Mondays with Mike: Reflections From Our Alumni

In this third week Advent we focus on the Joy we have in Christ, and that is often through people we know and are close to.

In this week’s 10-minute podcast, I had the opportunity to welcome back a number of our recent alumni who are back from college for the holidays. We asked them a key question, “How are you doing?” What a joy to hear them. Listen below to my take-aways, or scroll further to read my summary.

Click on the picture above to listen to Mike’s 10-minute message on topics for parents.

Welcome back to another edition of “Mondays with Mike.” In the last few weeks, I shared key perspectives of life at Portsmouth Christian Academy (PCA): academic growth, student culture, and Christ being at the center of all we do. Today, I talk with some of our most recent alumni and get their take on life after PCA as well as their reflections on their time at PCA.

In this week’s Mondays with Mike, I reflect on the progress and well-being of recent Portsmouth Christian Academy graduates as they navigate life beyond our campus. During a meeting that lasted a couple of hours with about ten alumni, all graduates of our leadership program, the topics ranged widely, but fundamentally addressed our question, “How are you doing?”

Overwhelmingly, they expressed confidence in handling various challenges they face (many common, some unique), from writing papers to navigating college life and culture.

As we talked, their comments continued to circle back to faith. It was evident that these young men and women are actively engaging with their beliefs in different environments for the good of others. They shared the many ways they are plugged in and encouraged on campuses and local churches, how they are being discipled (and discipling others in some cases), and how they are serving their local communities through service programs or by simply living with Christian integrity among people hungry to hear about why these young men and women are living as they are. Many highlighted the significance of the apologetics course at PCA, emphasizing its impact on their ability to articulate their faith in diverse settings. Their commitment to fostering fellowship and serving as Christ-centered leaders in their communities was truly encouraging. What they shared affirmed our decision three years ago to increasingly introduce Christian servant leadership aspects into many areas of the school.

Academically, our alumni communicated strong confidence in their overall preparedness for the diverse challenges beyond PCA. They navigated college intricacies well, succeeding in fields like architecture while acknowledging the unique demands of their disciplines. The alumni’s feedback underscored the solid foundation provided by our teachers and our program, enabling them to tackle tasks like writing papers and conducting research and labs in ways their peers were not prepared for. Despite facing the rigors of specific programs, their struggles often revolved around managing varied workloads, emphasizing that overall PCA prepared them well. They would like more help with understanding finances, such as student loans and interest—we can certainly look at taking that on. The prevailing sentiment was gratitude for a well-rounded education that not only imparted knowledge but also instilled the tools and resilience needed for academic success.

Despite facing the complexities of life in a diverse and often unbelieving (though not hostile) living and working environment, these graduates are resolute in their pursuit of the Christian faith, learning in their declared areas or vocations, and understanding and then living out their identities in Christ. Their diverse paths–ranging from science to business to fine arts to ministry–contribute to a hopeful future for our society, New England, and the Church.

What an encouraging time with these graduates! We closed in prayer for them, and trust the Lord continues to work in and through them at this very special stage of their lives. I hope you are encouraged, too, that the PCA commitment to Christian Character, Compassionate Community, and a Challenging Curriculum do indeed lead to Christ-centered graduates who impact the world for good very soon after leaving PCA.

As we approach Christmas Day, and celebrate Christmastide (the days following Christmas, ending with Epiphany or Three Kings Day on January 6th), may you and yours be filled with true joy, enduring hope, and the assurance of Jesus’ transformative work for you and for our world. Thank you for your commitment to PCA, and may God bless you abundantly this Christmas and into the New Year.

The next Monday’s with Mike will be on January 8th. The topic will be centered on next year and what PCA preparing to focus on.