Cultivating [ spaces ]: Recent Episodes
Lexington Christian Academy
Welcome to Cultivating [ spaces ] - a podcast presented by Lexington Christian Academy in Lexington Massachusetts. Here is where experts and thought leaders in Christian learning communities discuss what’s on their mind and inside their work. Where faith and learning intersect/ Where good ideas… grow.learn more about Lexington Christian Academy at www.lca.edu
In an era where conversations can quickly become polarized, how can we equip young people to engage in thoughtful, respectful dialogue? How can we teach the next generation to stand firm in their convictions while also listening with empathy and understanding? And what role does a Christian education play in shaping students into future leaders who can navigate complex issues in our world with wisdom and grace? Two of LCA’s beloved teachers, who also co-lead LCA's Model UN club, Emma Witmer and Anneke Lujan, dive into answering these questions with their unique expertise and wisdom.
For parents and students alike, the college search can be an overwhelming and daunting process! So, hear some words of wisdom from LCA's Director of College Advising, Rob Scaro, and be encouraged. Take a deep breath. Bust the college myths. Learn what's coming. Be prepared. And know that we are here to walk alongside students as they find the very best fit for them in the next step of their journey beyond the hallways of LCA!
The Gospel Changes Everything. Christopher Greco and Nate Grimley join us for part II of a mini series to talkabout spiritual formation and the practical impact in our lives. Together, we’ll take a deeper dive into our unique theme for this school year — how the Gospel changes everything.
In addition to the many roles they play at LCA, Greco and Grimley are a part of LCA’s spiritual formation team, committed to and deeply passionate about spiritual growth and discipleship in the lives of our middle schoolers and high schoolers.
What does it mean to put our faith into action? Jenna Olson and Nelio Franco join us for part I of a mini series to talkabout spiritual formation. What is spiritual formation? Why it is important? And how does LCA think about spiritual formation in the lives of our middle schoolers and high schoolers?
As part of our spiritual formation team, these two are extremely passionate about spiritual growth and developing young hearts to love Jesus. LCA is so blessed to have this team leading the way in spiritual formation.
Originally recorded in May of 2021
David Smith (Calvin University, Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning) and Dorothy Vaandering (Memorial University) join LCA's Director of Academic Advising Jean Noh to discuss how technology is influencing our communities, how education is changing, and what makes Christian education different.
Donna Williams (English & World Languages Division Head) discusses the ways that Christian education offers something special to students. Donna Williams offers decades of experience teaching Spanish and French, leading student leaders, and investing in service.
STEM division head, Eileen Ng. This is the last episode of our four part mini series featuring conversations about what's different about teaching & learning in a Christian environment. Eileen shares the many ways that faith and science intersect and support one another magnificently, and inspires us with her passion for scientific discover and deep commitment to faith.
Christopher Greco (Arts Division Head) shares his perspective on what makes Christian education different. He shares his decades of experience engaging students in creativity and worship, and inspires us to appreciate the process even more than the result of our labor.
David Pothier (Bible & Social Studies Division Head) discusses the ways Christian education is set apart. He shares his experience navigating conversations about history from a uniquely Christian worldview, and inspires us to love our neighbors through remembering and investigating our historical heroes.
Dr. Kevin Taylor (Wellspring Christian Education) joins us to discuss the value of Christian education, our responsibility as educators to be non-anxious presences in our children's lives, and the many ways that students can be spiritually formed in the context of Christian schooling.
Cultivating [competition] hosts a conversation with LCA's Athletic Director, Andrew Mitchell, and former athletic director, esteemed coach, director of admissions, and beloved alumni, Ryan Patrie. The impact of athletics in the lives of our young people is powerful, so join us in talking about roles athletics play in developing young leaders and discipling the next generation of Christ followers.
Originally published in May 2021
Makoto Fujimura (world renowned artist) and Dr. Sheila Wise Rowe (Author) join Christopher Greco (LCA Arts Division Head) discuss finding beauty in brokenness and understanding the profound hope that can be found in the Gospel.
Originally published in May 2021
Dr. Virginia Ward (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) and Dr. Alison Cook (Author) join LCA parent and former trustee, Robert Bloodworth to discuss meaningful strategies for bringing hope to the next generation.
Kevin has taught for over two decades in Christian schools in Guatemala, in Kansas, and in Littleton, Colorado, where he currently teaches at Front Range Christian School and lives with his wife and two daughters. He holds a PhD in Religious Studies from Boston University, as well as a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Wichita State University. He loves reading, writing, and collaborating with others on projects that bring together cultural studies, spiritual formation and education. He is currently exploring the viability of a professional development venture aimed at helping Christian schools grow in Christ-centeredness.
This discussion covers a lot of ground - we discuss what teenagers are really worried about — as reported by them, and how we can be non-anxious presences in their lives. We talk about what it means to do well in school, how we ought to be engaging with culture and difficult conversations as followers of Jesus, and of course we share our best guesses about where the future of Christian education is headed.
Links to things I've written that I refer to during the podcast:
Blog entry from my website - Is Christian Education Safe? Heavens, No (and Yes)!
Blog post from Christian Deeper Learning blog - Teachers as Non-anxious and Hope-filled Presences [I just sent this to them, so there's no link yet, but I'm thinking they could release it very soon if they like it since they don't currently have a large backlog on their shelf--Maybe I could even ask them to release it simultaneously with the podcast episode to help grow your audience a bit, since I actually refer to our chat in the written piece and could provide a link to it there]
Dissertation - Habits of the Hearth: Parenting, Religion, and the Good Life in America
Learn more aboutLexington Christian Academy, a co-ed Day and Boarding School for students in grades 6-12. Located in Lexington, Massachusetts.
As we prepare to celebrate 75 years of God’s faithfulness in Christian Education through our school - Lexington Christian Academy - we have sat down with our longest-serving head of school, Mr. Barry Koops. Barry served at LCA from 1990 - 2006 and led this community through so many important years and major milestones that continue to influence what we do today.
Learn more aboutLexington Christian Academy, a co-ed Day and Boarding School for students in grades 6-12. Located in Lexington, Massachusetts.
Today’s episode features a conversation with Mrs. Eileen Ng - LCA STEM Division Head and one of our incredible science faculty. Eileen’s passion for the ways scientific discovery intersects with faith oozes from every word she shares in this conversation. We discuss Creation as evidence of God’s innovativeness and provision, and explore the idea that Jesus Himself may have been the ultimate STEM teacher. Eileen is thoughtful, so excited about science, and deeply, authentically faithful.
Learn more aboutLexington Christian Academy, a co-ed Day and Boarding School for students in grades 6-12. Located in Lexington, Massachusetts.
Today’s episode features a conversation with LCA’s veteran faculty member, Christopher Greco. Christopher is a veteran educator and long-time pastor who has a seemingly endless list of talents and a strikingly beautiful take on ways we engage in creativity and worship. He currently serves as LCA's Theatre Director, Arts Division Head, and Chapel Band Coordinator. Christopher offers a unique perspective on the relationship between improvisation and discipleship, the value of eclecticism in worship, and the importance of valuing the process and not just the production.
Learn more aboutLexington Christian Academy, a co-ed Day and Boarding School for students in grades 6-12. Located in Lexington, Massachusetts.
Today’s episode features a conversation with LCA’s veteran faculty member, David Pothier. David has worn many hats over his nearly 20 years at LCA - He many students’ and alumni’s favorite history teacher, and David currently serves as the Division Head for the Bible and Social Studies Division. David also currently leads our student Prefect Board, pouring into our student leaders and playing an instrumental role in shaping culture among our upper school students. In this conversation, David offers his perspective on the role our faith plays in how we look at history and historical “heroes”, and how studying things and people of the past can actually be one of the ways we practice loving our neighbor
Learn more aboutLexington Christian Academy, a co-ed Day and Boarding School for students in grades 6-12. Located in Lexington, Massachusetts.
Today’s episode features a conversation with LCA’s legendary faculty member, Donna Williams. Donna has taught French and Spanish at LCA for forty years and she shares a wealth of wisdom, experience, and faithfulness to this conversation about what sets Christian education apart. Donna brings her heart and soul to this conversation, and shares a beautiful vision for how we ought to do things differently as followers of Christ.
Learn more aboutLexington Christian Academy, a co-ed Day and Boarding School for students in grades 6-12. Located in Lexington, Massachusetts.
Today’s episode features a conversation with LCA’s newest Athletic Director Andrew Mitchell, and current Director of Domestic Admission, esteemed coach, alumn, and former LCA Athletic Director Ryan Patrie. Andrew and Ryan are both passionate about the impact athletics has on students both in and outside the classroom… but more importantly, they are completely committed to and transparent about their faith. In this conversation, Ryan and Andrew talk about the roles athletics can play in developing young leaders, and discipling the next generation of Christ followers.
This conversation will - without a doubt - get you fired up to give whatever you’re working on your all.
Learn more aboutLexington Christian Academy, a co-ed Day and Boarding School for students in grades 6-12. Located in Lexington, Massachusetts.
Today’s episode features a conversation with LCA’s very own Director of College Advising, Rob Scaro. Mr. Scaro has been leading LCA's students through the college admissions process for 5 years, and brings a unique and challenging perspective to the table for students and parents alike. In addition to being the Director of College Advising, Rob is also a Varsity Men’s Basketball Coach, Social Studies teacher and LCA parent... and he brings all of those roles to the table in this conversation.
Here we talk about the current state and future of college admissions, what a counter-cultural Christian worldview adds to the application and decision making process… and Rob lends some valuable advice to those about to embark on this journey.
Learn more aboutLexington Christian Academy, a co-ed Day and Boarding School for students in grades 6-12. Located in Lexington, Massachusetts.
Today’s episode features a discussion between Dr. Virginia Ward and Dr. Alison Cook on the topic of hope. This conversation originally aired live as night number two of a four virtual webinar event in May 2021 called Cultivating [ hope ].
Dr. Virginia Ward joins us out of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary where she is the Dean of the Boston Campus Executive Director for the Northeast Region. She’s also an Assistant Professor of Youth Ministry and Leadership. Dr. Ward has an abundance of experience leading and ministering to youth, specifically in urban settings.
Dr. Alison Cook is counselor, speaker, and co-author of Boundaries for Your Soul, a book turning your most challenging thoughts and feelings into your greatest assets. She’s also a parent of two LCA Alumni! These two incredible women sat down with LCA Trustee and Parent and Local Pastor Robert Bloodworth to discuss some strategies in giving our young people hope when things are hard.
Discover more about Dr. Virginia Ward HERE.
Find and purchase It's Personal: Five Questions You Should Answer to Give Every Kid Hope, co-authored by Dr. Ward.
Discover more about Dr. Alison Cook HERE.
Find and purchase Boundaries for Your Soul: How to Turn Your Overwhelming Thoughts and Feelings into Your Greatest Allies, co-authored by Dr. Cook.
Learn more aboutLexington Christian Academy, a co-ed Day and Boarding School for students in grades 6-12. Located in Lexington, Massachusetts.
David Smith joins us from Calvin University where he is a renowned professor and leads the Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning. David is also a prolific author who has done extraordinary work in the areas of faith and learning. Dorothy Vaandering joins us from Newfoundland and Labrador, where she is a Professor of Education at Memorial University. She has a long history working in and through public and Christian schools alike, and done amazing work in the realm of restorative justice in education, working to connect theory and practice. Jean Noh, LCA’s own Academic Advisor moderates this discussion that spans everything from how technology is influencing our families and learning communities, how education itself is changing, and what sets Christian education apart.
Find David Smith's written work on Amazon HERE.Discover more about David HERE.
Discover more about Dorothy Vaandering HERE.
Learn more aboutLexington Christian Academy, a co-ed Day and Boarding School for students in grades 6-12. Located in Lexington, Massachusetts.
World-renowned artist Makoto Fujimura, prolific author and truth-teller Shiela Wise Rowe, and LCA’s very own theatre director Christopher Greco engage on what we ought to expect form our efforts to heal, finding beauty in brokenness, and understanding the profound hope in the gospel message, specifically its roots in the resurrection.
Find Makoto Fujimura's written work including Art + Faith: A Theology of Making on Amazon HERE.Discover more about Makoto HERE.
Find Sheila Wise Rowe's written work HERE.
Discover more about Sheila HERE.
Learn more aboutLexington Christian Academy, a co-ed Day and Boarding School for students in grades 6-12. Located in Lexington, Massachusetts.
In our inaugural episode, we revisit the fourth and final night of our live webinar series from May 2021: Cultivating [ spaces]. Michael Gulker, the Co-founder and President of The Colossian Forum, and Daniel Harrell, beloved New England Pastor and former Editor-in-Chief at Christianity Today join LCA's Amy Chaney to discuss the challenges facing parents of adolescents as it relates to navigating a rapidly changing and divided culture.
Visit The Colossian Forum to learn more about their work with churches and faith communities navigating difficult and/or divisive conversations on a variety of topics.
Learn more about Lexington Christian Academy, a coed Day and Boarding School for students in grades 6-12, located in Lexington, Massachusetts.