In the early 2000’s, Cornerstone’s founding Head of School, Becky Shamess, had the opportunity to travel to Africa along with a group of school leaders to see firsthand how God is at work in the Christian school movement on an international scale...
She returned from that trip having established a wonderful relationship with the administrators of Eagles’ Nest Christian School in Polokwane, South Africa. Our two schools began a pen pal partnership, sending letters and pictures back and forth across the ocean and praying for one another. As the staff and students became connected through prayers and regular communication, Cornerstone students approached us with their desire to collect an offering during monthly combined chapels to be sent to ENCS to contribute to their student scholarship fund. Eventually, plans were made for select groups of students and staff to engage in cross-cultural exchange experiences with teams of school ambassadors visiting each other’s schools on alternating years. This has been an incredibly rich partnership that has served to broaden our students’ understanding of the global church and deepen their relationships with Christ and with one another.
A team of six CCA students and two staff members was just about to embark on a three-week journey to South Africa in March 2020 when it seemed that the whole world suddenly shut down. Needless to say, there was much disappointment when the decision was made to remain stateside. After a long hiatus, we are pleased to be sending a team back to Eagles’ Nest this spring. While there, they will attend and speak in classes and chapels at ENCS and live on campus in housing provided for the school’s residential students. The team from Cornerstone will travel with students and staff from Eagles’ Nest into Zimbabwe for a week of outreach and service work in conjunction with Foundations for Farming. They will celebrate Easter with our South African brothers and sisters before spending a few days sightseeing and returning home.
Each member of the CornerstONE FAMILY has the opportunity to participate in this amazing experience. A few will go. Many will send. All will pray.
