FINE ARTS BANQUET AND AUCTION By Andrea Payne

MACEDONIAN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Because of CHRIST, disciples are made, and families are built Inside this issue: Fine Arts 2 Class of 2017 3 Development Office 4 Stage Lights Update 6 MCA Athletics 7 Donate ONLINE! Sign up online today for automatic monthly giving using your checking account, credit card, or debit card. Go to www.mcalions.com, and click on the Donate NOW button on the right side of the home page, and follow the instructions. Winter 2016 FINE ARTS BANQUET AND AUCTION By Andrea Payne Last year, MCA parents worked very hard to support FABA I was overwhelmed by your dedication and sacrifice! The MCA parents supported the auction like never before bringing in over 300 items (most ever) which raised $13,800. In addition, the tickets parents sold raised $11,700. That s $25,500 raised by our MCA parents!! We would welcome any items from our friends and supporters who receive this newsletter. Perhaps you have a condo and would like to donate a week or love to make things that are unique. People love to bid on handcrafted items! If you are interested in supporting our auction, please contact us. This year, FABA is set for Thursday, April 27, and Friday, April 28, at our North campus. We will be raising money for our scholarship fund and various needs of our school. The event will start at 6:00 P.M. with a silent auction and formal dinner and conclude with our annual play. Our goal is to raise money for our Annual L.I.F.E. fund. The Annual L.I.F.E. fund allows MCA to keep low tuition costs for its families and also provides additional scholarships for underprivileged students. Table sponsorships are available starting at $500. If you want to sponsor a table at this event, please contact Juan Curling at 956-566-9656, or send us an email at mcapraise@gmail.com. For more information visit www.mcalions.com/ events/faba. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @MCALIONS.com Macedonian Christian Academy

Fine Arts By Linda Mendoza We are excited about another year in the MCA Fine Arts Program. We are happy to continue the programs that have been a part of MCA for years as is: our Fine Arts Banquet and Auction (FABA), the annual Christmas program, and the High School Choir. We are also thrilled to see the progress of the MCA Roarin Lion Band as it starts its fifth year under the direction of Mrs. Vernisha Murray. Fine Arts Gala in the fall with an emphasis on the life of Jim Elliot. This year the Gala was presented on November 11 (Veterans Day) in honor of our veterans. The band consist of 28 in the Beginner Band and 86 in the Symphonic Band. Last year the fine arts program also began the annual MCA 2 Macedonian Christian Academy The Jr. High drama department, this year, will be presenting the musical: Beauty and the Beast, which will take place March 2017. In the 2016-2017 school year, the latest addition to the Fine Arts Program is the high school ensemble, which participated in the Fall Fine Arts Concert, and will be participating in the annual Christmas program and Fine Arts Banquet and Auction (FABA.) We are so excited to see what God is doing here at MCA especially in the Fine Arts Program!

Class of 2017 By Emily Wade As is true of many years before, this year s senior class can t believe that they ve finally reached the end of high school. By God s grace, this class of 11 students nine girls and two guys has finally reached the last year at MCA, and they want to make it count. They ve been looking forward to this and dreading it at the same time. Senior year brings many extra challenges at MCA: extra homework, extra opportunities to help and serve around the school, and extra expectations for their leadership of other students. The last expectations may be the hardest. extracurricular growth, we hope to see these seniors grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, resulting in a deeper love for God and others this year. This is our prayer for the senior class of 2017. The school seeks to display the heart of Christ by valuing discipleship schoolwide, both from teacher to student and from student to student. Although this is a big goal, we know it is worth it because Christ commanded it. More than any academic or Macedonian Christian Academy 3

From the Devel As we consider all that God has done at Macedonian Christian Academy over the years, we are filled with gratitude for the people God has used to support us. God has done so much at MCA through faithful friends, and their investment has been priceless. Because they obeyed God s calling and supported MCA, many young people have accepted Christ as their personal savior and many more are being discipled. MCA has grown to near max capacity again what a blessing! We have over 30 staff this year, and many of them are missionary teachers. They may not be able to financially support this wonderful ministry, but they invest their time to serve Christ with their lives. As you might expect, though, more students and more ministry opportunities have created more financial need than ever before. Completing the new facility was a huge blessing! The building is wonderful, but there are new needs continually before us. This is why we ask you to prayerfully consider supporting MCA through the Annual L.I.F.E. Fund. The MCA Annual L.I.F.E. Fund needs to raise a total $360,000 over the next three years. This 4 Macedonian Christian Academy year, we need to raise $120,000 in donations half of this amount ($50,000) by December 31, 2016 and the rest ($70,000) by June 30, 2017. To put things in perspective, last year, the MCA Annual L.I.F.E. Fund raised $50,000 for the entire year. So far, MCA has received approximately $10,000 this school year. As you can see, the need is huge but the goal is worthy! Please pray with us that all needed support would come in on time. Would you please prayerfully consider being a part of God s glorious provision? We know all things were created for Him, by Him, and for His glory. Everything is His and He will provide with or without us, but we ask you to strongly consider being a part of this ministry opportunity. Your support of the MCA Annual L.I.F.E. Fund over the next three years is critical. Your pledge can be a one-time gift or can be fulfilled monthly, quarterly, or annually over three years. Please know that your consideration is very much appreciated, and we thank you in advance for your continued support! Many people are not aware of the incredible impact they have by donating to Macedonian Christian Academy or to Missionary Evangelism,

lopment Office Inc. For example, Missionary Evangelism, Inc., includes ministries such as an orphanage assistance, missionary internship, school planting in Mexico, church planting, and mission teams. Each one of these subsidiary ministries of Missionary Evangelism Inc. (MEI) serves, blesses and receives from the other. For example, Macedonian Christian Academy provides housing for summer mission teams, vehicles to transport people and supplies to orphanages, and a facility where Redeemer Bible Church meets. Thousands of people have experienced the love of God, heard the Gospel, and received loving care because of generous gifts to MEI and MCA. Over the last few years, the faithful support of many friends has allowed us to: Exalt Christ, make disciples, and build families in the Rio Grande Valley Facilitate Vacation Bible Schools in Mexico and in the Rio Grande Valley Aid in starting two Christian schools in nearby orphanages in Reynosa and Rio Bravo, Mexico Introduce young people to missions through mission team ministries and internships Provide food, clothing, and enhanced living conditions for the children at El Shaddai orphanages in Reynosa and Rio Bravo Please do not underestimate the importance of financial support to the ministry of Macedonian Christian Academy. You can see how your investment has greatly impacted children in both the Rio Grande Valley and in Mexico. God has done, and will continue to do, great things here on the border because of your faithful support. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your sacrifice and generosity and for investing in God s kingdom-work here at Macedonian Christian Academy. Thank you for your faithful and continued support! Juan Curling and all the Missionary Evangelism and Macedonian Christian Academy Team 120 DONORS NEEDED Are you one of them? 120 s CLUB Join today! By donating $120 yearly ($10 per month), you can help make a difference in a young child s life. Send us a check, or sign up online. Easy online giving! Sign up online today for automatic monthly giving using your checking account, credit card, or debit card. Visit www.mcalions.com, click the Donate Now button, and sign up! Macedonian Christian Academy 5

New Theater Lighting By Emily Wade When God provided MCA with a beautiful, new school, we were thrilled. The property, the classrooms, the gym all of it was more than we had hoped for. Even the drama department was blessed beyond measure with the stage that God gave us. Gone were the days of performing in a rented venue or making do with some risers in a small room. We were on a stage a real stage! However, as excited as we were, there was a problem: the lighting. The handful of theater lights we had been using were old, broken, unreliable, and insufficient. When we realized that we would need a substantial upgrade in theater lighting, we began praying. God led us to make a plea for financial help online, and through that, He blessed exceedingly, abundantly beyond all we could have asked or thought! Many, many people gave what they could, and it was more than enough! Through their generosity, God provided 12 LED wash lights to illuminate and color the stage. Then, He provided six professional-grade spotlights, complete with theater effects such as turning, focusing, and projecting images. This has revolutionized our theater potential! MCA s mission is to develop Christian leaders, and we see our fine arts department as part of this development. Being able to train students to act in a more professional, less distracting environment is key to helping them grow in communication skills. We are thankful for God s providence in every aspect of MCA, including our Fine Arts department. Thank you for your part in our lighting project! Here We Go Again! By Santiago Curling We begin another year at Macedonian Christian Academy. One of the greatest delights and encouragements in my life is working alongside the team of servants at MCA. They display a humble, teachable, missional, and grace-saturated life. There are days in life that get difficult to keep up. We live in a broken world and life can just be hard. The team that I get to work with is used by God to recalibrate my life back on mission. They demonstrate with their life and attitudes over and over again what it means to live for Christ. All are here to accomplish the school's mission: Because of Christ, disciples are made, and families are built. What a privilege to do gospel work with the MCA staff. At MCA, we are here to develop young men and woman into the full stature and measure of Christ. This process is never easy or without great commitment. God has kindly allowed me to have quite a few conversations with some Alumni. It has been so encouraging to hear how they are growing and following Christ. Again, the process has not been without difficulties, but in those hard times, God has kept them and grown them. I am humbled to think of all those that will lead Christ-honoring marriages and homes. God has been kind to allow us to be a small part of making disciples of Christ. As we are at it again MCA, may we never stray far from what God has called us. No matter what field, place, or position you find yourself in life, remember to live with the single focus of making much of Christ. May God continue to expand His kingdom. What an unbelievable privilege that God lets us be a part of His glorious gospel. 6 Macedonian Christian Academy

MCA ATHLETICS The sports season is well underway at MCA! With the coaching of Athletic Director, Tyler Gjeltema, the Varsity Boys Soccer team secured two wins this season; one of which came after an intense shootout against Faith Christian Academy. Coaching both the JH and Varsity Volleyball teams this year was MCA Alumni, Andrew Medina, leading the JH to 2 wins and the Varsity to 1 win. The girls played hard, and despite the slow start to the season, they remained positive to the end. New to our sports schedule this year is our first ever Cross Country team coached by first-year staff member Corinne Schmidt. With a surprising turnout of 30 students joining the team, our dedi- By Naomi Blaha cated athletes rose early for morning practices every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday during the season. The girls placed third overall in their first meet against Idea Weslaco giving them the boost of confidence needed to finish the season strong. In October, the elementary kicked off their sports with fifth and sixth grade Soccer coached by MCA s Stephanie Stokes and Naomi Blaha. The students welcomed the chance to try their feet at learning to play soccer and to work on their skills, while hoping to win a few games in the process. Their teamwork and positive attitudes were evident both on and off the field giving them a true victory. As fall sports have now come to an end, our winter sports are in full swing for the highly anticipated Varsity and Junior Varsity boys and girls basketball teams. After winning the Area Championships for the 2015-2016 season, the Varsity boys will seek to not only reach that title again but to take their team to state. Macedonian Christian Academy 7

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