Purple & Gold / September 2017 Purple & Gold Sept 2017 | Page 4

Dear CPA Community, Before there was ever a building on the property of 2323 Old Hickory Boulevard, there was a sign with the statement … “From this property believers will gather to worship the living God and will be sent forth to minister to Nashville, Middle Tennessee, and the world.” Through the work of the Holy Spirit, in the most difficult of circumstances, and in a new way, we were able witness the statement’s manifestation when over 150 million people were exposed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the eternal hope found in His death and resurrection — through the life of Ben Ellis. What was meant to be a private time of students and faculty worshiping with a beloved teacher, father, and friend — became a message of love literally to the entire world. As I have reflected on this past year, it is often the big events that capture our attention and frame the way we interpret our experiences; however, if we fail to give the same weight to the small and daily interactions, we can miss equally transformational moments. This annual magazine is an opportunity for us to collectively look back on the vast array of etched memories that cumulatively make our school what it is — a ministry of education, teaching, relationship, and discipleship of young people, in our mission to equip them to become the truest and freest version of themselves. So, I invite you to sit down and read through these pages. Let the stories guide you in prayers of thanksgiving — for the work completed and in anticipation of God’s work for us in the days ahead. Soli Deo Gloria Nathaniel H. Morrow CPA Head of School 2 SEPTEMBER 2017