Head of School Blog

The week before Spring Break, our high-school students had the opportunity to go on their IMPACT trips. These are week-long trips where our students lead, learn, and serve others. Some students served locally, some served in other states, and some served in other countries. A special thanks to Mrs. Conrey, who spends all year planning the details and logistics of our trips so that our students can have these life-changing experiences. We appreciate her heart for missions and her leadership over our IMPACT program.

In Acts 1:8, we find some of Jesus’ last words to His disciples. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

God has called us to be a witness for Him in Jerusalem (our city), in Judea and Samaria (state and country), and to the end of the earth (other countries).  This year, our students took trips to the following places:

• GR8 State Adventure - Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee
• It's All Greek to Us! - Athens, Greece
• Ministran en Roatan - Roatan, Honduras
• Mission: Music City - Nashville, TN
• Mission: Space Coast - Merritt Island, FL
• Smoky Mountains for the Soul - Sevierville, TN
• Starry Nights & Studio Lights - Local
• Takin' on Tucson - Tucson, Arizona
• Waves of Compassion - Oahu, Hawaii

We want to be a blessing to people where we minister, but we also want these trips to have a profound impact on our students. Here are some things that our chaperones noticed in our students this year:

• “What stood out most was how God worked in our students. Many stepped outside of their comfort zones—leading worship, starting conversations, and serving with joy. We saw growth in confidence and humility and a genuine desire to put others first. One student said it best: ‘ministry isn’t just about where you go—it’s about how you show up.’ This group showed up ready to serve and lived out Mark 10:45—that we are called not to be served, but to serve.”
• “It was really special to watch God work in and through them. They spent hours having real, meaningful conversations about their faith, their lives, and what they’re walking through, and I could just see how He was drawing them closer to each other.I was so proud of the way they represented our school. They truly loved people well, worked together as a team, and showed exactly what Cornerstone is all about.”
• “Students really stepped into their faith. They served selflessly, even in situations that felt uncomfortable. I loved seeing the different students who took on leadership roles. Some of the ones who are typically more quiet here at school really stepped forward and led their peers in meaningful ways. Every organization we served was blown away by our kids. We heard things like ‘this is the best group of teenagers we've ever worked with’ at nearly every turn.”
• “One thing we noticed on our IMPACT Trip happened when we had an opportunity to share the Gospel on the streets and in two neighborhoods. At first, approaching people that did not speak English was challenging for our students. It was encouraging to see their confidence grow throughout the week as they realized speaking words is not the only way to communicate God's love to others.”
• One of the organizations we worked with reached out to us after the trip was over and said, “We are humbly grateful for the students and chaperones of Cornerstone for the incredible display of selfless love they showed us last week. What inspiration and encouragement these students provided to our volunteers! Your students were a beautiful demonstration of Jesus’ love.”

It was encouraging to see our students live out our theme verse for the year. 1 Corinthians 16:13: “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”

On Wednesday, April 22nd, our elementary students had the opportunity to put their fath in action through Cornerstone Cares. Hebrews 13:16 says, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” This year, we partnered with Feed the Hunger to help feed at-risk children physically and spiritually by sharing Jesus with the recipients. 

We are grateful for our Cornerstone families. We appreciate the example our parents set for their children by showing them the importance of sharing the gospel and serving others.