Giving Tuesday | Nov 30
Rebecca Urry
Rebecca Urry | Westside Christian Academy is a place that I consider home. Whenever I walk through the doors, it’s similar to walking through the doors at my parents’ house. There is always a warm greeting and it is a place filled with the people whom I love. Way back in the year 2002, the Lord called my family to WCA. Little did my parents know that this place would have a tremendous impact on our family. My parents enrolled me in kindergarten during the second quarter of that school year. Within my first few months of being at WCA, the Lord was knocking on the door of my heart and I answered. I can vividly remember that day.
I was sitting in the Chapel pews and Pastor Dunn was sharing a message about living with God in Heaven. As a five-year-old, I was terrified of not being with my Creator, so I knew that I needed to do something. At the end of Chapel, Pastor Dunn told us (students) that if we wanted to rest in knowing that we will be in Heaven, then we should go talk to our teacher. After Chapel ended, a few of my classmates and I went up to our kindergarten teacher right away and told her we wanted to live with Jesus in Heaven. At that moment she prayed with us. I will never forget standing in the hallway and praying with my teacher and peers while the rest of the class was doing free play in the classroom.
The remainder of my time at WCA was spent growing in my relationship with the Lord. Each teacher the Lord put into my path passed on nuggets of wisdom about following Jesus. I cannot put into words my appreciation for the time teachers spent praying for and with me, shepherding my heart, and playing a crucial role in my faith journey. That is why I came back to WCA. I knew there had to be a way to give back to the Lord what He had so graciously given to me.
The Lord instilled this desire in my heart my freshman year of college. I was in an ED 100 class and my professor asked my class, “what is your dream job?” Confident in my answer, I raised my hand and said; “Westside Christian Academy, it was the school I attended as a child.” My professor looked at me and told me I was crazy for wanting to teach at a private school because “those kinds of teachers do not make a lot of money.” I did not let her opinion get the best of me because I knew the Lord would bless me for my obedience to His calling. After four years of undergrad, the Lord finally opened up the door for me to work at WCA, and here I am today, one of Westside Christian Academy’s second grade teachers. As I look back at the past three years I have spent at WCA, I am beyond blessed by the relationships I have developed with parents, students, and colleagues. The Lord is using this school to do a mighty work to expand His Kingdom. As my family says, an investment in WCA is more than just monetary; it is an eternal investment in the hearts of students. Thank you for your faithful donations!
Eric Johnson 8th Grade Class of ’08, Service Technician at Boiler Specialists, a 2nd generation family owned business started by Eric’s grandfather.
Brent Johnson 8th Grade Class of ’09, Air Force Academy Class of ’17, Current USAF Pilot.
Ryan Johnson 8th grade class of ‘05, graduated from Ohio State as a Mechanical Engineer and works at TS Tech in Columbus.
Susan Johnson has continued as a faithful substitute since her youngest graduated 8th grade in 2009. Susan’s husband Rob served on the board from 2006-2010 and again from 2014-2018.
The Johnsons
Eric Johnson 8th Grade Class of ’08, Service Technician at Boiler Specialists, a 2nd generation family owned business started by Eric’s grandfather.
Brent Johnson 8th Grade Class of ’09, Air Force Academy Class of ’17, Current USAF Pilot.
Ryan Johnson 8th grade class of ‘05, graduated from Ohio State as a Mechanical Engineer and works at TS Tech in Columbus.
Susan Johnson has continued as a faithful substitute since her youngest graduated 8th grade in 2009. Susan’s husband Rob served on the board from 2006-2010 and again from 2014-2018.
Eric Johnson | The years I spent learning at Westside Christian Academy helped set me up for success later in school and life. The classical education curriculum that was taught challenged me to think critically and to figure out the “why” instead of memorizing facts and just doing enough to get to the next grade. The teachers cared about my success in the classroom and supported me with a learning experience that I will never forget. Growing up, I was always excited about history class and learning about all of the people and civilizations that have lived before me and what their lives were like. What made WCA unique was how the history lesson was connected to the timeline and lessons of the Bible as the stories and events in the Bible happened in real places that we still can see today. Learning the ability to think on my own and draw conclusions prepared me well for my journey after WCA. Looking back at my time there, I am thankful for all the teachers and staff who fostered the open and supportive learning environment for kids year after year because they believe in the collective mission of the school. That environment laid the building blocks for the foundation of who I have become, which only emphasizes the importance of what WCA has to offer to families today.
Brent Johnson | Just the other week my wife Catherine and I were talking about our thoughts on primary education and what we would look for in schools if we were to have kids. Looking back, it’s clear that eight years at a school like WCA is one of the greatest gifts my parents could have given me and one that has impacted my life in countless positive ways. The educational foundation built at WCA has set myself and many others up for success in high school, college, and beyond; however, there are many private and even public schools that can foster academic success, so what makes WCA special? It is a classical Christian education where the faculty love and edify each and every student with biblical teachings, seeking with all their hearts to cultivate foundations of virtue and wisdom in Christ. I have seen personally how those inextricably connected principles of faith and classical education prepare students to face the world with a rational Christian worldview and stand firm against all that the world is ready to throw at them. WCA is a true gem on the west side of Cleveland for these reasons and many more, and I pray that God will continue to be faithful and provide the means for it to continually change the lives of every student that walks through its doors.
Susan Johnson | Our family has been a part of the WCA community for about 20 years. Each of our three sons attended WCA through 8th grade and then transferred to an area high school since the Upper School had not yet started. After their graduation, we remained connected to WCA, and I continued working as a classroom substitute. This has given me a unique perspective in seeing students move through the grades, watching them grow in wisdom and stature. I see the uniqueness of each child being molded and shaped, with their strengths developed in ways that honor and serve the Lord.
As our secular culture focuses their eyes towards the latest ideology, we as followers of Jesus Christ continue to focus our eyes on the One who broke cultural norms and calls us to be set apart for Him. The students of WCA are being trained to be set apart in integrity, honesty, critical thinking, respect for others including parents and teachers, and a solid work ethic. This will translate into strong family and community leaders, as well as valuable employees, all within the framework of a strong biblical worldview.
Our family will always be grateful that we chose to make sacrifices so that our sons could attend WCA to experience and grow from the foundation of a classical Christian education.