Grace Is More Than a School - It Is a Family

Grace Christian School values servant leadership and offers both local and out-of-state mission opportunities. Can you share about your experience serving alongside Grace high school students and staff in Florida with Samaritan's Purse, following the devastation of Hurricane Helene? What stood out to you about the heart and character of the Grace community during that trip?

I thoroughly enjoyed accompanying the GCS High Schoolers on the Samaritan's Purse Hurricane Relief trip to Tampa, FL in November 2024. I had participated in trips like this as a youth myself with my church youth group decades ago, but I wasn't exactly sure what to expect as a chaperone on this trip. From the very beginning of the trip, I was very impressed with the students' manners and servant attitudes. Whenever a Samaritan's Purse leader would mention, "I need a volunteer to do...", students from our group were quick to respond. Though we were only able to work onsite for just a few days, the team worked really hard during that time and made a significant impact to those in need, both physically and spiritually. - Paul Acors

Sometimes God uses unexpected moments to reveal new passions and purpose. During your time at Grace, an injury sidelined you from basketball but opened the door to discovering your incredible talent in photography and visual storytelling. Can you share how that season shaped your creative journey and how Grace helped you explore and develop the gifts you're now using in college and beyond?

During my junior year at Grace, I was sidelined midway through the basketball season due to a stress fracture in my back. I was absolutely devastated. I had worked all summer long in hopes of receiving an offer to play college basketball.

I began to look for other ways I could benefit the team. One night during a JV game, I asked my mom if I could use her camera. I immediately fell in love with photography. From that night on, I started going to other schools to take pictures of their games and even began getting paid for my work.

As my passion grew, I started to have new ideas and visions for how I could bring my creativity to Grace. I began by making "GAMEDAY" graphics to post on GCS social media pages to promote upcoming athletic events. Then I had the idea to create a starting lineup hype video, which was played before each home basketball game to energize the crowd.

I now own my own business, CJB Vizuals, where I strive to tell the stories of athletes and artists in a creative way all while attending James Madison University, where I am studying Media Arts and Design.

It's amazing to see how God can use setbacks in your life to lead you toward discovering your true passion. I am forever grateful for the help and support of Mrs. Bremner and the rest of the GCS family.

As teammates, we are called to build one another up and be loving encouragers. How did you see God serve as that source of encouragement-on the court or field-in your life or in the lives of your teammates during your time as an athlete at Grace?

We had great Godly coaches and captains for all of our sports, which I really appreciated. Their Christ-centered leadership set a positive tone and environment on the courts and fields. Our volleyball coach would often remind us to say a quick prayer before serving, just to calm our nerves and help us play to the best of our ability. Before basketball games, the starting five would step onto the court, gather in a huddle, and say a short prayer asking for strength and confidence.

As a school, we truly tried to play for the glory of God and not our own. I consistently saw a Christ-like, loving attitude through all of my teammates. If I messed up a play in basketball, missed a serve in volleyball, or missed a goal in soccer, no one ever reacted negatively. Instead, teammates would come up and encourage me, saying something kind like, "You'll get it next time."

That kind of encouragement reflected the ripple effect of strong, God-honoring leadership on our teams. I believe God was doing a great work in the athletic program at Grace, and I was always excited to see how He would continue to move in the seasons ahead.

When I reflect on our wedding day, one of the moments I will cherish forever is having my former teacher Mr.Brown officiate our ceremony. It was not just sentimental, but a reminder of how close the Grace family truly is.

Mr. Brown poured into me during some of my formative years, shaping not only my mind but also my heart. He encouraged me, prayed over me, and helped me see who I was in Christ. To have him stand beside me on our wedding day, speaking truth and blessings over our marriage was something so special.

This moment captured the essence of what the Grace community really is- not just a school, but a spiritual family. A place where Christ- centered relationships are formed, and where seeds of faith are planted and they continue to bear fruit in the most unexpected and beautiful ways.

That day, surrounded by loved ones, and my Grace family reminded me of God's constant love. We were led in prayer by someone who walked with me through my high school years and led me closer to Christ and that is something I will always remember! The family that I have at Grace is truly one of a kind and such a blessing- it shows that connections made in him truly do last a lifetime!

In the summer of 2024, after graduating from college, I had the opportunity and privilege to return to Grace Christian School to serve as the Middle School Cheer Coach. When the Head of School, Kathryn Bremner, approached me with this opportunity, I was honored. Throughout my high school years at Grace (Class of 2020), I was a member of the Cheerleading team. During these years as a student, I grew in my leadership skills, acted as a mentor for younger cheerleaders on the team, as well as cultivated a sense of community amongst the Cheer team and Basketball team at Grace. Now, four years after graduating from Grace Christian School, I was able to come full circle as Cheer Coach last year for my alma mater.

As the Middle School Cheer Coach, I felt a strong sense of nostalgia and school spirit for my alma mater as I taught cheers and created a halftime dance routine for the Cheerleading team. In addition, from the perspective of a Cheer Coach, I was able to see how hard the coaches at Grace work to ensure that students and athletes have the best experience. Differing from my student mentor perspective, as the Cheer Coach, I was able to put my leadership skills in full practice as I organized stunt formations and practiced conflict resolution skills.

Ensuring that the Middle School Cheerleading team remembered that we are cheerleaders for Christ first and to show Christ's light on and off the court, I made sure to always begin and end games in team prayer which was a tradition that was started by Varsity Cheer Coach Mary Catherine Piland during my time as a Grace student cheerleader. Although the school has grown since I was a student, I still felt the same sense of school spirit and nostalgia when coaching the Middle School Cheerleading team on the sidelines during a Friday Home Basketball Game. Throughout the cheer season, as the Middle School Coach, I was able to see how Grace Christian School impacted my life and helped me grow both during my time as a student as well as an alumnus. Despite graduating years prior, Grace Christian School takes pride in its alumni and treats them like family. The Grace Christian School community truly believes: Once a King, Always a King!

Five years ago, we were seeking a school that was rooted in Biblical principles, prioritized academic excellence and competed at a high level athletically. Thankfully we found Grace Christian. Since then Grace has won so many championships and trophies that you can barely sit in the Athletic Director's office and has successfully grown from competing in Division IV to Division II.

Even with that athletic success and growth everything that we were seeking initially still exists. Most importantly to us is the personal attention and great relationships our family has with the administration, educators and staff. The school is still true to its mission, and we are grateful. -The Bloxsom Family.

Grace has come a long way from day one in 2013 - it's a school that welcomes and supports every student's unique passions and has created a space for kids to thrive. I've watched it grow since I was a student there, not just in numbers, but in creativity and opportunity. There's so much students can be part of now, yet it still feels like a close-knit community. What hasn't changed is how centered the school is on Jesus - He's truly at the heart of everything and everyone there. That's what makes Grace feel different from any other school, and what still makes it feel like family.

As a parent, I can tell you that without a doubt this school, Grace Christian, has been an absolute blessing to my daughters and to us as a family. One of the worries I had as a mom in watching my children grow was their education and the influences schools can make on our children. The girls started their education in the public school system, both girls going to Rural Point through their elementary years. Although, we can look back on our years at Rural Point and see the successes and positive people, I knew that furthering their education into the middle school and high school years would need to be done differently. That was something that I wrestled with for a while, not realizing I had any other options here in Hanover. I cannot adequately express how very excited I was to hear about Grace Christian School. Not only was this an affordable option, it was close to our home, and most importantly it was a Christian environment that my kids could be challenged academically and could also grow in their relationship with Christ. I was so thankful we had a solution to our concerns about our girl's middle school and high school education.

I did not have the opportunity to attend a private, Christian school as I was growing up. I did have some great teachers, good coaches and made some friends, but when I look back, I often wonder how powerful it could have been to have teachers that would have prayed with me or pray for me. That is a huge benefit for my girls in being here. When I read notes and messages from the girls' teachers and staff here at Grace, I am so humbled and grateful that we are where we are. What a blessing! I have to also recognize what a huge gift that Grace Christian Church gave when they opened their hearts and building to set this into motion. As a parent, I can't thank you and your church, its members, and staff for being so supportive in providing such a wonderful educational opportunity to my greatest gifts in life, my girls.

To Grace School, teachers and coaches…. Thank you. Thank you for understanding the need in our community and the faith to make this all happen. As the years go by and kids come in and out of this place, I hope that you will always stay true to what started this all in the first place. As your attendance grows and the need to hire additional staff, teachers and coaches presents itself, keep striving to find that person that us as parents can feel certain will make an everlasting positive impression on our kids. I would imagine that you may feel discouraged from time to time, thinking your efforts may go unknown or unseen. But I can tell you first hand, your vision, commitment and influence matters. Thank you , every single person that made this happen. I am so grateful for you.

As a member of Grace Christian Church, we built the addition the school uses back in 2006, and at that time we did not have the "busting at the seams" need for it that we do today. The church really built the educational wing to bless others. We literally put a bow on it and said it was "a gift to the community" with no idea how it would be used. The years before GCS started using it regularly, it often sat empty during the week. If you come here now, there is not a room in the entire facility that is not used! It is such a blessing to see the church and the school both benefit and bless others through this building. - Kelly Caddell

It was a surreal experience! Where I was able to find my identity in Christ through worship music was also where I started my marriage and my new identity as a Christian husband. Grace is where the foundation for my faith was solidified when I was a teenager. It is also where my faith was expressed in the intimate gathering of my friends, my family, and some of my former teachers at my wedding. It was the perfect expression of coming full circle and I would not have wanted my wedding to be anywhere else.

In 2016, Jack and I stepped foot into our new school, GCS. We did not know each other but quickly became acquainted in our eight-grade class of approximately 20 students. Coming to Grace allowed us to grow separately in our faith and education. It's funny, because looking back on our eighth-grade year we shared the same friends and were a part of a tight knit school, but we didn't have much interest in each other. As we grew, we were able to create more of a connection through GCS athletics. Both of us played volleyball and this helped to bring us closer together. We became a couple during our junior year of high school and experienced many moments together as we finished up our high school years. GCS was our meeting place and where we grew together as Christians, students, friends, and a couple. We graduated from Grace in 2021 and went to different colleges. That same connection that began at GCS kept us together through the miles separating us. Now we are in a season of life where we are planning our wedding and more importantly, preparing for our lives together. We owe a great deal to GCS, the teachers, coaches, and mentors that helped shape us into the adults we are today. God moved in our lives so we would meet in 2016 and eventually get married 10 years later. Jack and I are so proud of the school GCS has become. Grace will always be a huge part of our story. -Alyssa Vaughan

At Grace Christian School, we talk about family and live by the saying, "Once a King, always a King." During Covid, when classes shifted to virtual learning, Mrs. Bremner asked me to teach Bible instead of Physical Education. What I thought would be a temporary adjustment turned out to be a tremendous blessing, one I am eternally grateful for, as student after student opened up about their lives and their love for Jesus. We talked, learned, laughed, cried, and most of all, prayed during those lessons. The relationships God allowed me to build with these students remain strong to this day. Each trip back from Florida brings me to a place where faculty and students learn together, pray together, study the Bible together, and serve Jesus together. We are family.

As Grace Christian School's 2022 salutatorian and student body president, I was blessed with countless opportunities that helped shape God's path for me. Attending GCS from 6th-12th grade gave me not only a strong academic foundation, but also a place to grow in my faith and calling. Music has always been at the heart of my life; I was blessed with the privilege of leading worship at our weekly chapel services for all seven years. It was a valuable experience that led me to major in music at Liberty University! I was selected to lead worship and travel all over the eastern United States with Liberty's bluegrass band, E-41 (Ephesians 4:1). I perform with two other groups in Lynchburg as well as my own country band. I have continued singing the national anthem at many sporting and special events. I believe when God is honored and prioritized in life, abundant blessings flow. I am truly grateful I get to wake up every day and do what I am called to do. May God continue to bless the students and staff of Grace Christian School. For more visit: www.avapiland.com

Throughout the last third of my life, I have chosen to let GOD take the lead, surrendering control and allowing divine guidance to direct my path. While there have been moments when I felt the urge to reclaim the wheel and pursue my own direction, these impulses have been fleeting. For the most part, it is GOD who has remained at the helm, steering my journey forward.

This journey has not always been straightforward, and there have been times of uncertainty and hesitation, yet with every detour I have found a deeper sense of trust emerging. Letting go, even when it feels contrary to instinct, has shown me the quiet strength of surrender, and each step forward has revealed new purpose and understanding that could not have been uncovered by my own will alone.

After an unsuccessful attempt to re-enter public education, I was unemployed for just over a month before I found an opportunity at Grace Christian.

Committing to Christ often brings purpose and direction. When I joined Grace, my plan was simply to teach physical education until retirement, but God had other plans. As Athletic Director, I concentrated on supporting student-athletes and placed my trust in the process. Expressions like "right place, right time" highlighted the importance of preparation and divine timing. Ultimately, relying on God's plan shaped my experience at Grace, as I leaned on my skills and waited for His guidance. And when HE acted, it was truly remarkable! Glory to Him, always and forever!

I am grateful for the valuable experiences gained at Grace. It was an honor to work with students, families, coaches, fellow educators, and the administrative team throughout my time there.