.................................................................................................................................
Dear PCA,
From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to sincerely thank each and every teacher, parent, student, and everyone else from PCA who gave us and continues to give us support and prayer through this difficult time. I am so grateful to have placed my children in a school where such strong relationships are built. I can sleep well knowing that I have made the right decision having my children go to a school that not only gives an excellent education, but great long-lasting friendships, and a solid Christian foundation. I know that the faculty and friends that my children meet at PCA will all influence them in some way for the future, and I am not worried. PCA is like family to me, and I am so thankful for each and every one of you.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Yau and the Yau Family
.................................................................................................................................
My name is Bryan, I am a senior student who will be going to Boston with a team of 15 in April, 2013. This is my testimony of God's goodness in my life and how I became a child of God through Jesus Christ.
Like many students at PCA, I grew up in a Christian environment. I was born into a Christian family and attended church and a Christian school my whole life. Growing up was relatively easy and simple for me. I didn't have any big problems with health or family.
I grew up as a “good” Christian boy and I strived to maintain that persona by reading my bible and praying every morning/night as a routine. I would even carry around a small memo pad to write down significant verses and famous stories in the bible! Because my family would praise me sometimes for being such a “good Christian”, I continued to do good things, read the Bible and pray every day. When I look back, I can tell that a lot of my early Christian life was driven by fear and a reliance on my own moral effort.
In grade nine, I began going to church with some of my classmates and through church and school and my Bible reading, the gospel became more and more real and precious to me. I understood I was a sinner and that the wages of sin is death. I understood that I needed God’ grace and mercy. And I understood that God demonstrated his grace and mercy through his Son, Jesus’ substitutionary and sacrificial death on the cross for me. From then on, I loved the gospel. I loved Christ. I continued to pray, read the bible, and journal.
During these early years in high school, my life changed drastically because of this new relationship with Christ. I would pray with people at school and worship in the hallways without the fear of what people's thought of me! I wasn’t perfect, nor will I be anytime soon, but I was alive in Christ. Despite sin in my life, God gave me confidence that in repentance of sin and through faith in Jesus, my sins could be separated from me as far as the east is from the west. What a precious and a glorious truth! Jesus paid it all! All to him I owe.
In March, 2012, I went with PCA to India for 2 weeks to serve with and learn from a former PCA student who is working with street children in Kolkata. During this trip, God opened my eyes to see his work and his glory in a different country and in a different culture. God gave me a passion for the homeless on the street as I worked with the street children in Kolkata. This was my first experience with “missions”. I came back from India pumped up to do the will of the Lord in Toronto, but was hindered by exhaustion physically, academically, and even spiritually. I contemplated reading my bible at times and allowed school work to take priority in my life.
However, because of my experience in India, I was able to have a change in my lifestyle in the beginning of the summer that year. A lifestyle of evangelism began in me. Upon returning from India I began going with a few friends to malls, streets in downtown, and even bus rides to share the gospel with complete strangers that we met.
In grade 11, I had taken a World Religions course here at PCA where I learned how different the message of the gospel is in comparison to the religious systems taught around the world. I was able to use what I learned in World Religions class and apply it as I shared the gospel on the streets of Toronto. I found great contentment and joy in sharing gospel! I was able to share the gospel and pray for random people freely during the summer wherever I went! That summer was a season of major growth and maturity for me as a Christian leader.
This school year, God has been bringing me through multiple ups and downs. As a senior student, I am compiled with loads of work! God has been teaching me to surrender to him all of me – including my work, studies, and relationships. And from that, His blessings flow! God is constantly amazing me with the greatness and truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is constantly refining me and making me more like him. Now some people may say, and I might even think myself, "You know, you're still young and your going to university soon, aren't you wasting your life living for Jesus?" I would tell them, "No, once you live in Christ, you know there's nothing better than to live for Jesus." Now I’m not perfect- not even close. Life is full of ups and downs. Through it all, God is still good and He is faithful. The more I read his word, the more I know the person of Jesus Christ and the more I trust my life in his hands.
- Bryon Lok (Gr 12 student, Student Council President)
.................................................................................................................................
Hi, my name is Candice Taguibao, I’m in grade 12 and this is my 13th year at PCA. I’ve participated in missions at PCA for 3 years now. In grade 10, I went to Chang Mai, Thailand; last year, I had the privilege of serving in Kolkata; and this year I’m going to Boston with my team. I can honestly say that I’ve grown so much spiritually on these mission’s trips and have learned a lot about myself. I’ve learned how to humble myself before the Lord and have realized the urgency of sharing the gospel to a broken world.
But I’d like to share a bit of why I first applied for these missions’ trips, and why I continue to apply. As I finish my grade 12 year, I’ve discovered that life is busy, it’s not easy; in fact, it’s challenging.
I’ve been writing a lot of Personal Statement Essays and scholarships for universities recently, and this is my biggest pitch, how I sell myself- that I strive to challenge myself to become the best I can be. That’s why I’m the best candidate: because I push myself to be the best I can be when it comes to academics, athletics, and service in my community. But after a while, this put me in a very selfish position. I was so headstrong in my ambitions that I allowed myself to be tossed around by the chaos of being pulled in so many different directions, instead of looking up in the one direction that actually mattered, and desiring my relationship with my God to strengthen.
Now, I'm a very visual person and this is how I picture the Grace of God in my life. So bring your mind close to mine, and imagine with me. It’s dark. And in my ignorance, I'm running down a path, somewhere, anywhere; I don’t really know my destination but I keep going anyways. Full force; full speed. I don't admit it often, but I'm exhausted, tired. I’m panting, I feel dizzy, and the road is closing in on me. But suddenly, when I get crazy (as I often do) and run down this crowded, but lonely road, something really extraordinary happens. I see a new path and it’s like the Lord diverges my road and carves a trail for me. At the end of the trail, I see around me an oasis, a garden! I lift my hands up and God is calling me in. I feel like I’ve discovered something. Here there is rest, peace, joy, and love. To me it’s a secret garden; it’s a secret in that it was so foreign to path that led me here. I’m not panting anymore- with every deep breath, I actually feel alive. There I find green pastures to lie in. There I see how the lilies grow and feel how much I’m loved. There, I find my God, though He was always with me, now I’m with Him. And it’s because He's there with me that I can feel secure, and liberated at the same time. Being with Him gives me so much unexplainable joy, and its mine. It's my garden. It's precious to me. There, in my garden, I’m finally resting.
You know, there's this preconception about missionaries: that they're like a holy equivalent to a super sayan. But that's not true. The feet that bring the message aren't the steps of self-reclaimed righteous man; they are feet that are flawed. Yet it is the heart of the message they bring that make their journey worth it- beautiful. In the Bible it says that "Blessed are the feet that bring good news". But the thing is, those feet would not be blessed if it wasn't for the good news they bring. I'm not going on this mission’s trip because I'm perfect; I'm going on this missions trip because I fail. Because even though I have experienced walking with the Lord in my garden, at times I shamefully prefer the dark road I came from. And yet the Lord is so kind to me. After all I’ve done, he loves me so much; and if I was the reason that kept another person from experiencing that love, then I don’t know how to love at all.
That's why I do missions. I go on these missions trips so that maybe I can get people who are so desperately mulling down the roads of their life to stop, and come into the secret garden that they may find rest as well, through Jesus Christ. And after a while, when my Gardener sees fit, the secret garden won't be such a secret anymore.
So now I’m going to show one of the methods we’ll be using to share this message of love to the people in Boston. So here I have a sketch board which I will tell you a story from the Bible. This tool originates from Open Air Campaigners, the organization we will be working with in Boston. So, pretend with me that you are a group of young children who have come to listen to a story.
- Candice Taguibao (Gr 12 student, Athletic Council)
.................................................................................................................................
Why does my family travel
over an hour in each direction just to drive our kids to Peoples Christian Academy?
Last year, my son was in a disastrous situation at a public school. On a regular basis, he either had gotten off the school bus and was left alone looking for an unlocked door to get to his kindergarten classroom, or in the evenings, he would be left helpless at the playground unable to find his correct school bus. This had continued for 6 months, until an old bus driver alerted me of her observation--that it was the school's (not my son’s) fault that he was repeatedly left unattended – nobody cares!
Furthermore, my son frequently returned home from his old school with art work celebrating Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Bahá'í’s faith days or themes. He countered my teachings on heaven with the curriculum-enforced concept of reincarnation, yet Christianity was never presented. Christmas was only about Frosty the Snowman or Santa and his reindeer.
In the past half year at PCA, however, the tide has changed. Now, he comes home with Bible verses and interesting materials that have helped him to learn about spiritual truths. His reading has improved tremendously; he enjoys music instruction, and he feels safe on the school grounds. Everyone from the office to the after-school program staff show true Christian care.
- Lily K. (PCA parent)
.................................................................................................................................
Within the last three years (2008-2010), PCA students on the standardized tests taken by Grades 3 and 5 over 90% of our students were above the Canadian norm in all tests. For the Ontario Grade 10 Literacy Tests, 96% were successful. 100% apply to institutions of higher education and 95% of our graduating class attend university.
...................................................................................................................................
At Peoples Christian Academy, elementary students are involved in Bible class and/or morning devotions. Not only do students learn about God’s Word and Biblical principles, they also have a time of prayer. Prayer requests are brought forth before the throne of God. Weekly chapels are held, songs are learned, Christian videos are shown, guest speakers are invited, principal/teacher/class led chapels where Biblical foundations are established take place.
A community of spiritual caring takes place spontaneously where students may ask teachers to pray for their families, or teachers will pray for the needs of the students and families if these requests were known. I myself was a recipient of the prayer support provided by students and their families. I broke my wrist in January 2010. When the school learned about this incident, prayer support from the class devotions, family devotions, and individual student’s prayers all poured in. Parents/students would ask me how I was and it was not uncommon to hear parents tell me that they were praying for me during their family devotions. One parent told me her daughter prayed for me everyday.
When my father went home to be with the Lord in 2000, again it was the students’ self-made condolence cards and their messages, Bible verses that brought comfort.
A student once made a card for me and wrote “God loves you and may God bless you” He drew a picture of a big cross and smaller crosses. I followed up with this student because I knew he came from a non-Christian family. I asked if he knew Jesus and if he believed in Jesus. He answered affirmatively. He told me it was in grade one and he mentioned the teacher’s name, when he made the decision to believe in Jesus. Children are so receptive to God’s salvation. We have heard testimonies of students accepting the Lord in their elementary school years.
Ultimately, bringing up a child is still the responsibility of parents. In a Christian school environment, teachers continue to work with parents in bringing up children who will revere and honour the Lord.
- Mrs. Siu (Elementary School Teacher)
.................................................................................................................................
PCA has been my home away from home for the last 14 years. Being in one place for so long during the most influential period of my life had a lot of impact on who I am.
In Grade 1, my teacher read books to us from a series called Nate the Great. This is actually what sparked my great love for reading…just ask my teachers. My teacher not only inspired my love of literature, but she also led me to Christ.
I believe in Christian education not only because I’ve gone through it, but because I see the difference having a Christian education makes. Growing up at PCA, I’ve heard Bible stories all my life and have memorized Bible verses since before I could understand them. Being older now, I’ve taught Sunday school at my church, and I’ve come to realize that church doesn’t teach children as much as PCA does.
In Grade 6, we memorized a pamphlet titled “Share What You Believe” which was a basic guide to sharing what Christians believe, including Bible verses and references, and a prayer that we could teach to people who wished to become Christians. We also had to recite it in front of the class; Bible verses and all. This gave us a chance to actually practice sharing with one another. In various years of my PCA education, I have also had to write my testimony. This further helped me to learn how to share my faith with others. In Grade 10 and 11, my teacher taught us about apologetics (how to defend Christianity). This was material I had never been taught at church. I have church friends who cannot explain what they believe, much less attempt to defend it. Because of the teaching of all my Bible teachers, I have gained a firm foundation that I will take with me when I leave this year.
As for the students, I met both of my best friends at PCA when we were in elementary school. The friendships I’ve built at PCA are ones that I will hopefully have for the rest of my life.
By: Joanne L (Gr 12 student) April/2010
.................................................................................................................................
"Having attended PCA all the way from Kindergarten to Grade 12, I was blessed to be nurtured in a godly environment, fostered to grow in my faith and understand the truth of the gospel. Teachers demonstrated what it means it to “take up the cross daily” (Luke 9:23), by instilling truth in their academic lessons, and taking time to support students as if we were their own family – a hallmark of true Christian community. Students were a valued part of this community as we were given voices in our learning, and as partners in planning events, chapel, retreats, social justice/outreach, and even adhoc prayer meetings. My eyes were opened to the opportunity for missions and evangelism, at home or abroad, through our annual Missions Conference and organized missions trips. PCA prepared me with a heart for missions. After graduation, I was able to participate and organize mission trips to East Asia but also challenged me to be a local missionary wherever I was placed. Not only has PCA prepared me for success in my academics at Queen's and UofT, and in my career, I believe that it has given me the foundation to live as “salt and light” in our ever-changing world. - Melody L., '02"
.................................................................................................................................
For four years of my life I had the privilege of being part of an academic institution that unashamedly instills the message of Christ and His principles in every student that enters through its doors. This school is called Peoples Christian Academy and these four years of high school were undoubtedly four crucial years in the grand scheme of my life. Having been raised in a Christian home and a frequent church attendee, I was saturated in the ways of Christ throughout my childhood. From kindergarten to Grade 8, I was enrolled in a local public school that although academically prepared me for the next stage of life, did not create a positive atmosphere for my faith to flourish and it slowly began to diminish. I can whole heartedly declare to you that I if I was not enrolled into Peoples Christian Academy in my grade 9 year, I would not be serving God today. Throughout my four years at PCA I was motivated to rediscover my true identity in Christ. Godly principles were woven into each course and I found myself not only challenged academically but spiritually as well. Each teacher relentlessly invested in my academic and spiritual well-being and I found myself thriving in more ways than one. PCA prepared me for the next stage of life: My foundation in Christ was strengthened and my relationship with Him built-on and nourished. There are not too many Christian institutions out there that have not watered down the gospel for the sake of increased enrollment and political correctness. PCA has unapologetically stood firm on its Christian convictions since 1971 and continues to in 2011. I was honoured to be a part of this wonderful academy and hope and pray that it will be around for many more years to come.
-Curtis Legiehn PCA Grad 04'
.................................................................................................................................
"…Peoples Christian school experience played a significant role in shaping who I am today. I saw role models in teachers of people who weren’t necessarily perfect but who were honestly trying to live out their lives as Christ followers. I think it also surrounded me with quality friends -- many who would be near and distant friends for a lifetime... One of the greatest life skills I learnt was ‘how to study’. May sound like a funny thing to say but there are a lot of students who don’t know how to study -- my experience at PCA really reinforced how to study and the benefits were great…throughout my whole academic career (and I studied for 12 years after high school to complete all the training I needed to be an obstetrician/gynecologist), those good study habits got me through what seemed like impossible mountains of exams and assignments."
Dr. Jean Chamberlain Froese, Class of '84 and
2009 winner of prestigious award from Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, for more information click here
to visit PCA's Alumni Profiles page.
.................................................................................................................................
Peoples Christian Academy is academically strong. It was in these classrooms that my three sons were challenged to reach high, trained to work hard and inspired to think ‘outside the box’.
Gifted, well qualified and supportive teachers and staff greeted my boys each day. In this caring community, teachers often gave precious time and help beyond the call of duty to their students. Music, drama, tutoring, sports teams, community service and mission trips were all part of the ’extras’. Each of my ’boys’ (now men), greatly benefited from these additional helps, enabling them to become more confident, skilled and well rounded as individuals.
To my sons as well as my husband and me, it is the long lasting friendships with both staff and fellow student’s that has made Peoples school that extra special place for each of us.
As a distinctively Christian school, my sons were challenged and inspired to see life through biblical principles and to follow Jesus. Hence, PCA’s influence has formed the underpinning of ideas and values that now fuel my children’s future.
My hope is to encourage you also to give your child a similar opportunity for growth and accomplishment, by sending them to Peoples Christian Academy. We are forever grateful for this school and it’s influence in all our lives.
- Cathy D. (PCA parent)
.................................................................................................................................
One day when my 7 year old daughter and I were on the road, we heard sirens from an ambulance. When I was looking for where the ambulance was coming from, I noticed my daughter was bowing down her head. I asked, "Are you scared?" She said, "No, I am praying. Teacher said, "when we hear ambulance passing by, that means someone is in trouble. We shall pray for the people involved." I thank PCA for instilling a passionate and caring spirit in my child.
Carol L. (PCA parent)
.................................................................................................................................
It is such an honour to stand here, and share some things that I’ve learned over the past 3 years at PCA. I have to say, time just flies by. I remember when I was sitting there (pointing to the Grade 10 seats) and wondering how beautiful the auditorium is as a new student. Time goes faster and faster as you grow older. Some of my Grade 12 buddies can’t wait till university, some of us don’t want to leave high school. But I know, we will miss each other.
Picture this, you are 15 years old, and you come to study in Canada from the other side of the world - China, without your parents. You NEVER really heard about Christianity, but your parents put you in a Christian school simply because they think that Christians should be nice people. Your English was limited (well, but fluent in both Mandarin & Cantonese which are not helpful at PCA), and in your first History class, when the teacher says "take notes on Page 1 - 5", you basically just stare at other students because you don’t even know what "take notes" means. At night, you have to spend about 3 hours just to finish a chapter in Lord of the Flies for English class. On Sundays, you go to church, and the only thing you know what the pastor says are "Jesus, God, Amen", because he talks too fast. That was my starting point, and it was just 3 years ago.
I understand, my life is very different from all of you. Well, we all have our own stories, and I picked some of my moments to share with you guys.
Lesson 1 Choices
Make good decisions. Life’s about choices! We have so many options in our lives, about what you want to eat at lunch: tuna sandwich, Mr. Chu’s special, or salad? About what you want to do on Friday night: hang out with friends, play video games, or watch a movie? About what university you want to spend 4 years at: Queen’s, Harvard, or Cambridge? In our society, some university students decide to drink and party all the time, it’s sad but this is the reality. And we - future undergraduate students - have to make this choice - whether to drink or not. It is completely optional. You can choose to say "No" to things that you don’t want to do. We are all responsible for the choices which eventually make up our life!
Making good decisions is really important since we don’t want to have regrets in the future. What we’ve done, what we own, and what we believe all contribute to our decisions.
PCA is very special to me, well, not because that this is the only school I’ve been to in Canada so far, but the fact that it brought Jesus into my life. I’m the only one in my family who is a Christian. I truly enjoyed the relationship between Jesus and myself. Let me try to describe it, you are fulfilled because that empty spot in you is satisfied with Jesus’ love. I once thought that Christians are not so smart - they believe in SOMEONE who they can’t see. But then, as I knew more about the whole Christianity, my doubts went away - the validity of the Bible and God’s work throughout the centuries. I chose to accept the TRUTH. People are curious about how my parents see me as a Christian. My father, to my surprise, he said, "this is your choice, you are in charge of yourself." But my mother - who normally is more open-minded than my father - said, "don’t get too deep into it."
They give me the freedom to believe in what I choose, with the trust that I am responsible for myself.
Lesson 2 Keep your faith, follow your dreams!
You are the owner of yourself, and it’s you who make the decision of what kind of the person do you want to be. People are always watching your life. They see you through your actions. Faith is a belief that lies in your soul, but not your mind. Christian faith is what supports all Christians, faith decides what you do, what you want to be, and who you are.
However, I’m not only talking about Christian faith, but also a faith in believing yourself - the ability to achieve your dreams. I want to share my own story with you. My dream school is Williams College - a top liberal arts college in the U.S. I was so passionate about it, I wrote "Williams College" on my binders, my books, even on my calculator. I worked really hard, and spent a lot of time preparing to get into this school, and I thought I deserve this admission letter. I was confident, and even an admissions officer from another university replied me and said, "this is one of the best applications I’ve ever seen." I remember late at night, I was writing Williams’ requirement essay, which titled "Imagine looking through a window at any environment that is particularly significant to you and tell us why it is meaningful to you."
Essay holds a lot of weight in U.S Admissions. Well, I guess they don’t really like my window that much, so they turned me down. I was very upset, kept thinking why doesn’t this school want me?! I have good grades. I love God, but it seems that God doesn’t care about my passions, my dreams, and my goals. He didn’t see that I spent so much effort on how to get into this school. I suddenly became the poorest person in the world. I illustrated my frustration by getting mad at my parents on the phone (which later on I apologized to them), crying when I woke up at night in nightmares, and saying bad things in my prayers (maybe you can’t call them prayers).
Many people gave me their support; however, I had no intention to listen to them. I knew what I was doing. I gave myself some time by reflecting back the days that I was preparing for the SAT, the TOEFL which is the test of English as a Foreign Language and all other required materials. My world collapsed, but the sad thing is, you still have to live with it. Slowly, I started to realize that God just closed a door for me, but He didn’t walk away; instead, He opened up another one. I regretted that I was not still when I was in a situation like this. God watches over us at any moment. I don’t know if He is mad at me, but I am sure He still loves me deeply. I still have dreams, indeed, many big ones. I know God will use me in a way that He wants me to be. I trust Him.
Learn to be STRONG, physically, emotionally, and spiritually! Remember to keep your faith because this is what supports you to live in this world =) whenever you face an obstacle.
Lesson 3 Learn to be appreciative
This changes your life attitude. Don’t just talk about the things you don’t have, but to learn that how much you already have. Maybe you don’t have the newest iPhone, but you own the latest iPod! Think about how many people only live under $1 a day, and think about how lucky you are living in Canada... you don’t have to think about where to get the next meal.
Maybe it’s harder to wait for people to understand you than if you take the step first to try to wear their shoes.
Sometimes I feel that life is very unfair. My family is not in Canada, I miss them, and I admire my friends who can have family trips. But here, I also have a family - maybe my last name should be changed to Lindstrom’s. Mrs. Lindstrom is my Canadian mother and my friend. She spends her heart on people who are in need and she lives a life that she never regrets. She teaches me how to stand strong and live in a joyful way. I’ve changed over the past one and a half years living with her, she definitely shows me that life is full of obstacles, but if you keep your faith, God shows you the miracle.
My classmates are Canadian citizens like the majority of you, they don’t need a visa to go to Slovakia, but I do. I had go to Ottawa which is about 5 hours drive from here to get my visa. But there is a man who gave his hand and drove me all the way to Ottawa and back. During my years at P.C.A., he may have answered more than 500 questions from me. I am very thankful for him being my teacher and my mentor, and he is Mr. Philip.
People care about me, they say I sacrifice a lot. I laugh, because the fact is I am enjoying my "dream-chasing-journey". It was me who talked to my parents and asked them if they allow me to achieve my dreams. They are the ones who have to let go of their only child. They sacrifice more than I do. I am very thankful for having such parents, though they are not with me right now. I can’t say I love you to my parents because this is not the way how my family expresses our love to each other. But I will say it here, I love you, mom & dad. And hope they will hear it in their dreams tonight (it’s night time in China right now ^^).
Well, I know I don’t have the whole world, but what I have is enough to create a new world. Right?
Lesson 4 Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
Our world is so big, and yet it’s so small. It really depends on how well you make yourself do certain things. There are so many surprises out there waiting for you to discover! This is about life experience. Our school is pretty small in size, but do you know everyone here? Maybe not... is it difficult for you to say hi to a person that you constantly see on the hall way, and yet still don’t know the person’s name? Maybe when you get to know that person, you two can become good friends, who knows?!
Jesus, well, on the other hand, always stepped out of his comfort zone. He never lived within his own bubble. He kept helping people that he didn’t know. It’s important that we try; if it doesn’t work out, then we can do it another way. God creates the world, but how cool is it if your world is IN your hand.
Last year, some of us went to the Slovakia mission trip. We went to a local school and taught Slovak kids some English. If we didn’t take the initiative to talk to the children, we would not build any relationships. Generally, people do not come to you, you have to approach to others. So take the initiative and step out of the comfort zone and say hi to the world!
Lesson 5 You are Unique, You the Special
Your experience makes who you are, and no one can replace you. Your choices, your faith, your perseverance of overcoming obstacles, and your willingness to try new things.
As God’s children, we don’t look the same, we surely don’t have the same experience. There is a pair of Hands that holds the world which made us UNIQUE!
Enjoy your life at PCA. Learn to know about God, He’s not only God, He’s your Friend, your Provider, your Source of Happiness =). If you believe in Jesus, you also get a bonus to really enjoy Christian worship songs, and truly enjoy Christmas.
Thank you PCA, thank you my Grade 12 fellows, thank you my teachers.
Thank you ALL for listening. God bless you!
Coco, Class of 2009
.................................................................................................................................
When I was at PCA I was not a Christian nor interested in Christianity at all. While I was there, two girls in my class in particular that caught my attention. They seemed to possess something real in their faith with God. I knew they were the real deal.
Over the years after leaving PCA, my mind would go back to these individuals who had something that I was missing in my life. When I was in college, I had a profound spiritual experience that forever changed my life and brought me to Christ.
Since that time I married my precious Joanne, had four children, and spent twelve years in Japan as a church planter. We are part of a church planting family of churches. We have been involved in this church plant for the last four years and it has been the happiest experience of my life.
Tim Kerr
.................................................................................................................................
If I were to use one phrase to describe my experience at Peoples Christian Academy it would be "life changing"...At Peoples (PCA) I found out what true success really was: to love God and do His will.
Ashleigh Ali, Class of 2003
.................................................................................................................................
Some of my dearest friends to this day are the people I went to high school with at Paul B. Smith Academy. Many extremely fine individuals came out of Peoples, some of whom continue to give me inspiration and enrichment both personally and professionally.
Nad Barsoum, Class of 1984 Barrister and Solicitor.
.................................................................................................................................
Peoples Christian Academy had a huge impact on me in terms of developing my love for Christian music.
Ali Matthews, (1973-1980) Canadian Award-winning Singer/Songwriter.
.................................................................................................................................
Thank you Peoples Christian Academy for creating an environment in which love for Jesus and love for knowledge can be cultivated together to form a whole Christian life.
Andrew Adkins, (1975-1987) Missionary Lecturer in Ghana, West Africa
.................................................................................................................................
I have been a physical education teacher for about 15 year’s and I am sure I chose that career because of Miss Rose, my PE teacher at Peoples. She made physical education so much fun, which is what I always try to do for my students.
Lori Leschisin, Class of 1978 Physical Education Teacher.
.................................................................................................................................
To submit your testimonial please contact Cynthia Thorimbert, Alumni Secretary by telephone 416.733.2010 x100 or email cthorimbert (at) pca (dot) ca