CCAF CULTURE
The end of December and the start of January, often clear and sunny, were colder and cloudier than usual this year in our region of Guatemala. The grey, overcast sky and the empty school campus evoked a sense of quiet expectation—the calm before the happy storm of a new school year. The greyness was short-lived, and the first Monday morning of the new year was warm, clear, and bright as school staff arrived at our annual retreat in advance of the start of classes. There was a tangible sense of hope and cheerfulness; old friends reconnected, and new faces were introduced. Every year, one goes to the staff retreat expecting to receive a fresh word from the Lord, and this year was no different. Pastor Danny shared on Leviticus 6:8-13, which reads,
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, “This is the law of the burnt offering. The burnt offering shall be on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it. And the priest shall put on his linen garment and put his linen undergarment on his body, and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and put them beside the altar. Then he shall remove his garments, put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.
The ashes of our spiritual life represent the leftovers of what has been—shadows of the past. It could be grief, disappointment, or simply old habits that no longer serve our best interests, but removing them allows God to clothe us in new garments and make us fit for his service. This process of renewal is essential if the fire of the altar in our hearts is to remain burning. Like the English translation of our school’s name, we are to “fan the flame” of love and adoration by removing the old ashes and being clothed again in purity and holiness. This is a high calling, and each staff member, whether it’s their first or fifteenth year working for GSO, is responsible for making sure that the fire never goes out.
With that renewed passion, we welcomed our students back to school the following Monday. We once again have over 300 students at our Pastores campus, but they are joined this year by over 25 students at our growing satellite campus in Poptún, Petén—an over 100% increase in attendance from last year! Jervin and Jasmin are running the show, and Carolyn and Samantha, our beloved student-turned-teachers, are returning as well. The crew is joined by Alex, Jenny, and Johanna, three staff members who have moved across the country to be a part of God’s work at the new school. The success of our 2024 year-end campaign makes us excited to keep the momentum going for the new campus, and we expect it to grow more each year by God’s grace and provision.
"Look at these children. It’s not about the quantity; it’s about what’s happening in these kids’ lives. These children are the generations."
Later in January, we also welcomed our first Short-term team of the year, with the Grade 12 class from Maranatha Christian Academy in Windsor, Ontario, visiting us. “I love it,” said MCA student Danmara, “The Holy Spirit is really moving in this place, and feeling the presence of God (here), in Guatemala, and seeing a culture so on fire for God is phenomenal.” Many of the staff chaperones have now visited us multiple times over the years. “There are always new opportunities,” said Kae Anne, an MCA teacher who was visiting us for the fourth time. “To see the school growing—the new science lab is beautiful, and (even though I’ve been here before) it’s new for our students. I give them a little idea of what to expect beforehand, but seeing them in worship for the first time, embracing that, and being included and brought into everything—it’s so rewarding. That alone makes the trip worthwhile.”
Whether they are a new student, a short-term team member, or an English teacher, we want everyone who visits us, whether for the first or fourth time, to be brought into and immersed in our school culture, aka “cultura CCAF.” It’s like a swimming pool; if you dive in, you’re going to get wet. Karina, our head of schools, commented, “In the devotions with the older kids, there are very few of the new students who don’t participate in worship. If someone previously had difficulty worshiping, they feel free to do so (at our school.) That’s what CCAF culture promotes; it’s a culture of freedom.” That freedom in Christ creates an environment where children and young people are excited and want to go to school, something unheard of in most institutions, especially in high school. “It’s satisfying for us, as teachers, to see the high school students so happy,” Karina said, “God is bringing us young people who want to be impacted.”
CCAF culture and everything that it implies—freedom, happiness, worship, and purity—doesn’t happen by itself; it must be cultivated and maintained. The ashes must be taken out. The garments must be changed. The fire must never go out. Each new year presents new challenges, but our vision remains the same, and God continues to sustain us through each bend of the road. Before the pandemic, there was only one CCAF school, but now, five years after COVID, we have two thriving campuses. While many businesses had to close or reduce operations, God used the trial of those years to multiply us, focus our vision, and take us to the next level. Whatever the future holds, we know he won’t fail.
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