NTCA’s Faith Development Program Provides UNCOMMON Opportunities

At NTCA, our goal is to foster leadership through Christian innovation. With faith being integral to our core values, we recently saw a need for students to have more opportunities to explore their faith. Like every other aspect of our project-based school, it needed to be innovative. When building our faith development program, we brought together the core elements of living in a more intentional, spiritual way: celebration, discipleship, service and leadership. Each of those elements has its own way of bringing students closer to God and His uncommon love for us. 

Celebration

Students gather every week to explore their faith through group celebrations. They sing, they pray and they learn all about the values of their Christian education. UNCOMMON hosts a full Week of Spiritual Emphasis twice a year that allows students to dive even deeper into their faith, starting the new semester off with an affirmation of their beliefs.  

Discipleship

At the Campus Ministries Lounge, students have the chance to speak to ministry leaders on campus about their unique faith journeys. They can also work with trained peer Bible counselors, who provide Bible studies and counseling to their fellow students. This area is dedicated to helping students form their faith on a more personal level. 

Service

Service is part of the curriculum at NTCA. From serving food at local food banks to partnering with World Vision to help provide shelter and education to children around the world, students have the opportunity to serve those who are near and far away. Many of the service opportunities tie in with their project-based classroom lessons, allowing students to learn while doing hands-on work with real-world impact. 

Leadership

Students interested in shaping the spiritual atmosphere on campus can join the Campus Ministries Team, led by Pr. David Craig. Campus Ministries Team members plan outreach programs, organize events and lead praise teams on campus. Through this program, students learn leadership skills that can be applied to the real world, whether or not they decide to pursue spiritual leadership in the future. 

Students at our Tampa Christian school thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

Empowering Spiritual Leaders: a Look into NTCA's Campus Ministries Team

North Tampa Christian Academy provides a multitude of opportunities for students looking for ways to grow in their faith. The school’s UNCOMMON faith development program offers support for families, faculty, staff and students through celebration, discipleship and service. For those looking to take their faith formation one step further, there’s the Campus Ministries Team.

How the Campus Ministries Team Works

The Campus Ministries Team, led by Pr. David Craig, plays a vital role in shaping the spiritual atmosphere on campus, empowering students to become spiritual leaders. Members are selected based on their desire to impact the school in a positive way and their willingness to grow spiritually. Specific responsibilities include leading praise teams, organizing events, planning outreach programs, and more. These students spend their time on the team developing leadership skills and putting their faith into practice.

“Students benefit in a special way because they are able to collaborate with a small team to achieve a specific goal that will impact our school and others for the better,” the pastor said. “We plan together, we grow together, we learn together, we pray together, we dream together, we fail together, and we succeed together as a community of spiritual leaders on campus.”

Community Engagement and Outreach

NTCA students are no strangers to being active in the community. Through project-based class assignments, every student on campus has the opportunity to serve others. The Campus Ministries Team takes community engagement even further through special events, outreach programs, and mission trips. The team strives to build bridges that foster growth and collaboration within the community.

Training and Leadership Development

Members of the Campus Ministries Team develop leadership skills, public speaking abilities, and mentorship. They learn how to cast a vision, organize events, and lead small groups, all of which contribute to their overall growth and development as spiritual leaders. While they have a plethora of opportunities now, even more will be coming in the not so distant future. 

Future Plans for the Campus Ministries Team

“Some future plans and goals our team has include a school mission trip next year that will give our students a realization of how blessed we are and how we have the opportunity to bless others,” Pr. Craig said. “Also in the plans are spiritual retreats, small group opportunities, as well as community outreach opportunities.“

The Campus Ministries Team at NTCA plays a crucial role in empowering students to become spiritual leaders within their school and community. Through collaboration, mentorship, and active engagement, members of the team are able to grow spiritually and make a difference in the lives of others. 

Students at our Tampa private school thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation.Contact us today to learn more.

5 Ways Children Can Find Their Faith in the New Year

The new year is here, and now is the perfect time to get focused on faith. Many people use January to form new habits to start the year off right. Now that the holiday season has ended, the whole family can take some time to consider what their faith journey looks like. Here are a few ways your child can work on discovering their Christian faith this year: 

Regular Bible Study

There’s no better way to get immersed in Christian faith than studying the Bible. Help your child find age-appropriate Bible lessons to study over the course of the year. If you think your child is ready, see if this could be the year they read the Bible in its entirety for the first time. There are plenty of Bible reading plans available online. Whether it’s studying the Bible or reading it, the best way to build this new habit is to dedicate time to it every single day. 

Building Prayer Habits

Prayer is the best tool for making faith personal. By praying each day, or even a few times a day, your child can build a personal relationship with God. Encourage individual prayer, and pray together as a family. Let your child know that they can seek God’s guidance at any time, no matter what they’re going through in life. 

Worshiping with Others

For children, faith building often happens in a community setting. Joining groups at church or attending a Christian school can give children of faith extra opportunities to better understand what it means to be a Christian. Being surrounded by examples of living in faith helps children see how they can live in it themselves. 

Incorporating Faith in Daily Life

There’s more to faith than memorizing Bible verses and gospel lessons. Children find faith more relatable when it’s part of their everyday lives. This can mean treating others with love, respect and kindness. It may also look like donating to charity or helping a neighbor in need. Children can find plenty of ways to live fully in their faith and make it a focus of their lives.  

Seeking Spiritual Guidance

Sometimes, the spiritual path isn’t so straightforward, especially for children who are especially curious about the world around them. They may have a lot of questions that aren’t answered by simply reading a passage out of a book. This is where having guidance from spiritual leaders can help. The more a child can explore their faith and ask questions, the more invested they will be in their spiritual journey. 

At North Tampa Christian Academy, we have an UNCOMMON faith development program that helps children discover their faith through discipleship, celebration and service. Students at our Tampa Christian school thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.