News

A Fantastic Evening At The Chili Cook-off & Concert!

What a fantastic, family focused evening of fun at this year’s Chili Cook-off & Concert! The recent rains moved our celebration indoors, but it didn’t lessen the joyful atmosphere and satisfied smiles of all in attendance! 

Inside the Welcome Center, families enjoyed toe-tapping music (provided by PCA Board Member Greg Horton's band) and sampled a variety of delicious chilis from ten different teams who decorated their tables in unique themes that represented each team’s style of chili. From “The Classroom Cowboys” to “The Grateful Red”, there was a type of chili for everyone to enjoy!

Across the hall in the main building gymnasium, children were delighted with three different jump castles, giant games, and hot dogs. Just outside, an ice cream truck provided sweet treats for a perfect finishing touch to the evening.  

We want to give a special thanks to everyone who entered a team for this year’s chili cook-off. We appreciate your efforts in making this such a special event for our families. It was a tough decision for our official judges as they sampled each chili and cast their votes in several categories while parents and students cast their votes for the People’s Choice Award. Here’s a look at the winning teams: 

Best Overall Chili - Pork and Beans  
People’s Choice - Pork and Beans
Best Tailgating Theme - Chili Minions
Best Creative Recipe - Pedro’s Chili
Best Traditional Recipe - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Screams of delight filled the air as this year's winners were announced! A special thank you to the Chili Cook-off judges.. Bill Macchio - Editor of Mount Pleasant Magazine, Van Barnhill - ECBC Administrative Pastor, Jennifer Horton - CEO of ZAGS, McLeod Best - Lifepark Church Middle School Minister, and Megan Masters - Owner of Mulberry & King. 

We also want to give a huge thank you to Tifany O’Neal and Margaret O’Hanley for all of their time and enthusiasm in making this event shine! And thank you PCA families for showing up in a big way to celebrate the evening with us!

Joining Together For A Day Of Prayer

ACSI’s Global Day of Prayer was a morning to remember. On February 27, students in grades K-12, along with faculty and parents, gathered in the Student Life Center for worship and prayer. Lower School, Middle School, and High School Student Government Association officers helped bring the crowd to their feet as the songs, I Thank God and House of the Lord, rang out through the building's speakers and joyful voices filled the air.

Eighth grader, Isabella Schuman, spoke on the importance of small groups and the impact it had on her. "My favorite part was getting to pray in small groups. It allowed the time to be more personal and it was special getting to pray for the different prayer requests that my classmates had.” 

Abby Best, Director of Culture and Student Activities, emphasized the significance of bringing the entire school for a time of prayer. “We pray because we are grateful for the privilege to pour our hearts out to the Lord made possible by the gospel and because we are dependent upon the Lord to move in a mighty way through our student body and our school. From the youngest to the oldest students, along with teachers and staff, it was a wonderful time coming together to call out to the Lord.” 

ECBC’s Next Gen Pastor, Danny Beech, took to center court and gave a timely and powerful message to our entire student body – with the lower school on one side and upper school on the other. He shared from the Bible on the theme of God’s faithfulness: the Lord will be faithful to His character and to His plan. 

We are so fortunate to be in a school community where we can worship the Lord daily.