It’s appropriate as we study the call of God on the life of Abraham that we take time in our worship services to highlight some of the various mission organizations that Cornerstone supports. Last week we focused our attention on our longest and deepest partnership, New College Franklin. Today we are turning our attention globally to one of our newest partnerships—Raise the Roof Academy.
Beginning in 2011 in Bwasandeku, Uganda with 30 children and 2 teachers, Raise the Roof Academy (RTR) is committed to educate the whole student by building relationships and education centers that cultivate a culture of learning and offer God’s love through empowerment opportunities. The vision is to become a premier education system in rural Uganda where children are learning and sharing their gifts with the world and coming in contact with the love of Jesus Christ. In eight short years, God has expanded the ministry RTR beyond all expectations. Today, over 1,200 students are served through RTR!
Reporting to us this morning is RTR’s Program Director, Miss Rachel Harden. Rachel is originally from Georgia but landed in Nashville after college to take a position as a Second Grade teacher. Rachel knew education was part of her calling, but she wondered at times if it might be in a cross-cultural or missionary context. She had spent time on the mission field in Africa off and on for several years, and she had a sincere love for the people of Africa, but here she was, teaching second grade in Nashville and loving it. But God was at work behind the scenes. After a couple of years of teaching, Rachel learned of a Nashville based mission organization that sought to educate children in Uganda. Through RTR, she began to see a way for her two passions—education and missions—to come together! Not long thereafter, she was asked to join the RTR team. We are so thankful to have Rachel as a member of Cornerstone and to partner with her in what God is doing through RTR in Uganda.
There are many ways you can get involved with the mission of Raise the Roof Academy. Take time to talk with Rachel Harden this morning after church. She will be at an information table out front to tell you about child partnership, fundraising campaigns, mission trips, and the many other ways you can support the work of RTR. Together, we can make a difference for Christ in Uganda!