“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” Matthew 13:31–32
At Canopy Life, we want to offer a nurturing place—much like a tree canopy—where African students can grow and thrive not only in academics but also in life. We desire to see their character and love for the Lord run deep like tree roots and their imaginations stretch into unlimited heights like healthy branches. Our dream is that Canopy Life students grow up to be canopies themselves where others take shelter in their leadership.
Our vision is for the Academy to be used as a tool for family ministry to take place within the homes of our students and their communities. Although Canopy Life is a residential school, we spend time visiting our students’ homes and talking with their parents, grandparents, and neighbors. We are excited that this school year, we will be hosting parent-focused training events and retreats at the school.
Although we’ve had a vision for family ministry since the beginning, something happened last summer that reinforced this need in our hearts and minds. I was visiting with the family of Kioko, one of our now 5th grade students, at his grandmother’s home. His grandmother is a former schoolteacher and Kioko’s mother and siblings live with her. During the visit, Kioko and his classmate Mercy were sitting next to me on the couch, tucked comfortably close to me on either side. Looking at us, Kioko’s mother said, “I see a lot of love on your team [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][indicating the summer trip team who was present and our Canopy staff team]. I want to learn how to have that in my family.”
Leadership is not a curriculum; it grows out of strong community, starting with healthy family. Proverbs 22:6 tells us to “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” We believe that by embracing an environment of grace where students are encouraged to explore, take risks, and discover at a young age, we are building future leaders who will invest in creating stronger families in their communities for years to come.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]