Sound impossible? Not at all. Working hand in hand with Buckner Crisis Relief, Heritage Christian Academy sent a contingent of 8th graders to sort, divide, and hand deliver boxes of food to needy people last Friday. Stuffed with donuts and ready to begin the hard work waiting for them at the First Baptist Church Urbandale in Dallas, the HCA students soon lost their appetite as they were confronted with the need before them. Lined up car after car after car, needy families waited in line to receive a box of donated food, candy, juice and cereal boxes. Mothers with their kids in the car with them, groups of families – in one case, 5 families represented in one van – waited patiently to turn in their voucher to receive food. The 8th graders worked tirelessly, smiled at the families, uttered words of encouragement and a heart felt “God Bless You” as they loaded food in each car and waved as they drove off.

HCA student, Caleb Cathey had this to say about the experience: “I thought it was an important thing to do… to see all the smiles and the changes in people’s lives.”
HCA students are being trained from the smallest of gradeschoolers to pay attention to the needs of others through Heritage Christian Academy’s Mission HCA program.

Awarded an “exemplary program” by ACSI (the Association of Christian Schools International), Cheryl Read, Mission HCA Director, explains that “the Mission HCA objective is to expose our students in grades K-12 to community, national, and global needs, allowing them to discover and utilize their spiritual gifts and unique temperaments in a variety of ministry opportunities, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill the Great Commission.”

And this program isn’t just a one-time deal. Heritage students have been fulfilling the “mission” of “Mission HCA” for many years now. Historically, students have assisted Helping Hands, delivered meals to the elderly through the Meals-On-Wheels Program, helped organize supplies for hurricane relief efforts, given their time and energy to beautifying a “Garden of Hope” for Dayspring Ministries, a counseling center, presented seniors at the local Senior Care Center with a program by the HCA Twirlers and Scream Team, who also provided a monthly birthday party for them.

HCA has an ongoing relationship with Cornerstone Homeless Ministry in Dallas where HCA’s students have participated in refurbishing a halfway house for troubled youth, providing food, music and the Gospel to 150 elderly residents in a public housing apartment building, and feeding the homeless. In addition, they cleaned and restocked a food pantry, assisted in the medical clinic, and wrapped hundreds of Christmas presents for needy children.

The local community and beyond has expressed sincere gratitude to the students at HCA. Pastor Chris Simmons of Cornerstone Homeless Ministry of Dallas, wrote, “You simply do not know how much that ministry meant to the lives of many of the elderly who seldom, if ever, get a visit from an outsider.” JoAnn Glover from Helping Hands commented, “The smiles on the faces of the students are the spirit of God shining through.”

HCA has also made tremendous strides in reaching into the international community as well. This year, students in grades K4-12 have learned about and embraced an unreached people group, the Dagomba, of Ghana, West Africa.

HCA’s headmaster, Dr. Ron Taylor gave us his perspective on the value of the Mission HCA program: “ One of the most rewarding results of this program has been how it is has unified the entire school. Every student, parent and faculty member has had an opportunity to be involved. Another result of the program has been seen in the attitude and actions of the students. The student body is excited to be working for one cause, serving God as they serve others.