Prestonwood Christian Academy (PCA) celebrated its annual World Impact Day today and commissioned more than 500 students and staff members who will serve both locally and abroad next week. Each year, PCA sets aside a Minimester week during the spring semester for Upper School students to serve on mission.
“World Impact Day is one of my favorite days at PCA,” said Shara Lott, PCA mom and Chairwoman of the 2016 World Impact Day Committee. “Teaching our students to reach souls for His Kingdom is the heartbeat of our school. From the supply collections in Lower School, to classrooms praying over Upper School trip participants...this is the culmination of what we are trying to teach our students: Go out, serve and share Christ locally, stateside and internationally!"
From the beginning of the school year, all PCA Plano and PCA North students are involved with World Impact Day and Minimester, though pre-kindergarten through sixth graders will have school as usual next week. In the fall, every Lower School class is paired with a mission trip and the younger students begin praying for the older students who will serve during Minimester. The younger students also begin collecting supplies that will be donated to each specific mission trip.
A central theme of PCA’s mission statement is equipping students to impact communities for Christ, which is why the school places such importance on World Impact Day and Minimester. This marks the 16th year that PCA has sent students and staff on Minimester, and this year, students are serving in 14 countries abroad on four continents, six states in the U.S. and multiple locations in Texas and around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
World Impact Day's All School Worship at Prestonwood Baptist Church began with a powerful video of PCA students and parents reciting The Great Commission in their native language. In addition to worship music led by Upper School students and a parade of flags of the nations where PCA students have or will serve on mission, attendees also heard from Safeeya Schnaufer, who was born and raised in a strict Muslim home in the Middle East. At a very young age, Ms. Schnaufer witnessed violent acts against her own accused of disobeying Islamic law. She shared her powerful testimony of becoming a follower of Jesus inspiring PCA students to continue the theme of World Impact Day: “Live on Mission,” from Matthew 28: 19-20 which says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Following All School Worship, Upper School students dispersed amongst the Lower School classrooms for activities with the children and a time of prayer. All PCA students were served a small lunch of rice and beans in honor of the millions of children around the globe who do not have enough to eat daily.
“No matter the age of your child, everyone this morning was blessed by the parade of nations, worship music and testimonies,” said Mrs. Lott. “It was truly beautiful to see all of the students commissioned as the service came to a close. This service is always powerful, and it brings tears to my eyes to see PCA kids preparing themselves and their hearts for the mission work ahead!"
Prestonwood Christian Academy serves more than 1,600 students enrolled at three campuses: Plano (Pre-Kindergarten 3 through 12th grade), PCA North in Prosper (Pre-Kindergarten 3 through 5th grade) and PCAplus Virtual Academy. The school has been recognized as having one of the strongest Christian education programs in the country providing intentional biblical worldview training and integration. PCA places great value on the growth of students’ spiritual health in addition to their scholastic endeavors and co-curricular activities. In addition to PCA’s spiritual development plan, the school promotes a rigorous Liberal Arts academic program. PCA is currently accepting applications for the 2016-17 school year. Interested families are invited to take a tour of either campus. Please visit www.prestonwoodchristian.org for more information!