This past school year at SMCA, we had the privilege of welcoming local pastors to speak during our secondary chapels, a partnership rooted in our desire to help students build meaningful connections with local churches and begin regularly attending a church where they can grow alongside a community of believers.

We are incredibly grateful for each pastor who took the time to invest in our students, sharing God’s Word, offering wisdom, and inviting students to take part in their church families. Your ministry among us has been a true blessing!

Throughout the year, we studied SMCA’s theme verses for the year:

2 Peter 1:5–7
“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” 

In the fall, our chapel speakers focused on virtue and knowledge, helping us lay a strong foundation of character and spiritual growth. In the spring, our attention turned toward brotherly kindness and charity, learning how to live out our faith in love and service to others.

Each morning, our Student Government officers reminded us to “add to your faith…” by highlighting one of these seven characteristics during announcements. These daily reminders helped reinforce the call to pursue a faith that grows in depth and action.

In our final chapel of the year, Mr. Gaines offered a meaningful challenge:
“Pick up the tools!”
He reminded students that the virtues in 2 Peter 1:5–7 are not just words to memorize, but tools to use. “We’ve put these tools in front of you because we love you,” he said. “It’s now between you and God to incorporate them into your lives.”

To our visiting chapel speakers: thank you! Thank you for showing up, for speaking truth, for inviting our students into your church communities, and for encouraging them to persevere in the faith using the seven tools from our theme passage.

As we head into the summer and beyond, our prayer is that students will continue to walk closely with Christ and regularly gather with a community of believers who will challenge and encourage them to grow.

-Jennifer George, Events Coordinator