sizes..... and TCA's emphasis on godly character and respect for authority....and the fantastic test scores TCA gets year after year.... and you know what? I stop worrying and get thankful all over again.

 I guess it sounds like I think TCA is the perfect school. It's a great school, a wonderful school, but there's no such thing as a perfect school, or a perfect teacher -- or a perfect kid for that matter! There's no guarantee that sending your child to any Christian school will turn him into a Billy Graham. But I can tell you this -- the teachers and staff love the Lord Jesus Christ, and they share that passion with their students every day. 

God's Word says that I'm responsible for training my child in the way she should go, and I want to thank each and every teacher in her school for helping me to do that -- for shaping and nurturing her, for challenging her academically while pointing her toward the Lord Jesus. I thank the Lord that my daughter has had the opportunity to go to school at Temple Christian Academy.

 If you're a parent, or even a grandparent wanting to leave a legacy for a child you love, I encourage you to pray about making an investment in Christian education at TCA.