By David North

WHILE Lions Gate Christian Academy has always shown an interest in community service and missions, this year marks another first for the school.

The school’s grade 9 class is preparing to embark on an eight day trip to Mexico, where they will work at an orphanage – thus experiencing first-hand what it means to follow Christ’s directive, to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth.

Throughout the years, these students have participated in a variety of community service projects: preparing and serving food for the hungry in one of North Vancouver’s soup kitchens; participating in a North Shore shoreline cleanup project; helping an elderly lady who lives across the street from the school with gardening and lawn care; and providing hot chocolate to road construction crews, who spent many cold, rainy days digging up the road in front of the school.

In all these situations,  students were encouraged to share their faith, and demonstrate the love of God in practical ways.

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Many times, it has been the students themselves who recognized a need, and thought of ways in which they could help.

These things have in fact been part of their preparation for that next step: involvement in world missions. Needless to say, they are excited about this opportunity to serve.

The ‘Mexico Missions Trip’ is scheduled for March 12 – 22. Along with two teachers, the students will fly to Mexico, then go by car to the orphanage – which is affiliated with Hope for the Nations, located in San Lucas, Mexico.

Both teachers and students will assist with preparation of meals, cleaning and landscaping, as well as helping the orphans with their chores and homework.

Students will assist with a feeding ministry for children who live on the streets, and will visit a home for the elderly.

Both staff and students at Lions Gate are grateful for this opportunity, and look forward to discovering where God will lead them in the future – as they continue along the journey from servanthood to servant leadership.

David North is Lions Gate’s principal.

February 2008