Students Play Volleyball for Haiti Relief
February 9, 2010
High school students at GACS participated in a volleyball tournament in late-January to raise money for Haiti medical missions. All together, Spartans raised $4,150 which was added to other Haiti relief collections across campus. The overall total, GACS Haiti relief contribution was $18,148.88. Click on GACS VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT 2010 to watch!
GACS Volleyball Tournament 2010 from GACS SpartanSpear-it on Vimeo.
GACS Finds Ways to Help People of Haiti
January 22, 2010
February 5, 2010 Haiti Relief Update: GACS students, families, faculty and staff have raised $20,940 to-date in support of the great needs in Haiti. Please continue to pray and contribute.
January 21, 2009 was unlike most Thursday mornings on the GACS campus. A couple hundred students gathered in the Bradford Gymnasium to be a part of the volleyball tournament that was organized to raise awareness and money for the situation in Haiti.
Eleven teams competed with hope of winning the tournament; the prize’s being bragging rights until the next tournament. In the end, the faculty team took home the win against a rambunctious group of senior boys. Although the tournament was exciting, the more exciting part is how much money was raised; the grand total is $4,150.
In addition, GACS is working through Eternal Hope orphanage in Haiti to send support. GACS Vice-President Bill Burton shares: “GAC is currently collecting funds for Eternal Hope in Haiti, the orphanage in Cap Haitien where GAC mission teams have served for the past three years. …We believe that working with a Christian agency such as EHIH will continue to strengthen the relationships our students have already established in Haiti. We know that every penny given will go directly to help the children. …Cash or checks made payable to Eternal Hope in Haiti may be brought to any of the school offices.”
GACS faculty and students and their families are working hard to get involved with the relief efforts in Haiti. Click to donate money through the following organizations as well, or to find out more information.
The Red Cross
World Vision
Salvation Army
Keep the people of Haiti in your prayers. They will need us for a long time to come.
Remember our Troops during this Holiday Season
December 14, 2009
CHRISTMAS is a global holiday, but not everyone celebrates it the same way. The birth of Jesus, presents, candy canes, a tree, and family time are what many Americans think when they hear the word “Christmas.” Most Americans don’t think about terrorists, war in a foreign land, and being thousands of miles away from family.
There are 151,000 troops in Iraq and about 59,000 in Afghanistan, and they all want to be home for Christmas. Unfortunately, they cannot be. Living in America it can be easy to forget about the troops with all the distractions we face, but the soldiers definitely don’t forget about us. The troops miss America and they miss their Christmas traditions.
Four years ago some people started a program to make troops feel as if they were at home for the holidays. The program is called Trees for Troops. The organization sends donated Christmas trees to troops and in some cases to their families. Last year, over 17,000 trees were sent and this year more are expected. Sadly, the drop-off dates were December 4-6 so no more donations are accepted for 2009. Plan to take part next year.
You can, however, continue to be involved in the many projects by organizations such as The Salvation Army and the The Red Cross. These organizations hosts ongoing projects.
For an assignment a little bit more local, many GAC students participated in sending gifts and supplies to Coach Tim Baker and his troops in Afganistan. The troops can’t be home for Christmas, but we can bring Christmas to them.
Coach Baker says, “Most of the guys will miss being home. They miss the time with family. Most see Christmas as a date that signifies they will come home soon”
The tweetup4troops is where people tweet about the troops and get the word out to support our men and women in uniform. Check it out.
Pray for our troops over the holidays and keep them in your hearts.
When Worlds Collide Much Can be Gained
November 10, 2009
On Thursday, October 29, 2009, chapel at GAC contained a rare mix of topics: the school’s technological advances in addition to Dr. Chi Ekwenye’s personal struggles and the general poverty in Nigeria.
At first glance the juxtaposition of these two topics, a progressive learning environment and the embodiment of humble service, are not in any way compatible. Questions come to mind about these two completely different worlds. How can we reconcile Christ-like humility with the view that we must have the best of the best to stay ahead of everyone else?
From that momentous chapel, the answer, in my mind, is clear. That answer, to paraphrase Dr. Chi, lies in the simple fact that what matters most is not the quantity of what we have but what we choose to do with what we have received. Every person at GAC is extremely blessed with amazing opportunities, and students in grades six through twelve next school year will have the unique opportunity of learning in a Digital Learning Environment.
Rather than using these new tools for selfish gain, we will use them to growing academically and spiritually, preparing us to be “world changers.” Every little thing we do for others makes a huge difference. If we can be challenged with 21st century technology while learning, our growth could possibly put us in a better position to help others after we leave GAC. The time and money required to transition to this new, digital environment next year will be well worth it.
Students Support Norcross House of Joy
October 22, 2009
Motivation, determination, and perseverance – these are the atrributes that “get a job done.” Bobbi Pack, the heart and soul behind the House of Joy, is a woman who possesses these qualities.
The House of Joy is nonprofit, faith-based organization focused on serving homeless women and homeless mothers with dependent children in Gwinnett County, those who need emergency shelter and crisis intervention services. “Our goal is to share the unconditional love of Christ with our guests in a compassionate, respectful and empowering way,” says House of Joy founder and president.
The House of Joy plans to open this new homeless shelter by the beginning of the New Year. Bobbi Pack has been making efforts for five years to open a shelter in Gwinnett County, as there are currently none, despite the insufficient living conditions of many in Gwinnett.
Now Pack has teamed up with Jeff Foxworthy for a benefit, comedy night. Paul E. Galanti, a retired commander with the U.S. Navy and former prisoner of war, will also be speaking. The event, which will be held in the Long Forum on the GAC campus on October 29th, could not have come at a better time, considering the current economic decline our nation is facing. Foreclosures and evictions are rampant in Gwinnett County causing more homelessness each day, and Pack is “passionate about fulfilling [her] calling” to serve people during their times of need.
The event starts at 7pm on the 29th, although doors will open at 6pm. Tickets are $30 and can be ordered online. All proceeds go towards House of Joy. All those able are encouraged to attend this event that supports a fantastic and worthwhile cause!
Ecuador: Send Us Out – GACS Missions All Over the Globe
October 8, 2009
A HAPPY TEAM: stands on the equator line, happy about their Ecuador mission trip.
IT’S undeniable that the students and faculty of GACS have been blessed with an abundance of top-notch resources. We often get caught in the hustle and bustle of our busy schedules, which our state-of-the-art technology graciously allows us to manage, and forget about what truly matters.
Do you desire to make a lasting impact on someone’s life, or maybe be impacted yourself by seeing life through someone else’s eyes, someone less fortunate? GACS gives you this opportunity. There are ten mission trips offered this year during winter break and spring break. Some destinations are as close as downtown Atlanta, while others will take you as far as Vienna, Austria.
After submitting an application for the trip, each mission team member will be expected to earn donations to fund his or her trip. The time spent on the trip will also go towards the service requirement high school students must meet each semester. All high school students are highly encouraged to visit this online source and sort through the documents containing further details about each trip: http://www.greateratlantachristian.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=323 .
Be sure to pray over your decision and go wherever it is you feel called to go. The Mission Program at GACS is of the aspects that makes the school unique. Check out the information and be a part of an experience that will change your life forever.
Student Council Leads Junior High
October 7, 2009
Do any of these names sound familiar to you? Sam Weyen, Mary Johnson, Jackson O’Brien, Justin Lewis, Robert Dicks, Katie Irwin, Parker Stevens, Reagan Cink, Wade Cox, Jordan Williams, Ford Higgins, and Tori Wisted. These are the students who make up our junior high student council. “This year’s group has three girls and nine boys,” said Mrs. Ruby McLean, junior high student council sponsor.
Mrs. McLean is very excited about the group this year. “They are very lively, very involved, and they all participate. One of the fun things we’ve done already is a book challenge: teachers vs. students, for the summer reading kick-off. We used buzzer boards and had academic questions. It was a lot of fun.”
The group meets every Tuesday during lunch and the first Friday of every month. Their most recent project is Accessory Day. It was a dress-up day where the junior high students had the opportunity to show how they would accessorize their uniforms to make them more fun and exciting. This is one of the creative ways for the student council to raise money for their service projects. Funds from Accessory Day went towards repairing an inner city ministry bus.
Other goals include the Jackets for Jesus program that they do every year and raising money for the junior high mission trips.
“I love having the ability to represent my peers, make decisions, and just have fun,” said Robert Dicks, an eighth grade student council member. According to Mrs. McLean, the student council is, “The face of the junior high. The other students are encouraged to come to them with questions or comments.”
“If you like to be in leadership, come up with ideas, and interact with the faculty, you might be a likely candidate for student council.” Mrs. McLean is available if anyone has questions and ideas concerning the junior high student council.
Junior High Students Serve the Community
October 2, 2009
The Norcross Co-op Ministry is devoted to the poor, providing for those less fortunate in Norcross and the immediate Gwinnett area. Supported by a cultivation of local churches, numerous businesses, and individuals, this organization stands ready to shower the wealth and love of God.
Providing food, clothing, jobs, and even classes in the English language is what the Co-op is all about. Recently junior high students at GAC have been participating in the Norcross Co-op to fulfill community service hours as a mandatory class project.
GAC has long been involved in community service in Norcross, in the Greater-Atlanta area, and around the globe. The Norcross Co-op Ministry is just one way of finding a niche for service. Reach out and touch someone in your servitude and provide an example to all around you. Hats off to the junior high students for setting this example of service!
A schedule can be found on their website: http://www.norcrossco-op.org/ioppor_oppor.htm.
Committed to Serving Others
August 30, 2009
SCHOOL YEAR THEME: SERVICE
The 2009-2010 school year theme is based upon the mission of Greater Atlanta Christian School: To help each student grow as Jesus did, in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man. SERVICE is the key word for our focus this year. Whether serving in the Atlanta community, the the state of Georgia, across the nation, or abroad, GAC students and faculty are committed to improving our world.
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