2016 Crusader Connection

CRUSADER CONNECTION A Publication of Westminster Christian Academy 2015-2016

BUT YOU ARE A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, SO THAT YOU MAY PROCLAIM THE EXCELLENCIES OF HIM WHO HAS CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT. 1 PETER 2:9 ESV

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cripture is full of examples of men and women who trusted God and boldly obeyed Him in the hardest of circumstances. Gideon: a judge who freed all of Israel from the rule and terror of the Midianites; Joshua: Moses’ successor who led the Israelites into the Promised Land and later commanded the army who marched around the wall of Jericho; and Deborah: a prophetess who led Israel to victory over the Canaanites. These and countless other examples in the Bible offer pictures of true world changers. The kind of world changers that saved people and gave glory where it was due – to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase world changer? Perhaps you picture a political leader, a researcher making advances in medicine, or a missionary in remote parts of the world. These are the types of people who win Nobel prizes and whose life stories are printed in history books for generations to admire. What about your world, though? When you consider your everyday reality with its everyday responsibilities and relationships, who have been your world changers? Are you a world changer?

As believers, we know that our calling is to keep one objective as our highest goal. It is to make known the glory of God and the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. We are called to do this in our everyday “world” – in both the mundane and the magnificent moments of life. The mission of Westminster Christian Academy is to assist parents in educating their children by imparting God’s truth to transform society in present and future generations. This mission and objective of changing society with God’s

truth was first put on the hearts of Ned and Valerie Rutland over 30 years ago. This “everyday” couple listened to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and chose to obey by opening the doors of a few small portable buildings in Opelousas, Louisiana in 1977.

That kind of faith and obedience are what world changers are made of – and because of them, you and your family have the opportunity to be a part of Westminster and its mission.

The hand and favor of God has been all over WCA since its inception. Even still, it has required faithful, obedient leadership from both the staff and the student body to get to the point where the school finds itself today – on the brink of new, exciting adventures as we grow and our impact on society increases. On the pages that follow, you will read stories of “legacy leaders” and “legacy leavers.” Our hope is that you will be encouraged and inspired to continue to change your world!

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here is a tangible excitement on the WCA campus these days. There is an expectant sort of energy that comes from knowing God has prepared the school for a season of new leadership and growth. A joyful energy abounds that celebrates the foundation and legacy of the school, while looking forward to seeing what fresh ideas and perspective might come with this new season. This expectation is felt in the offices, classrooms and halls of WCA. The Lord is at work, building up a harvest of young world changers for His glory.

At the helm of this new season at Westminster is the newly-appointed Head of School, Mr. Scott Davis. Born in Iowa Park, Texas, a tiny town of about 6,000 people, Mr. Davis grew up in a Christian home. He attended college at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas. It was there he met his lovely wife and there that he felt a genuine calling placed on his life to teach and coach. God used Mr. Davis’ undergraduate years to provide a unique opportunity to help him along in that calling. Wayland Baptist had an exceptional athletic department.

They were nationally-ranked in basketball and track, and because of that, incredibly gifted athletes from all over the world attended the school.

This multi-national diversity led the coaches to see some cultural and relational barriers between their athletes and the general student body. They asked if Mr. Davis would join the team as a bit of a “con-

nector” to bridge that gap. This opportunity gave Mr. Davis some practice with coaching, and by his senior year, he was the Assistant Coach for track and cross country. He looks back on that time as foundational in building his leadership skills as well as providential for the future career direction the Lord had for him.

After completing a Master’s of Education at Texas Tech University, he accepted a position as Head Coach and science Professor at Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska. “Much of my spiritual formation occurred here. It was probably the most challenging spiritual experience I ever had,” remarks Mr. Davis. While Hastings College was affiliated with a Christian denomination, there was a decidedly liberal bent in the teaching philosophy there, and Mr. Davis recalls having to learn to concretely defend his faith. He is grateful for this experience, despite the challenge, because of how it further grew him as a leader.

It was while he was coaching in Nebraska that Mr. Davis recalls what he refers to as a “pivotal conversation.” He had taken over a mediocre group of athletes on the track team. He brought them to a competition at the University of Nebraska — a much larger school. The team walked in the gym and Mr. Davis began pointing out outstanding athletes in the room thinking the environment of excellence would inspire and motivate his team. Instead, one student stared blankly at him and said “Why are we here?” This student knew the team was not “excellent,” nor did they aspire to be. Mr. Davis was struck by this defeated viewpoint and decided that, as their leader, it was his responsibility to change that — to begin building up attitudes of excellence. He had a group of talented kids, but they were going to have to work hard. They were going to have to work for excellence.

They were going to have to work to make good become great. This life

lesson shaped the way Mr. Davis has approached every leadership role since then — including how he approaches his role as Head of School at Westminster.

Mr. Davis and his family decided to move back to Texas a few years later and became involved with Coram Deo Academy. This school, located in the Dallas metro area, focuses on classical education highlighting liberal arts and languages. Mr. Davis began teaching at Coram Deo and, eventually, became the Head of Operations for multiple campuses of the institution. He began feeling the Lord call him to start open enrollment classical schools for students of every socio-economic class. You can

“When you expect great things, you get great things, and great things can be achieved.” imagine the roadblocks and challenges surrounding such a task —not to mention, fear of the unknown! Would people from these areas even want to enroll in such an academically rigorous school?

Mr. Davis believed they would. And they did. “When you expect great things, you get great things and great things can be achieved,” he says. He offered the following anecdote to shed light on the experience: “Most people are average physically. But, no parent is going to say ‘Look, because my kid is average, we’ll just keep him on the JV. That varsity team is just too much.’ No parent would say that.

They’d say ‘Let’s push and work and get to that next level.’ If we really want Christ-like character, if we really want to see Christ glorified and culture changed, it will be tough. But, we can’t stay at the JV level – spiritually or educationally.”

All of these life experiences, revelations and accomplishments have brought Mr. Davis to Westminster for such a time as this. His varied back-

ground covers the K-12th and college levels, spans decades and regions of the country, and brings a wealth of knowledge to share with us. “Westminster has been on solid ground for many years. It has stood for excellence in every area and has been firmly rooted in Christ. Therefore, it is a privilege to come to Opelousas and Lafayette and to partner with families here to make what is already a fine institution even better. I have children of my own, and they will be attending Westminster. With their education and spiritual formation at stake, I take seriously the duties to which the Lord has called me for His purposes at Westminster Christian Academy.”

There is a framed scripture verse that sits above his new desk at WCA. It contains Deuteronomy 4:9: “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” The Lord has taught Mr. Davis much in his career, and we are excited to proudly welcome him as Head of School.

DISTRICT PLAYOFFS

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ruth is Truth. Period.” Coach Vinnie Bullara isn’t the type to hold back about what he believes. He also isn’t afraid to face challenging circumstances. In fact, the last decade or so of his life has presented a number of scenarios for him to choose the easy road, but he has chosen instead to obey the God he trusts.

Coach Bullara first became part of Westminster in 1997. He taught biology, advanced biology and physical science. His passion in life, though, was coaching football. He became part of the coaching staff and enjoyed being part of a solid program at WCA. In 2000, however, Coach made the decision to leave Westminster and pursue other opportunities.

After a few years, he found himself in a position at a school in Lafayette that was everything he had ever wanted. It was a large school with a championship football program; a teaching schedule that allowed him to focus most of his time on football; an athletic budget similar to most

C college budgets — he thought he hit the jackpot!

He absolutely loved it. Yet, the Lord started tugging at his heart. He knew he was not being challenged spiritually in this job. In turn, he was not being able to challenge his players and students spiritually.

In 2010, Coach Bullara was contacted about coming back to Westminster. He turned down the offer and gave several reasons why he thought it just wasn’t a move he was ready to make. He was approached again a few months later. Still, he said no. He was in a school and a job that had every comfort and convenience he could want. But God began working on his heart. As he prayed for God to reveal His will, it became clear a return to Westminster was what Coach was called to do.

Coach returned that year teaching chemistry, AP chemistry and physical science. “God called me back and then taught me so much more about myself and His character when I went back,” he recalls. It was not an entirely smooth transition for Coach Bullara. He found himself comparing his position at WCA to his previous position and lamenting the fact that he had left. He remembers asking, “God, did I miss you? Because, this is not easy. God started showing me that it is not about me and my comfort. That is not the gospel.” He goes on to say, “There is this idea that when things are going good, I am ‘blessed.’ But, the gospel message is that I will sometimes be called to places and

DISTRICT Runners Up

CROSS COUNTRY DISTRICT CHAMPS

BASEBALL DISTRICT CHAMPS

STATE CHAMPION IN HURDLES

things I don’t necessarily want or understand.”

His response was to be obedient to God’s call and stay at WCA. In 2014, Coach Bullara became the Athletic Director and faced a new set of challenges.

It was a rough football season and a rocky basketball season. Coach stayed the course. He says, “I thought, okay, we have been here before.

We are just going to keep working. Isaiah 40:31 says, ‘...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.’” This past season, the football team went 6 and 4. The basketball team improved, and there were big wins in almost all sports. There are new coaches and a new excitement for athletics.

More than any of that, there is a new spiritual emphasis for athletes. “It is more than just [sports] – if we mess up, we tell them. We apologize. We are just imperfect people doing the deal, living that out – Jesus has to be central to all that I do.”

Coach Bullara says he wants all athletes to know that to be a world changer, you can’t compromise the truth. “Truth is truth. Period. The world may call you ‘ignorant’ or ‘simple,’ but believing in our God changes how we live our life. Other religions say ‘live a good life,’ but as believers Christ declares you righteous through the power of salvation.” Coach wants his players to see what walking out faith looks like. They certainly have a great example in him.

STATE MEET QUALIFIERS

go teach in Honduras. Another dream of his was to travel. The final offer was to teach at a small school in South Louisiana. Coach Coon had never been to Louisiana and never heard of the town of Opelousas. While it didn’t seem to make any sense and while there was no clear “reason” to come to Westminster, that is exactly what Coach felt the Lord calling him to do. So, he obeyed and accepted the position without ever having set foot in the state!

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he story of how Coach Aaron Coon got to Westminster gives a whole new appreciation for Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Born in Denver, Colorado, Coach Coon studied engineering at Dordt College in Iowa. He spent most of college assuming and planning he would pursue a career in engineering upon graduation. Somewhere around the end of his junior year, though, he realized God had wired him for teaching and turned his heart in that direction. His senior year, he had three interviews that led to three job offers.

The first offer was back in his home town at the high school he attended. It was a dream of his to go back to teach there. The second offer was to

Since arriving at WCA five years ago, Coach Coon has been teaching physics and calculus. He is also the head soccer coach and the Chaplain of the high school. “I have never doubted this is where I should be and if I teach here the rest of my life, I would be good with that!” His students feel the same way. Coach Coon is respected and admired for his intellect and integrity. He has a platform through athletics and chaplaincy to reach students in ways that other staff members might not have.

This past year, Coach Coon helped organize something called Spiritual Emphasis Week. It was to be a week of school dedicated to spiritual growth. The thing is, once Coach Coon made appropriate arrangements to make it happen, he gave it to the students to do with it as they saw fit.

“We said, ‘this is your week.’ They picked themes and we coordinated with students to pick the speakers.” What resulted was one of the most powerful spiritual events in the school’s history.

Spiritual Emphasis Week featured nationally known speakers “Rick and Mick” who spoke each day about different aspects of the Christian life.

The week concluded with a testimony time where students could come up, in front of all their peers, and share their testimonies. It started Friday morning and went until the end of the afternoon.

Then another chapel was held Monday morning

so more testimonies could be shared! Countless accepted Christ for the first time and an honesty, transparency and authenticity were present like never before among the students. Coach Coon believes a “culture of honesty” was started that week and he is beyond excited by what the Holy Spirit is doing on campus.

“In this transition time at the school, I am excited!

The foundation has been laid and it is a strong foundation. Now, the harvest is ready!” With a sideways smile knowing he would sound a little cheesy saying it, he goes on, “It is like a blank canvas and [God] has given us a lot of colors and brushes!”

Watch Coach Coon’s Westminster World Changer video by visiting www.wcala. org/coachcoon

“If I am a world changer it has nothing to do with me. it has everything to do with christ’s work in me.”

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estminster Christian Academy has grown since its founding in 1978 to an an annual operating budget of over $6,000,000.

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rom 2005 to 2016, our long-term debt fell from about $2.75 million to $0. Our liquidity ratio grew from about 0.6 to 2.25 in 2013. Since that time, our liquidity ratio has continued to increase to 3.26. Charity Navigator, America’s leading independent charity evaluator, reports 9 out of 10 non-profits spend only 65% or more on program delivery. WCA spends 83%! They also give their best rating to nonprofits that spend 15% or less on general and administrative expenses; we spend just 15%. Charity Navigator also gives their best rating to non-profits that spend 10% or less on fundraising, and WCA spends just 2% on fundraising.

“But the land that you are going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven, a land that the Lord your God cares for. The eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.� Deuteronomy 11:11-12 ESV

CLASS OF 2016 FAST FACTS • • • • •

53 graduating seniors 1 national merit scholar 3 Distinguished Scholars (GPA 4.0) 12 graduated with WCA Honors 6 graduated with WCA Advanced Honors • 20% scored a 27 or higher on the ACT • 32% earned the Academic Achievement Award (GPA 3.33-3.99) • 11 honored with ACSI Distinguished Christian Student Awards

• 6 scored a 30 or higher on the ACT • 26% are National Honor Society Members • 89% were accepted into a 4-year institution • 53% qualified for TOPS (Tuition Opportunity Program for Students) when enrolling in Louisiana colleges and universities • the average ACT score for the class of 2016 was 23.4

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he heart and soul of Westminster is its student body. Westminster exists to educate this next generation of world changers. Indeed, these students, graduates, and alumni are already impacting their world and culture to make known the name of Christ!

Recently, rising seniors Timothy Kemp, Judah Barber, Alexis Jones and 2016 senior class valedictorian Jacob LaBerteaux shared their thoughts about life at WCA. “The school definitely lives up to being called ‘college prep,’” says Jacob. “The workload is a lot, but it is not impossible. It requires effort and that helped prepare me for college and for life after that.” There are many life lessons learned from the rigorous academic load at Westminster, but students also feel they are being prepared spiritually. “Our classes have helped me be able to defend my faith — to be able to say why I believe what I believe,” says Alexis.

The students explained that there is a “safe environment” that exists at Westminster that allows them to develop both life and spiritual leadership skills in a nurturing, encouraging place.

One example of this is in the creation of “Life Groups.” Earlier this academic year, Timothy and Judah had an idea to start a Bible study during lunch period, so they did it. Right there under the pavilion on campus, on their own, without staff involvement or direction, they rose to the challenge of I Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example

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for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity!” The Life Groups took off and soon there were dozens of groups gathering, both in the high school and middle school, to study Scripture together. “It’s cool, because the groups have people from different grades that you may not always talk to,” says Alexis. “The Life Groups have really helped a shift among the students to get more personal and to mature our spiritual lives,” Jacob said.

When asked who the “world changers” are in the faculty at Westminster, all four students mentioned Coach John Vice first. “He is always ‘real’ with us and teaches us by example,” says Jacob. “He gives devotions in class that are from his heart,” adds Alexis. “We see his spiritual life in action every day,” says Judah. The students also pointed to Coach Salling, Coach Bullara, Coach Coon, and Mrs. Brooks as faculty who have impacted them profoundly in their time as students. “They show us things you can’t learn in a classroom and seek out opportunities to show their faith. They invest in us and help show us how to take initiative,” offers Timothy. Alexis said, “When I feel anxious, Mrs. LaBerteaux reminds me God is in control and it gives me peace. We really have a relationship with our teachers and I know they would do anything for us.”

According to these students, the culture at WCA is characterized as loving, academically challenging, and spiritually authentic. What an encouraging assessment as the school presses forward toward excellence in each of these areas!

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he 2016 graduating class of WCA included quite an impressive group of students. Many of these students received recognition for their leadership, athleticism, and academic diligence in the form of scholarships to universities across the country.

One student recognized for his achievements has an especially touching story of resiliency and strength. Marcus Maldonado has attended Westminster since K3. He has excelled academically from a young age, and at the encouragement of his teachers, he took the PSAT exam during his junior year of high school. He scored in the top 5% of Hispanic test takers in the entire country. The Horatio Alger Association, an association that honors the achievements of outstanding leaders who have accomplished remarkable successes in spite of adversity, contacted Marcus and suggested he apply for one of their prestigious scholarships. He took a shot, applied and was awarded the Melvyn N. Klein scholarship — a $10,000 academic scholarship — one that is awarded to only five students nationally each year.

In addition to exceptional academic achievement, a hallmark of this scholarship involves overcoming adversity. Marcus found out in the spring of his senior year that his father had stage-four liver cancer. The disease progressed extremely quickly and his father passed away in April. “I would not have made it through [that time] without God, my family and my family at WCA,” says Marcus. “As a

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lifelong student at WCA, I think I took for granted how much the staff cared about me. When my dad got sick, Mrs. Baker was texting me to check on him. My principal from elementary school, Mrs. Boudreaux, and Mrs. Brooks came to visit us in the hospital.” He says his classmates surrounded him in support as well and walked with him during such a difficult time. In the midst of deep sadness and loss, Marcus was able to feel the love of Christ through his family at Westminster.

Spiritual Emphasis Week stands out as a bit of a lifeline to Marcus during his senior year. “It was the same week my dad got admitted to hospital. Almost like it was meant to be or that God knew I would need that at that time.” He says, “I have heard every way you can tell Bible stories and I have heard the gospel message, but this time was different. There was just a closeness spiritually and a closeness with the students and faculty like nothing I have ever experienced.” As Psalm 34 promises, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted,” and Marcus felt that in his time of need.

“I took for granted how much the staff cared about me.”

Marcus plans to attend Tulane in the fall and pursue a degree in Political Science. He has aspirations for law school in the future and remains grateful for Westminster and all it has meant to him throughout his life. It is easy to see that this strong, smart, young man will do many great things — all to the glory of God.

marcus maldonado

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is all about obeying. Blessings follow obedience and steps of obedience are huge. They benefit others to see it.” Mrs. Susan Keller is one of those people you just want to be around. She has the gift of telling you something just how she sees it, but with sincerity and love. One recent step of obedience for Mrs. Keller was to step into her new position as Principal of the Lafayette Campus. She added, “Humility keeps you in the right position.”

Mrs. Keller spent 15 years in the classroom. She never once sought out a role in administration but felt God was calling her in that direction.

She trusted that if it were His plan for her, He would orchestrate things in the right time. When Mrs. Brooks approached her about becoming principal, she hesitated at first but felt the Lord clearly remind her that “to whom much has been given, much is required.” She also recalled what fellow Lafayette teacher Mrs. Arias would often say, “The principles we teach children in the classroom, we must teach back to ourselves.” These principles of faith, trust, and

obedience are just as relevant to adults as the children we teach them to.

She accepted the position but says it was certainly a giant step out of her comfort zone. It was not easy to obey, but as she so eloquently says with a smile on her face, “God shows up when we are obedient!” Mrs. Keller also points out how sweet it is that our relationship with the Lord deepens dramatically when we step out in faith. “The thing is, you don’t know for sure God will be faithful until you actually step out on the water. By having God at the table [in this new position], He has been so faithful. He has directed hard conversations so they become life giving.

He has brought people into my life to encourage me — prayer warriors who come up to say they are praying for me.”

“god shows up when we are obedient!”

Coach Vice gave a devotional the first year Mrs. Keller taught at Westminster. It has stuck with her all these years and has been instrumental during this transition from teacher to principal. Coach spoke on the promise from John 15:16: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last — and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” That word set Mrs. Keller free to walk in obedience and confidence that her Heavenly Father would be with her in this new position.

A key part of the vision Mrs. Keller has for the Lafayette campus is to meet people where they are. The word she feels God has given her for this season is that He is “breaking the ground for the saving of souls.” What an inspiring word and what an exciting time for our students and families in Lafayette!

Among the many things happening at the campus is the building of a new, expanded athletic program. Lafayette Campus Athletic Director Coach Brent Simmons and Coach Amy Kallemeyne will be coaching basketball, football, soccer, volleyball, and track teams for the older students in Lafayette next year! “Athletics and handling sportsmanship

in a godly way have always been a powerful way to minister to kids — and often, to parents and the community as well!” says Mrs. Keller.

WCA in Lafayette will also be incorporating new technology trends by welcoming Mrs. Ogle as the new Computer/Technology Director. She will be updating and improving communication between the school and parents. Additionally, in the upcoming school year a Sixth Grade Student Council will be established, providing an excellent opportunity to develop and refine leadership skills.

The Mission Team in Lafayette has been active and growing for several years and remains a valued part of student life at this campus, a campus that truly has a heart for missions. Students participate monthly in various service projects throughout the community. Their activities this year included a shoe drive to provide shoes to children in Africa, making snack baskets (prominently displaying scripture verses!) and delivering them to local public service members like police and firefighters, and even washing teachers’ cars to bless them!

Over spring break, sixth graders from both Opelousas and Lafayette went on a mission trip to New Orleans to work with the Youth With A Mission base there.

It is an exciting new chapter in the life of the Lafayette campus where there is a heart for world changing!

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rs. Barbara Accardo retired from Westminster Christian Academy Preschool in 1998 — or at least she thought she did! God had a bit of a different plan.

Her story begins in 1983 when she and her family moved to the Opelousas area from New Orleans.

Mrs. Accardo saw a billboard on the side of the road for a Christian school. She wrote down the name and number, and when she called the next day, Valerie Rutland answered the phone.

She was told about the vision and mission of the school and quickly decided she wanted her kids to attend Westminster. In the 1984-85 school year, Mrs. Accardo began teaching at the preschool, eventually taking over as director where she developed a deep desire to nurture and assist families with young children.

In 1998, Mrs. Accardo found herself facing several health issues and injuries. She felt like God was telling her she needed to relinquish her role as director. While the timing didn’t completely make sense to her, God’s perfect plan soon became clear. Her sister faced a liver transplant and needed someone to care for her. Retirement allowed Mrs. Accardo to be with her sister in this time of need.

A few years later when both she and her sister

were well, Mrs. Accardo took a job in the corporate world. One evening, she told her husband that she felt like she was not doing all God wanted her to be doing. God must have been preparing her heart because about 24 hours later there was a phone call. It was Mrs. Brooks, and she had a bold proposition — start a preschool campus on the north side of Lafayette. Mrs. Accardo accepted and the Northwood Campus for 3 & 4-year olds began.

A preschool campus remained in Upper Lafayette until 2012 when another church took it over, and it is still open today as the Philadelphia Christian Academy.

In 2012, Mrs. Accardo returned to the position of director at the Opelousas Preschool Campus. She has worked tirelessly developing curricula and implementing new learning tools with students that account for the whole picture of education — mental, physical, spiritual and emotional. All the while, Mrs. Accardo remained committed to helping the families of little ones as they raise up tiny champions for Christ!

She shared a quote by founder Ned Rutland that she feels rings true of all her years at WCA — “In spite of who we are, God chooses to do something here. He manages to glorify Himself.” Mrs. Accardo will leave her position as Preschool Director this year, but we want to thank her for her many years of dedication as a world changer!

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estminster has been a part of my life since I was nine years old. I started at the Lafayette campus, where my mother taught music, and graduated from the Opelousas campus in 2001. So much of the fiber of who I am - what I believe, the foundation of faith I operate from, the way I view friendship and the body of Christ – was shaped by this school. So, it was quite an honor to be asked to write the articles contained in this publication. I have only been back in Louisiana for a little over a year. After graduating high school, I attended Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport where I obtained a BA in communication. I went to work at LSU’s medical school in Shreveport where I worked with patients in the area of health literacy – making sure every effort was made to communicate health information in helpful, understanding ways. That led me to pursue a Master’s in public health, which I received from the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

From Birmingham, I accepted a position at Northwestern University School of Medicine in downtown Chicago, Illinois, where I worked for almost five years. I loved living in a big city, but when I met and fell in love with the man who became my husband — and when we found out we were expecting our first child — there was no place I wanted to start a family but back home in South Louisiana. The Lord provided the opportunity to return to Lafayette and we love this new chapter of our lives here.

It has been an interesting transition — coming back to the familiar and seeing some things the same, but so much changed. It’s funny how change makes us reflect and introspect, isn’t it? When I drove onto the WCA campus back in May for my first round of interviews with staff and students for this year’s Crusader Connection, it was the first time I’d been there in many, many years. I was immediately struck by how different everything looked. Students were running around for recess, bells rang and older students criss-crossed the

campus changing classes, and suddenly I was transported back to my years there. Things didn’t feel so different anymore. The heart and spirit of Westminster is just as genuine and loving as ever.

I thought of the teachers who impacted my life so profoundly years ago — some of them still teaching at WCA! I thought of the friends I loved so dearly during my years there — some of whom have come back into my life since moving home to Louisiana.

It made me proud to say I went to school there.

Kat Davis Penna It also makes me proud to say that my cohort and other alumnae of the school have gone on to become business owners, politicians — locally and nationally, missionaries, doctors, lawyers, preachers, actors, CEOs, musicians, competitive athletes, moms and dads and more! There are scores of impressive stories and statistics from the school’s alums. I would love to see a way to connect alumnae — both with other alums and with current students — to share advice, life experiences and celebrate our common heritage of WCA. God is still at work and there is a palpable excitement for what He has in store at this school.

Working on this publication gave me a unique opportunity to see that and to be reminded of the gift it is to say I was, and still am, a part of Westminster Christian Academy.

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wenty-eight years ago, a young woman began teaching third grade at Westminster. The Holy Spirit inspired that young teacher to handle classroom discipline using Biblical words and principles like “wisdom” and “foolishness.” She introduced the concept of an “umbrella of protection” that God provides for us when we wisely choose to be obedient to Him. When we choose foolishness, we choose to step out from under that umbrella. What a powerful analogy for all believers in understanding our relationship to Christ and obedience — that He calls us to be obedient for our own good and protection! This unique and Spirit-inspired discipline strategy was especially useful with young children in the classroom, because of its transferable application to the teacher/student relationship. When a student chooses wisdom, the teacher can maintain that umbrella of protection.

If the student makes a foolish choice, there is a consequence. It wasn’t long before that young teacher, Mrs. Merida Brooks, was asked to share these principles with the entire faculty of the school and it subsequently became a hallmark of discipline at WCA. In John 8, scripture says, “Whoever belongs to God

hears what God says.” The wisdom/foolishness concept is one example of many when Mrs. Brooks heard the voice of her God leading her in a certain direction — and then walking that way in faith!

Within her first few months of teaching, she was approached about starting a Lafayette campus for Westminster. Her initial response was that she was unprepared for such a daunting task. God began making it clear to her that this was His plan, though, and she needed to rely on Him to make up for any shortcomings she felt. Deuteronomy 20:1 says, “When you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you!” Mrs. Brooks chose to trust that if her great God was calling her to this challenge, He would fight for her.

Many of us can attest to the fact that God often uses a sense of humor to reveal Himself in certain situations. In this instance, he used jury duty! Mrs. Brooks was called up for this (often inconvenient) civic duty and found herself sitting in a conference room all day as potential jurors were vetted. She used the time to research other schools and learn all she could about various administrative, financial and logistical elements involved in starting a new campus. God provided the time

for Mrs. Brooks to pore over the task at hand and after four days, she had a business plan to present to the Board.

On weekends, she and her husband Sam would drive around looking at possible buildings that might work for the new campus. At one point, Mrs. Brooks explained to a Realtor some specific things she needed in a property in order for it to work as a school. The Realtor told her such a property didn’t exist in Lafayette. Mrs. Brooks confidently replied, “Yes, ma’am, it does or my Father wouldn’t have told me to find it.” Soon after, a building on Hugh Wallis Road became the first Lafayette campus. It had all the specs Mrs. Brooks had outlined to that Realtor – even a circle drive for carpool lines! “I was just a child obeying her Father,” Mrs. Brooks said. “I always believed in the mission of this school. God chose to breathe on it and multiply the work of our hands.”

Mrs. Brooks fostered and championed the growth and development of the Lafayette campus for years when the Lord began preparing her for His next call on her life. She was approached about becoming Superintendent for all of Westminster, and in 2007 she took over in that capacity. She recalls her apprehension at the new responsibility and remembers the words of Oswald Chambers

ministering to her as she chose to obey her Father: Divine guidance of God [is] exhibited through childlike people “foolish” enough to trust God’s wisdom and His supernatural equipment. God breathes on it and His presence and purposes are felt. “It was supernatural and unbelievable how He illumined things I was unprepared to do,” says Mrs. Brooks.

One of several challenges God clearly impressed on her was the importance of getting the school to a point of financial stability. Debt elimination became a priority, and again, God was faithful to give guidance and direction — not that it was always easy to follow! She recalls, “Many times my flesh wanted to say, ‘No,’ but I obeyed the Lord. My rhema word from Father God was in Jeremiah 42: ‘Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the LORD our God.’” With the support of the Board and constant prayerful steps of faith, the school not only became 100% debt free three years ago, but there is now an endowment fund, a building fund and other savings initiatives in place and thriving at Westminster.

Mrs. Brooks has been the Superintendent for nine years. Debt elimination is far from her only, or even her greatest, contribution. Her unwavering commitment to the mission of Westminster is surpassed only by her unwavering commitment to her Heavenly Father. Her passion for making His glory known has been evident in the way she leads and encourages her faculty and staff, in the way she manages administrative responsibilities, and in the way she deeply loves students and families of the school.

Last summer, the Lord gave Mrs. Brooks a new word: her season as Superintendent was coming to a close. “My passion is as great as ever for WCA, but I have to be obedient to Christ to make room for the next person.” Mrs. Brooks has left an indelible impression on our school spanning nearly three decades. She leaves a tremendous legacy of a life lived in bold obedience and walked out in love. She is a world changer, to be sure. Thank you, Mrs. Brooks, for all you have allowed the Lord to accomplish through your servant’s heart. We love you!

186 Westminster Drive Opelousas, LA 70570

Contact Us — www.wcala.org Opelousas Campus 186 Westminster Drive Opelousas, LA 70570 Phone: 337-948-8607 Fax: 337-948-8983

Opelousas Preschool 163 Westminster Drive Opelousas, LA 70570 Phone: 337-942-3288

Lafayette Campus 111 Goshen Lane Lafayette, LA 70508 Phone: 337-988-6489 Fax: 337-284-3648

Westminster Christian Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students of the organization. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and other organization-administered programs.