Ministry Partners

Aatma Vikas – Hindi for Self Progress

A ministry run by Greg and Abhineeta Matney in India – that provides vocational training in exploited and marginalized communities in India. They also help local churches start local self-help groups, and encourage/equip them to be a beacon of hope for their communities! Last year, Aatma Vikas trained over 400 men and women. They operate 5 centers across central and northern India, with two focused on women caught up in human trafficking. You can learn more at avikas.org.

Story – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BANVAMU4GNc

You can also support the work by purchasing a gift from their missional company, TheSkippingStone. All products are handcrafted in India, and support women and children initiatives. The name TheSkippingStone comes from a Mother Teresa quote, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across many waters to create many ripples.”

Website – TheSkippingStone.com

Animated Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh9e4PNzQNY

Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child is the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, Operation Christmas Child, uses gift-filled shoeboxes to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world.

K-5th grade students collected items to pack in shoebox gifts for OCC. The middle school leadership team helped assemble boxes, sort items, and assist in the packing of the boxes. In 2016, SECS packed and paid for the shipping of just over 300 shoebox gifts. These shoebox gifts are distributed by OCC in over 100 countries around the world. Each gift is a gospel opportunity as Christ is shared during the distribution of the gifts and a six week discipleship class called “The Greatest Journey” is offered to the recipients of the shoebox gifts. https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/

Touching Africa Ministries

Dr. Michael and Ann Elliott are the founding directors of Touching Africa Ministries. While on their first trip to Ethiopia in 2005, they fell in love with the people and felt a deep burden for the many needs they encountered. Driven by their desire to make a difference, the Elliott’s lead teams of volunteers each year to work in communities across Ethiopia. It is the diversity of our programs that gives unique opportunities for our Touching Africa Ministry teams to work with people of all ages equipping them to deal with life’s challenges. Each program is uniquely designed to encourage, educate, and inspire.

https://touchingafricaministries.org/

For over seven years, students and staff have partnered with Touching Africa Ministries to raise the monies needed to purchase and distribute over 20,500 pairs of shoes and install 350 water filtrations systems in schools and villages in five communities across Ethiopia. To date, 6 SECS staff members have participated in 3 different summer trips to assist TAM in the work of missions helping to distribute shoes, install water filtration systems, work in medical clinics, distribute school supplies, as well as, participating in men’s, women’s, youth, and children’s programs. The leadership of Touching Africa Ministries is grateful for the opportunity to work with the Southeast Christian School community.

Praying Pelican Missions

Praying Pelican Missions: Praying Pelican Missions is a short-term international missions organization serving the needs of indigenous local churches, pastors, and communities around the world. https://www.prayingpelicanmissions.org/about-us

Every two years our 7th and 8th grades students have the opportunity to partner with Praying Pelican in Belize. In 2016-17, 80 students and parents joined the trip! Because so many participated, the team was able to support two separate churches. Each team helped in schools, provided support to building projects, and led art and sports camps for the neighborhood children.

Southeast Christian Church

Southeast Christian Church began in 1972 with five families and Pastor Russ McCracken and his wife, Bev. Russ continues to serve the church as Associate Care Pastor. In 2001, the church opened its doors to our school. We have enjoyed a long-standing, strong relationship as we, together, seek to serve the community. Southeast Christian Church welcomes you! http://www.southeastcc.org/start-here/

Lutheran High School

Lutheran High School’s mission statement – to nurture academic excellence and encourage growth in Christ – encompasses our promise to families. We promise to provide students with a means to academic success and ways to grow in their relationship with Christ while serving the community to make a greater impact. Our goal is to equip students to be lifelong Christians and prepare them for college, careers, and adulthood.  http://www.lhsparker.org

Lutheran High School has been blessed by many SECS graduates attending LuHi over the years. SECS students positively add to our community and culture. We appreciate the work SECS middle school teachers do in developing inquisitive minds and servant hearts. It is a great joy for LuHi teachers to continue to build on those foundations.