By: Angela Veugeler
Established more than 50 years ago and currently the third largest private school in Georgia, the mission of Greater Atlanta Christian School (GAC) is “to help each student grow as Jesus did in wisdom, and stature, and in favor with God and man.”
With a diverse student body from 90 zip codes and 14 counties in the Atlanta area, along with a number of international students, GAC has dozens of accolades; they jumped on the technology bandwagon early and are an Apple distinguished school, with over 1,231 MacBook Airs in grades 4-12, and 1-to-1 iPads in grades 2 to 3. They offer a diverse and competitive athletic program, as well as a broad range of after school activities. Serving in the local community and beyond is one of the bedrock components of a GAC education.
Scott Harsh, Vice President of Strategic Planning, and Derek Wilson, Head Chapel Leader, shared some of the service opportunities GAC students take part in, and gave insight into some of the mission trips offered at the high school level.
Some of the local and national organizations students serve at include Annandale Village in Suwanee, 7Bridges Atlanta and Shiloh NYC, an at-risk youth program in New York City.
The missions program at GAC started almost 20 years ago, with an orphanage in Mexico the school still aids. Last year, the students were on five continents on 26 different short-term mission trips. A number of trips focus on improving the health and community where they are going, making a lasting difference. The school partners with organizations that have been at these locations long-term.
Harsh and Wilson shared the impact these trips are having: “Missions really are igniting passion within kids to serve, give back, and bring awareness. It changes them when they come back to school- quite a few learn they want to do something associated with the mission trip they went on.”
Wilson shared, “We have a lot of opportunities to do stuff like this. Even around Atlanta, there are lots of service projects. All the small things we can do to help out, even in our own communities is really nice.”
Greece
In Greece, two former GAC teachers help lead a ministry that provides immediate food and shelter for Syrian refugees.
Honduras
In Honduras, GAC is working with Pech Indians, descendants of Mayans. They go into the poorest valley in the poorest province where people have dirt floors to help stop parasites and control the temperature better. They put in chimneys, which help expand 
people’s life span by 1o years (before the chimneys the homes were filled with smoke from the fire). They dig latrines for them, to keep waste going into their water supply.
Dominican Republic
In Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, GAC works with Casas por Cristo. Families there usually live in a shack with dirt floors. GAC raises money for the homes, digs the foundations, pour the concrete and builds the walls. The families usually join in the process, so the students get to know them while they are building. Afterward, many times students send cards and presents to families through Casas por Cristo.
Ecuador
In Ecuador, GAC works with local churches to make improvements for families and helped lay the foundation for a church.
China
In China, GAC works with the largest special needs orphanage in Beijing. Many of the kids have heart defects, cerebral palsy, or cleft palate. There are over 100 orphans. The GAC students sponsor a child at the orphanage.
To learn more about Greater Atlanta Christian School, visit them online at greateratlantachristian.org, or schedule a visit to their campus located in Norcross.
GAC Student Mission Spotlights:
Cole Winkler
Duluth/Johns Creek, GA
Where did you visit?
I spent the summer in Nicaragua.
Had you been there before?
Yes ma’m, I went in 8th grade with my family, then again with the school and my family and again with my family over Thanksgiving. We are really involved with this organization called Amigos for Christ. My dad has been going since I was in 6th grade.
What did you do while you were there?
Most of the times we put in water pipeline- none of the villages have clean water, so we dig water lines to each house. The number one killer there is kidney disease; it gets so hot, so we bring clean water to eliminate parasites, give them water to clean clothes and to give to their children.
The process works like this: A community (in Nicaragua) comes to Amigos for Christ and asks for clean water. We work with their community to build leadership within while installing the water lines, so they can sustain them after we leave and for years to come. The components are:
1. Health– building modern bathrooms and access to clean water so they don’t get parasites.
2. Education– building schools so they can educate themselves.
3. Building up community– giving microloans so they can start businesses beyond farming.
Were there any other cool stories you wanted to share?
Over the summer when I was there we built a school. When I went back, I was in the car driving toward the village. There was a nine-year-old kid I made friends with- he saw me in the back of the cab and starting yelling and ran up to the car. He said “mono loco” (which means crazy monkey, a nickname they gave me). He couldn’t speak English before, but he could this time. I asked him how he learned it and he said, “You know how you built a school when you were here? I learned it in school.”
What was the experience like?
“It made me much more grateful for what I have here. There was one kid that said, “I’m really hungry mom.” She told him “we don’t have any food right now, you have to wait for dinner.” I thought about how I can just go into the pantry and get something to eat anytime I want. How thankful people are there, has taught me to be more happy about regular things.”
Connor Castleberry
Duluth, GA
Where did you visit?
Shepherd’s Field Children’s Village in China.
Had you been there before?
I went last summer for the first time, and am planning to go this summer for an internship.
Shepherd’s Field Children’s Village is an orphanage for special needs children. In China you have the one child policy. A lot of times when there is something wrong with their baby or a medical problem that’s too expensive to fix, they will abandon the child, which creates a big problem. We were there to do whatever they asked. The first day, we just started loving on the kids. We would put on a skit, do crafts. It turned into organized chaos, they would be jumping on your back, having fun. We would help teach kids that didn’t get adopted life skills. We would go into houses with babies and younger kids and hold and play with them (there were not enough caretakers compared to the number of children). We would also teach them about the English culture.
Are you excited to go back?
Yes, I’m going with GAC in late May for 10 days, and will stay another three or four weeks for an internship.
Nate Richey
Lawrenceville, GA
Where did you visit?
Athens, Greece. I went last year for the first time, and am going back in February.
What did you do when you were there?
We work with a ministry in the city. There are lots of Muslim refugees in Athens who are fleeing the war. They take them in, feed them once or twice a day, give them water to shower, help do their laundry. While doing this, they will teach about God. We help with all of the ministries, but the main purpose is to connect with the refugees, help them learn who Christ is. They don’t speak English, but it’s fun getting to know them. We had a special relationship with Benjamin, he was 17 or 18 years-old. We got really close to him; he had just been baptized three days before we arrived. He was going to be leaving to go to Switzerland-we saw him off, prayed for him. We keep in touch through Facebook messages a lot.
How did going there impact you?
It made me think a lot more about my family. Most of these people don’t have their entire family with them. They have to go a couple at a time. It gives me a new outlook on the refugee crisis, making me want to help more.
Maddie Martin
Duluth/Johns Creek, GA
Where did you visit?
San Raymundo, Guatemala, about one hour from Guatemala City. I’ve been to Guatemala 2 years in a row, and am going back in April.
What did you do while you were there?
We built a house. It takes about three days. There are about 16 students that work in a group to build the house.
What was the experience like?
All of the kids are so happy. They don’t have anything; their houses are made with whatever they can find-sticks and stuff. They get so much joy from playing with a block of wood. People from all over the neighborhood would come help us build the houses. They are so excited to help. Their outlook on life is so good and they are so happy even though they don’t have anything.
Were there any other cool stories you wanted to share?
The first year we were there, we were building a house for a family with a three-year-old girl. Her dad didn’t believe in God. The mom wouldn’t marry him until he became a Christian. When we went to their house to visit the second year, we saw their wedding pictures in the house. She said because we came and built the house, her husband became a Christian and they got married.
Jordan Bullard
Lawrenceville, GA
Where did you visit?
Honduras this past February. We flew into Tegucigalpa, and drove about 8 hours to a small town we stayed in.
What did you do while you were there?
We built latrines, and put down cement floors. They didn’t have a concrete mixer, so we would hand mix the concrete. You would make what looked like a volcano, scoop 70 shovels of dirt, put the concrete on top of it, put the shovel in it, put water in. Before the concrete floors were installed, these families were living on the dirt.
What was the experience like?
It was very rewarding, building these for families. We worked side by side with them. In every village you develop friendships with the people that live there.
Do you plan to go back?
Yes, I’m going back to Honduras in February and to City of Children in April and July.
