Crusader Connection 2011-2012

Crusader Connection 2011-2012

...having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2-3 Westminster Christian Academy

We Believe. You Belong.

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The values that drive our decision-making process are 1. Submission to God as our final Authority, believing the Bible to be His inspired Word 2. Unconditional love/ uncompromising truth 3. Honesty and integrity (holiness in all things) 4. Partnership with the Christian home and church 5. Faithful stewardship of God’s resources 6. Excellence in all things for God’s glory 7. Humility in service

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a message from the Superintendent Westminster Christian Academy’s history is written in the hearts and lives of the men and women who have been called of God to serve over these 34 years. These men and women, who I affectionately call the “Living Stones” of WCA, have come from England, Canada, France and all parts of the continental Unites States - North, East, South and West - to answer the call of God and to be a part of something bigger than themselves.

History begins with...yes, God’s own story as He writes it in our hearts - HIS story of redemption in each of our lives.

Stories that are uniquely intimate because the God of the Universe invaded our lives at just the precise moment ordained by Him to reveal Himself individually to us.

Then, He re-wrote our stories with His own blood that was shed on the cross of Calvary to set us free from sin and death.

He invaded our lives, gave us new hearts, new minds, and planted a hunger within us to follow His call no matter where it might lead - even to South Louisiana!

and out of the halls of WCA. Each has left their mark upon the institutional history and upon one another. The depth and breadth of all that is Westminster Christian Academy is increasingly richer because of those who have come before us and because of those who have remained among us.

God is alive and well within the hearts of His people and together we will continue to write and live HIStory at WCA as we remain faithful to the calling upon our lives individually and corporately. May He be glorified through humble-hearted servants who desire to make Him known for His glory alone, and for His purposes to be accomplished.

We are ordinary men and women who serve an extraordinary God, Who is intimately involved in the details of our lives and ministry at WCA.

Then, He wrote a new chapter on our hearts. Those stories and His presence in our lives make up the heartbeat of Westminster Christian Academy. We are ordinary men and women who serve an extraordinary God, Who is intimately involved in the details of our lives and ministry at WCA. Each one of us needs Him desperately every moment of every day to accomplish the great work of schooling a generation, year by year. It is a sacred trust.

You, too, are a part of HIStory at WCA. Whether you are a parent, student, grandparent, or friend, we are grateful for your encouragement, support, and most of all, your prayers. You will most likely not know until Heaven the impact you have had upon those of us who labor in this field, “ripe unto harvest.” What a joy to know you are there cheering us on as together we continue to make HIStory!

Now, grab a cup of coffee, relax and take some time to read the stories of some of those who are loving your children daily, who are pouring their As you read through this publication, may you glimpse His lives out for them, and heartbeat in those who share their stories with you - stories are believing God to of how they came to WCA and what has happened in their be faithful through own lives as a result of their obedience to become a part of them to change a genHIStory. Over the 34 years, men and women have moved in eration.

Merida Brooks, Superintendent

by Michelle Nezat, Director of Institutional Advancement

I love Westminster Christian Academy. However, wise advice once given instructed me not to love things…only people.

What then is Westminster Christian Academy?

Is it a place? Is it 111 Goshen Lane in Lafayette? Is it 186 Westminster Drive in Opelousas? Perhaps it is a few classrooms at Calvary Baptist Church on Moss Street.

Is it an institution? A web of infrastructure, budgets, schedules, tests, payroll and fees?

No. Westminster Christian Academy is the people, and that is why I love it.

As we reflect on 2011-2012 school year, I cannot help but consider that the victories and successes we have seen and experienced this year have been laid on a solid foundation; a foundation set by many others — staffs, faculties and families that have gone before us — believers in God’s faithfulness to the generations.

miss her story on the next page) so we want to be careful.

be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget

Consider Deuteronomy 6:10-12, “When the LORD your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant— then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”

All who make up the tapestry of Westminster Christian Academy are drinking from wells we did not dig, (although, Mrs. Buller may have planted an olive grove…do not

Deuteronomy 4:9 warns, “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.”

George Orwell once wrote, “The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.”

One of the ways we can be careful not to forget, is to remember the history of Westminster.

However, let us consider the heart of the first question I posed. If Westminster Christian Academy is the people, then the history of Westminster Christian Academy lies in the stories of the people. In fact, if I may take it one step further, the history of Westminster Christian Academy lies in HIS story in each life.

Allow me to take you on a journey through the stories and testimonies of a few of HIS people to discover threads of HIStory as He reveals a beautiful piece of art…a tapestry of sorts…that God Himself has woven together to touch the hearts of children, families, and entire communities as we labor together to continue to “lift little faces to behold God.”

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od is a God of words. He creates with words…

He formed the heavens and the earth, light and darkness, land and sea, plants and animals, even you and me, with words. He is a master story teller.

He weaves together the stories of His people to reveal His character, His love, and His ultimate plan of Redemption in His Holy Word, the Bible. John 1:1 even reminds us that He IS the Word…”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” So it is appropriate that Madame Nicole Buller, French teacher He would knit His story into the fabric of Westminster Christian Academy through the life of a young French girl in love with language, and reveal Himself to her and her students through a deeper understanding of words. Nicole Buller came to Westminster 33 years ago as a foreign language teacher. Be amazed as HIStory is revealed in her.

My father was a designer of the supersonic Concord. He traveled a lot with work and he wanted me to be his interpreter, so I went to school to work in languages. I loved German because it was foreign to me, more foreign than English, so I went to study two years in Germany.

I loved Germany and the university at Heidelberg, so I decided to go. While taking classes at the university, I found work at the American Headquarters in Heidelberg. I was in a German office with mostly German civilians and two American soldiers. One of those American soldiers, Michael Buller, became my husband.

When I went home to tell my family I had met an American soldier, my mother just left the kitchen and closed herself in the bedroom. My father cried and asked, “You couldn’t find someone in the continent where we could drive to

see you? No, you had to find someone across the ocean!”

Mike was waiting for me at the railway station with red roses anxiously awaiting the result of my parents’ response to our dating. (Telephone calls at that time were outrageously priced, so he was waiting at the train station to see what my parents had said face-to-face.) The train got snowed in, and I was two-anda-half hours late. By that time, Mike assumed I was not coming and had taken the roses and thrown them in the trash.

When I got off the train, he was still there waiting, and to this day he does not like to give me flowers because he says they just wilt - because of course, after two-and-a-half-hours, they had!

Eventually, I went to America on a visitor visa to meet Mike’s family. Near the end of my visit, a friend reminded me that my visa was about to expire, but Mike had other plans. He wanted to

get married! So in three days he did everything to marry us. Imagine my parents’ response this time, when I wrote to tell them, “I’m married!” They were not happy.

Within two months I was pregnant for our first child, so the next time my parents saw me I had a nine month old baby girl. They met my husband after that and fell in love with him and then everything was fine.

As we built our life here, our girls were going to Opelousas Catholic because I wanted a Christian school. Westminster Christian Academy was not in existence at the time. So, of course, whenever OC found out that I knew languages, they quickly put me on the teaching staff.

I had to take education courses, because although I held a degree in foreign languages, I needed my education degree.

So I was going to night classes and had www.wcala.org

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three children. I lived all the way near Bunkie, so I had to finish work, go home, cook, slip away from my husband and go to night classes to complete my education degree.

Then I got pregnant again. I cried for two weeks because I thought it was the most terrible timing in my life. The sisters at OC encouraged me every morning by writing me a Bible verse and saying “She is going to be your best one.

She is going to be a blessing!”

stuck his head out, “What? What?” Valerie said, “Look! Look what we’ve been praying for! A French teacher! And she’s French!”

So we talked, and I told her I could teach Latin and German. She was so excited! She told me I could teach what I wanted – carte blanche – I could teach all three languages if I wanted.

the church I attend. I’m comfortable in any church I go to because it is the house of God. Early on at WCA, we were discussing purchasing land. Valerie told me about a soybean field just outside of Opelousas that she wanted to go see. When we drove up to the field I said, “THAT is where the school is going to be?”

On that first day I thought it was so At the time I was teaching from a closet strange that an administrator would be at the church because they didn’t have a cleaning the tables, but in the beginning classroom. They put a desk in the storSo here I was, I had just had the baby, and when we gathered for meetings, the age closet for me, and then I would visit I was working for CODOFIL (Council board and the teachers could all sit at a the classrooms to teach the students.

When we moved to the campus where for the Development of French in Loui- tiny table in that cafeteria. siana), and CODOFIL canceled the Early on, Ned Rutland gave me a Bible we are now, I was teaching out of the program. At that time I was not close and told me to read it – so I read it trunk of my car and visiting the classto God or close to the Bible. I would three times. Then Ned would ask me rooms in the blue buildings where elgo to church just to go to church, but I questions and encourage me to ask him ementary classes meet now. After that, was never close to the Bible or close to questions if there was something I didn’t the main brick building was built and it God and talking to Him. I considered understand. He would patiently explain was wonderful! myself a Christian because I was raised everything to me.

When the main building was built, my Catholic. So anyway, after the program classroom was on the west side...the was cancelled, I did not ask God, “What One day he said, “Do you want to ac- only side. In fact, I have a photo of my am I going to do now?” I was just hang- cept Christ?” And I did. I began go- daughter as she was running for student ing there wondering what I was going to ing to Westminster Presbyterian, but council and there is a wall behind her, do. Then a parent I did not even know my husband, being a Roman Catholic, there was no hallway, because this part came to me and said, “You know, West- felt that was splitting the family. He was was not built yet. Later, the east wing minster is looking for a French teacher.” going to the Catholic Church with the was built, and I’ve been in the same girls, and I was going to the Presbyterian I set out to look for the school. I thought Church. Then I took the girls with me, classroom since then.

I had the wrong address, and then I saw and he was by himself. a church and thought, “What is that? Is My husband is an outstanding Chris- Mrs. Buller’s story continues on Page 9. that a church, or is that a school?” tian, straight like an arUpon arriving, I parked, went into the row; he is wonderful cafeteria and saw this woman cleaning in his Christian walk, tables. I inquired of her and said, “Am but we were not going I in the wrong place? Is this a church or to the same church, a school? I am looking for the adminis- so I decided that God trator.” When she replied, “I am,” I was is God and it doesn’t thinking, “What? Cleaning tables and matter which buildshe’s in charge of a school?” ing you go to. Like She said, “I’m Mrs. Rutland, can I help I told Ned when I you?” I replied, “Yes, someone told me left to be with my husband – I’m not you might need a French teacher.”

She screamed, “Ned! Come see what anything but a God brought us!” I thought that was Christian. I am not Natalie Buller gi ving a class presi very weird. Ned was in his office and he labeling myself by dent speech Page 4

Crusader Connection 2012

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oven into every year of Westminster Christian Academy is an emphasis on an unparalled education for our students, athletic and co-curricular opportunities, spirtual growth, and formation in action. We often refer to these areas as the three-legged foundation on which our school stands firm — Academics, Athletics/Co-curricular and Agape. In the 2011-2012 school year we saw HIStory revealed in the lives of our students as they learned more, pushed harder, and gave more for His name’s sake.

The upper school mission team traveled to Peru ministering to children and workers at childcare centers through facilities updates, music, skits, Bible stories and personal testimony, and relationship building. In addition, middle school had its first ever mission team and spent a few days ministering in New Orleans, as well as doing several local outreaches.

Agape

Students (from pre-school on up) on all three campuses participated in sharing God’s love with our own communities and the world. Some of those impacted by their prayerful and joyful efforts include (but are not limited to) • Rancho Los Amigos in Mexico • Gospel for Asia — Helping Children in India

• Community Nursing Homes

• Operation Christmas Child

• Louisiana-based U.S. Military Units in Afghanistan

• Faith House in Lafayette

• South Street Elementary in Opelousas

• Lighthouse Mission in Opelousas

• God’s Littlest Angels Haiti Mission

• Bridge Ministries

• Food Net

• Opelousas Police Department

One of the ministries supported by elementary students on both campuses is the Change Agent Network, a group whose efforts are breaking the cycle of poverty by building Christ-centered tuition-free schools in Liberia, Africa.

What a wonderful picture of students here making a difference in the lives of students on the other side of the world.

Students on all of our campuses reach out to each other to show God’s love to each other in the classroom, in the halls and beyond. Many of these stories may never be told, but one sweet picture of students sharing agape love with each other is on the Calvary campus. Each child on the Calvary Campus has a prayer partner with which to share prayer needs. The classes kept a visual of a Bandaid that represented how our prayers for each other cover our hurts, illnesses and scary times just like a Band-aid.

HIStory was woven into the ath- • The boys’ cross country team has never lost district, finishing first letic programs at Westminster again this year before ending the with one of the best years the year fifth at the state meet. school has ever had. Every team in a sport that has a playoff sys- • Victoria Olivier made the All-State team in cross country for the fourth tem reached the playoffs – the year in a row, culminating her career first time that has happened since with a fourth-place overall finish. the school joined the LHSAA in 1996. Plus, the teams that • In swimming, Silas DeJean claimed a state championship in the 100-mequalified to state competitions in ter breaststroke, and the team as a sports that did not have playoffs whole finished fifth. all sent teams and fared well.

• The football team finished 10-3, • Soccer was the fourth program to claim a district crown this school won district undefeated for the year, capping off another great year third year in a row, and reached the with a second-round playoff appearquarter-final round ance. of the playoffs.

• Volleyball cap- • Both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams made the playoffs this season, tured yet another both falling in the first round of the district title and playoffs. made it to the state semi-finals.

• Softball made a return trip to the state

Athletics & Co-curricular

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Crusader Connection 2012

tournament, reaching the quarterfinals before bowing out to eventual state champion Hannan.

• Baseball also reached the playoffs, making it to the second round.

• Golf had a great year, capped off by a third-place finish at regionals and a sixth-place finish at state. Individually, Jack Tolson finished third in the race for the individual state championship with a 73-74 twoday total.

• Girls’ track claimed its seventh straight district championship, won the regional title, and was third at state, scoring a school-record 51 points at the state competition.

Emily Waguespack repeated as state champion in the pole vault, while the 4x200 relay team of Alexis Milton, Hydi Kennerson, Martina Wright, and Meagan Bolds captured the school’s first relay state

title. The 4x100 team of Wright, Kennerson, Ivy Cains, and Bolds then followed that with another state crown in their specialty.

• Josh Devillier was the highest finisher for the boys at the state meet with a third-place effort in the 800-meter run.

Outside of individual and team success, WCA had other tremendous blessings.

Through the gift of a generous donor, we were able to complete a 7200-square foot athletic field-house servicing football, soccer, and track teams. This stateof-the-art facility includes a locker room, a training room, laundry facility, coaches’ meeting room and plenty of storage.

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Great transitions are happening on all our pre-school campuses. On the Lafayette Campus, the kindergarten graduation program surprised Pre-school Director Vanessa Bell as current and former students gathered to demonstrate their love and appreciation for her leadership and influence in their lives. As God moves Mrs. Bell to Colorado to start the next chapter of HIStory in her life, she will truly be missed.

On the Opelousas Campus, students prayed Pre-school Director Mrs. Pat Carlson back from the doorstep of Heaven itself. The illness that took her from the classroom at the end of 2011, highlighted the faith of the children as they believed God to bring her healing to her body that He ultimately did bring. Mrs. Carlson’s retirement at the end of this school year can never erase HIStory that has been told through her life on our campuses since for the last 29 years. Her presence will be greatly missed.

Academics

• 52 Graduating Seniors • 44% earned Academic Achievement Award (GPA 3.33-3.99) • 4 Distinguished Scholars (GPA 4.0) Lynzi Glasscock, Thomas Kemp, Brooke Thompson, Nicholas Waguespack • 28% Earned ASCI Distinguished Student Award • 27% are National Honor Society Members • ACT Average 23.6 • 98% Accepted to 4-Year Institutions • Brooke Thompson, St. Landry Chamber of Commerce Student of the Year Page 8

Crusader Connection 2012

It happened during “children’s church,” when the preacher started talking about “Names” to three young students who had come up front for a time before the sermon. Thinking that he would probably get some simple, child-like anConner Andrepont swers, the pastor asked the children circled up front about the names of God. Much to his surprise, one student began to humbly rattle off a long list of names, mostly from the Hebrew, with the English transliterations: names like Jehovah-Shammah (the God Who is there), Elohim (strong, mighty, powerful Creator), and El Elyon (the Most High). Surprised, the pastor wanted to know where the student had learned so much? Conner responded, “In chapel at Westminster!”

The Pastor was Dean Rydbeck of Hope Presbyterian Church, and his final comment after the detailed rendition was, “Well, I believe that I’ve learned more from you, today, Conner, than you have learned from me.” So the story goes…Conner Andrepont is a second-generation third grader at WCA, the grandson of Dirk and Liz Andrepont (Dirk was a Board member for years).

if you work for God. The piece I I teach foreign languages. Through the hope I have left when God leads classes I teach, students understand that me on is that I have helped chilthey cannot share the Gospel without dren understand the world betknowing the basics. God did not lead ter; to think about serious things; me here just to be a teacher, but because to think of others. I hope to inHe wanted to reveal His greater agenda spire my students to transform to open students’ hearts to open doors the world for the Lord through to sharing the Gospel with our words all language and understanding.

Every year I ask, “Why, Lord? over the world.

Why am I still here?” Then when How have you been changed I am in my quiet time at home by being in this place? and can hear the ball games, or I got to read the Bible again...and again. I hear the drum-line, I realize I When I was young, my parents did wouldn’t be able to stand it – to the right thing and God did not lead hear it all going on brought me to Catand not be a part echism class, but I me here just to of it, because I love grew up more feelthis school.

The ing the Lord, feeling be a teacher, but school changed me. what was right and I feel like I’m doing wrong…but now because He wanted something for the I have the words. I Lord – something to reveal His would try to avoid worthy by teaching doing the wrong greater agenda these children that thing because I was there is a world waitfeeling the results to open students’ ing to be conquered of my actions, but hearts to open for Christ. I teach when I came to them to be a ChrisWestminster and I doors to sharing tian, but not to look started reading the down on others beBible again, and the gospel with our cause they don’t beagain, and again, I long to your church, began to understand words all over the or don’t attend your there is no need to youth group. We are world. be afraid. I do not all children of God need to be afraid of God. This changed and that is what is important. the entire perspective of my life because My classroom is like my hidden I knew, no matter what, I was loved and chamber. When I come to my that changed me. classroom and I open the door, Through all the changes, I say, “This is it!” My ministry starts when my door opens. why are you still here?

I am still here because I cannot get away. This ministry is what the Lord It’s not a job. You can easily leave a job. brought me across the ocean to You can retire and be happy to be done accomplish. When I open the when it is a job. Because this is more door every morning, I say, “This than a job, it’s not the same. It is a min- is mine to work for the Lord. I istry. It is a part of me, and has been take ownership of this place for for 33 years. You don’t just leave that Him.” without leaving a piece of yourself – not ...continued from Page 4.

God is a God of peace, and Jesus is the Prince of Peace, so it is no wonder that at God’s school, you experience peace. Marlo Wright could not shake the peace she felt from the first time she stepped onto the Lafayette Campus, and God used His peace to knit her life into the fabric of Westminster and weave her into the lives of others.

God brought me to WCA through several friends and my daughter. My oldest daughter came to WCA in K-4 upon the recommendation of these friends. I felt such peace on the campus. I knew it was the perfect place for our family. Throughout her first year, each time I came on campus I felt that same peace that I felt the first time I visited the school. I was working in a job that I really enjoyed, but God was placing a desire to be a greater part of WCA. (My previous job allowed me to educate children and parents but in a different capacity.)

It was a huge leap of faith to quit my job and join the WCA family, but I have been continually blessed by my decision. I am starting my 9th year of teaching at WCA, and I love my job. I feel very blessed to get the opportunity to work with the students every day. I hear regularly, “I don’t know how you do it with three girls, working full time,” but I can honestly say, I can’t imagine doing it any other way.

I feel that God has blessed me with the opportunity to be here, and I don’t take it for granted. WCA is a special place, filled with special people — students, staff and parents.

It is a privilege to get to be a part of what God is doing at Westminster.

Marlo Wright 5th & 6th Grade Teacher www.wcala.org

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mbracing the mission of WCA, our vision is that our children will acquire confidence in God’s calling, be determined to walk boldly in the path of righteousness, and be equipped to impact their world for Christ.

There are times when God allows us to take a step back and clearly see the beautiful pattern He is weaving into the tapestry of His Kingdom through the ministry of WCA. His story in the Heather Doss, Institutional life of Heather Doss, a 1992 WCA graduate and current parent, Advancement Coordinator is a depiction of what it looks like when the vision and mission of the school are fulfilled in the lives of our students.

Twenty-four years ago my parents chose WCA as the high school they would send me to. I am the oldest of five, and we were not an affluent family, so there were sacrifices, but God provided every step of the way.

We lived in Lafayette…there was no transportation system…thus, my WCA HIStory begins.

In 1992, I graduated in a class of 13.

We were the 3rd graduating class in WCA history. We played volleyball and basketball on a carpet gym off campus. Flag football was the highlight of the school, and we piled into a van to make it to away games.

Mr. Sonbuchner taught me math and computer. Mrs. Buller taught me French and linguistics. Mrs. Brooks’ husband, Sam, taught me Bible and History. Kathy Nealy tried to recruit me for Rangers, but I was cheerleader bound, so I declined. Mr. Joseph (we called him Terry) did cartwheels down the halls on his way to empty the trash, and he had the afro of all afro’s! Mrs. Charlotte Graeff (still faithful in the business office) was our cheerleading sponsor and assistant volleyball coach.

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She was my counselor, my friend, my spiritual advisor and my mom away from home. These teachers, staff, and many others, whose journey has taken them elsewhere, invested not only time into my life, but they also planted seeds of truth that God used to bring me into a personal relationship with Him. What a rich heritage and estate God has seen fit to pour into in this school!

HIStory continued…

Fast-forward thirteen years: my husband and I became WCA parents. Kali was in 5th grade, Kenzi in 3rd, Taylor in 1st and Alex in K4. What a blessing it is for me to tell my children stories about Mr. “Son”; to watch my kids love on Mr. Joseph the same way I did; to brag about having Mrs. Buller as my teacher, too; to know that Mrs. Charlotte would be all those things to my children that she was for me, and to have Kathy Nealy coordinate their trips from Lafayette to the Opelousas campus through our transportation department. This year the Class of ’92 will celebrate our 20 year reunion and our oldest daughter, Kali, a senior, will be the first second generation graduate

of a WCA alumni. I just think that is kind of cool.

In February of this year, through a series of “God-conversations”, I came on board in yet another role – as a WCA employee. It has been a fast and furious few months, but what an honor it has been to walk amongst these teachers, coaches and staff. I truly believe that our communities and families are better because of what is poured into and out of Westminster Christian Academy.

The drive is long. The cost is high. The pay is … well, it’s a ministry, but may I say it is a blessing in my life and a humbling reality that God would allow me the opportunity to play a part in HIStory here at WCA. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

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on Sonbuchner, long-time teacher, mentor and WCA parent describes how God brought Him to Westminster and gives us a glimpse of God’s workmanship in and through the lives of His people.

Since the time that God placed on my heart to be a teacher, I have known that the only place that I could teach computer classes and teach the truth was at a Christian school. So, when I graduated college, I applied to several schools. Eventually two schools showed an interest in me. I had a great interview with the headmaster of Quisqueya Christian School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Eventually I was offered a science position. I was not interested in teaching science, but at the same time Ned Rutland contacted me.

While I seldom remember

anything in great detail, my interview with Ned will be forever etched in my mind:

Ned: “What can we do

to get you to come down here?”

Jon: “Will I be able to teach computers?”

Ned: “Yes.” Jon: “Will I be able to have a ministry?”

Ned: “Yes.” Jon Sonbuchner, Upper School Jon: “That’s all I need.”

Computer Teacher

One day later the head of Quisquea called up and offered me the computer job, but I informed him that I had already accepted another position.

My first sight of the WCA campus was when I moved down

to teach. I was very busy and very lonely that first year, but at the start of the next year a new teacher, named Susan Patterson, came from a job as a summer missionary in Columbia to teach second grade. I have to admit that I had seen her picture on her job application, so I was there “to help” the day she moved to her new apartment. A year and a half later we were married. We now have five children: Hannah and Tyler have graduated, Abby is in the 11th grade, Cindy is a 9th grader, and Peter is in third grade. We have been blessed with a beautiful home next to the school that I was able to build through God’s amazing provision. I have been blessed beyond my wildest expectations through twenty-four years of teaching at WCA. WCA has truly been the loom, on which God has woven the tapestry of my life.

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ur destination depends on our direction, and the choices we make now affect the outcomes of our life later. The decisions God led Lisa Rivers to make as a young wife, mother and college student are having tremendous ramifications now – not only in the lives of her Lisa Rivers, Upper School Assistant Principal family, but the impact she continues to make as God has woven her life into the lives of the staff, faculty, students and families of Westminster Christian Academy. WCA would be very different without the red thread of redemption woven into Lisa’s life as God wove her life into this school. The rest is HIStory.

I was a happy college student studying architecture, a mother, and a wife. The problem was, although I had been a Christian for many years, my life was allocated in that order, with God probably after school and before wife and mother.

School was intense, and I spent about eighteen hours a day taking care of my design work, with the rest devoted to family and God. I had an epiphany one day when I was talking to a design friend about my children, and I mentioned that my daughter, Mayghan, was two. It hit me like a ton of bricks when I realized that she was, in fact, three years old, and I had somehow missed out on a year of her life.

That really put me on my face before God, crying out and www.wcala.org

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asking Him to help me get my life into proper perspective. Although I loved design, God told me I could be an architect or a mom, but I couldn’t do both.

My focus shifted into the proper order, and I absolutely chose to be a mother before an architect! My next request of God was to show me how to best accomplish contributing financially to my family while being the best mother I could. The obvious and immediate answer was to be a teacher, as it is the best “mommy job” in the world. My quickest route to graduation was to get my undergraduate degree in General Studies.

This took only one more year, whereas architecture was two more years.

With degree in hand, I undertook to find a teaching job. St. Landry Parish would not even consider my application since I did not have an elementary or secondary education degree. Feeling discouraged and unsure of my next step, I chose to get counsel from my friend and neighbor. She drove a bus for Westminster Christian Academy, and she promptly told me to come to work here.

I was feeling a little rejected by my previous attempt at finding a teaching job, but overcame my fears and came to get an application. I turned in my application on Tuesday, interviewed on Thursday, and had a job teaching fifth grade on Friday! I am thankful WCA’s superintendent, Mark Stout, obviously spoke with and listened to the Father. When he asked what I wanted to teach, I had no idea. He offered fifth grade, and I accepted. God really answered my prayers loud and clear!

I taught fifth grade at the Opelousas campus for two years, and then I had the opportunity to move to our Ville Platte campus. As my family and my Page 12 Crusader Connection 2012

husband’s family all live in Avoyelles Parish, God chose to send me to that campus. Another interesting story: when I first stepped onto that campus, I immediately dismissed the possibility of being there. It was too small, too provincial, after having been at the Opelousas campus, with its excitement and constant activity. Before I left that day, I KNEW God wanted me there, and I spent the next five years teaching fifth and sixth grade combination classes. We had a wonderful faculty there, and God allowed my children to go with me.

ours was complete. Shortly thereafter, my dad died, my husband was laid off, and we had a senior about to graduate.

We finished our home with three weeks to spare before Morgan’s high school graduation. Two years and a couple of weeks later, my twenty-three year old nephew died unexpectedly. Nearly a year after that, my daughter eloped with three weeks left before graduation. This was a VERY difficult season for my family to walk through, but God reminded me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakOnce my son, Morgan, began tak- ness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9. I was also suring the bus to the Opelousas campus rounded by loving friends at WCA, who in middle school, we began to rethink walked with us as we limped through where we lived and the commute he had the valley of the shadow of death. daily. Each day he spent 1-½ hours on The last nineteen years have been adthe bus and an hour in our car commut- venture after adventure here at WCA, ing. God began to put a desire in our and each difficulty and each celebration hearts to move back to the Opelousas have helped us focus on the Father, who area, so we put our house on the market. is faithful always. Probably the greatest Following God’s total provision when blessing thus far in my walk with God the sale of our house fell through, we at WCA is that three of my precious learned to trust our heavenly Father in grandchildren will attend WCA next new and exciting ways. We had a house year: Jackson in K-3 at the Lafayette note and rent, and the budget didn’t Campus, and Alexa in K-4 and Samanwork, even on paper! But God…He so tha in K-3 at the Opelousas campus. provided financially during that season; we paid our tithe, all our bills, and had “I have no greater joy than to hear my children are walking in the money for food and gas.

We eventually chose to build our second truth.” 3 John 1:4 home, and this gave us another opportunity to trust the Father. In the middle of construction, our landlord asked us to vacate the rent house we were living in, as she needed to move into it. We had a short time to find a house while building our new home. By this time, I was teaching middle school Bible.

I mentioned our need for temporary housing, and a parent called that very evening and offered us a home until

S ometimes we long for God to give us a sign to lead us to where

He would have us go. Sometimes He gives it to us. Sometimes it really is a sign…like a really big billboard sign. Barbara Accardo, newly-named Director of both Opelousas and Calvary Pre-schools, describes not only how God led her to Westminster Christian Academy, but how it changed her life, and the eternal lives of her husband and children. thirty years later, HIStory is still being written through her life as she continues to impact children and their families for His glory.

I received the information packet the very next day. When I began to read the packet, I got down on my knees and began to ask for forgiveness for having to be dragged to make the move and thanked God for the school. This was in February of 1982. I filled out applications, but the boys (Jeremy in 4th and Aaron in K5) could not attend until the next fall.

Upon entering school in the fall of 1982, I immediately got involved as a room mom. Jeremy was in a fifth and sixth combination class which was the highest class at that time. The school was adding a class every year. Aaron was in Laurie Anne Harper’s first grade class.

My boys were very bright, but struggled that first year with the adjustment in applying themselves to work more than The fall of 1981, my husband requested they were in the habit of doing. a transfer to Lafayette, LA. It was not My younger son began to bring home my desire to move to this area because Bible application to share with us. One I was happy living in the Gretna/New evening, while his dad was giving him Orleans area. After changing schools a bath, he was sharing about HIStory. every year for my fourth grader, I had He was reciting the timeline that he had finally found a good school with a dis- learned in class from Adam through the ciplined environment and well-rounded Old Testament and on to Columbus academics. However, I put my faith into and Abraham Lincoln. He looked at his God in action and submitted to my dad and said, “Dad, show husband – leaving me where you are on God’s black marks on the timeline.” That was the beroad as he dragged ginning of a great change me to Lafayette in our family. with my foot on My husband was Catholic the brakes. Yes, I and I was Baptist. I took submitted! the family to church and my The first thing I husband was not interested saw when exiting in church. Ned Rutland, onto I-49 was a who pastored the Presbytebillboard for Westrian Church in Opelousas, minster Christian invited my husband to visit Academy; somehis church while we were thing about buildcheering for our boys at a ing Christian charschool soccer game. My acter. (Later I was told there was that husband’s response amazed me. He day!) I stopped, jotted down the num- said, “Sure, what time?” This was anber, and drove on to my sister’s home other drag moment for me. I was very in Opelousas and called. Valerie Rut- happy attending First Baptist Church in land answered the phone and began to Lafayette, but I did desire for our family give her vision of the purpose of WCA to worship together, so I went with him. and said she would send me a packet.

Our family’s Christian heritage was changed because God drew us to Westminster Christian Academy

It was a good halfstep between my husband’s Catholic faith and mine, and I learned a lot of theology.

When our Barbara Accardo, Preschool Director daughter was ready to enter K3, I started thinking about how I could assist with tuition. I taught a home economics/sewing class to the 7th and 8th graders. The next year, I began to teach in K3, and the rest is history, except for God’s faithfulness in the lives of our family. That’s HIStory!

It still amazes me!

Our family had four graduates from WCA. Jeremy was in the second graduating class. Aaron was in the first class to graduate in the gym. Angela was on the first volleyball team to go all the way to state. Jim, our foster son, went all the way through WCA from K5-12th.

Every year, we were tested in different and difficult ways, but God was always faithful to help us meet challenges and grow in our faith.

Jeremy has twin sons that were born in 2003. My best illustration of passing the Christian heritage in my own children comes from Jeremy reading God’s Word to the twins every night while still in the womb! His wife would laugh and say, “He thinks my belly button is a microphone!” I look forward to how God will use the gifts and calling of those boys, as well as any other grandchildren God may grant us.

Our family’s Christian heritage was changed because God drew us to Westminster Christian Academy. I cannot name all the teachers and coaches that have impacted that heritage because of their faithfulness to the call of God through Christian education. www.wcala.org

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186 Westminster Drive Opelousas, LA 70570

HIStory continues on our website www.wcala.org Contact Us Opelousas Campus

Lafayette Campus

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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.