Dear Hill Country Families,

We are on the cusp of the end of the school year, which also means we are on the cusp of one of the most meaningful moments in the life of our school: graduation.

While the word graduation may conjure up images that resemble robes and the familiar sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance,” I want to draw your attention to something that may not be the first thing to jump to your mind when you hear the word graduation.

When I think of graduation, I think of it as a launch pad. Like a rocket ship poised for takeoff and ready to fly to the moon.

Well, that may be too dramatic. But I really do view our school as an institution aimed at launching our students. Yes, we want them to get into the school of their choice and be successful in whatever endeavors they pursue. But more importantly, we want them to launch into the world to make kingdom impact.

The apostle Paul refers to this notion as being Christ’s ambassadors: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

In this way, graduation is so much more than leaving this place and moving to the next educational endeavor. It is nothing short of them stepping out into the world as chief representatives for the most high God. In this way, they are being launched to something far greater than the next level of education.

I love that graduation is and has always been the intent of schools like ours. These students, while a huge gift to us while present in our classrooms and hallways, were never meant to be permanent fixtures. The intent has always been to prepare them for launch. Every moment spent at home around the dinner table, every paper written, and every assignment given was intended to prepare them well to be ambassadors, chief representatives of the God of the universe.

This Saturday is a big day. It is a day to celebrate the accomplishments of these young men and women, but more importantly, to look forward with eager anticipation to the numerous ways our graduates will be launched into the world for kingdom impact.

Join us in celebrating and preparing for launch this Saturday, May 23, at 10:00 a.m., in the Hill Country Bible Church Worship Center.

With anticipation,

Eric DeVries, Head of School