At Antioch, we love to partner with great organizations that are already making a big impact—and our ongoing relationship with Cooper Elementary School through Academy 4 continues to be a powerful example of how small, faithful presence can make a big difference.
As we step into the new year, there are both celebrations and prayer needs worth sharing with our church family.
How We Can Be Praying
There are some staffing transitions happening within the 4th grade team at Cooper. One of the 4th grade teachers will be moving to another grade and will not be replaced, which will understandably stretch the remaining teachers and impact students. Please pray for wisdom, endurance, and peace for the 4th grade team as they navigate this change.
We also want to pray specifically for the teacher who is transitioning mid-year—that her move would be smooth, encouraging, and filled with God’s grace.
And as always, continue praying that the relationship between Cooper Elementary and Antioch would deepen. Our desire isn’t just to run a program, but to build trust, encouragement, and long-term partnership that blesses both staff and students.
Where Help Is Needed
One practical need right now is substitute club leaders. We’ve seen a consistent number of club leader absences, and having a healthy pool of substitutes would help ensure stability and consistency for the students. If flexibility is one of your strengths, this is a meaningful way to serve without a long-term commitment.
Looking ahead, there will also be opportunities to serve through lunch and recess monitoring. These roles may sound simple, but they provide vital support to teachers and create space for encouragement, presence, and relationship-building with students.
Celebrating the Wins
God has been at work in some beautiful ways. In December alone, almost 120 volunteers served at Cooper—an incredible picture of the Antioch family showing up generously and faithfully.
One especially encouraging highlight involves a new 4th grade teacher who initially felt hesitant about the Academy 4 program. Month by month, her perspective shifted as she saw the impact on her students. Though she’s now moving to 5th grade, she shared how much she has loved Academy 4 and expressed hope that our team will continue to be present on campus. That kind of trust doesn’t happen overnight—and it’s worth celebrating.
Thank you, Antioch, for praying, serving, and loving our community so well. Let’s keep showing up at Cooper Elementary with open hands, steady presence, and hearts ready to serve.