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MCA celebrates 20th anniversary
Dan Eakin/Staff Photo - Mike Huckabee, far left, former Arkansas governor and former presidential candidate, talks with, from left, Mark and Lisa Davis and Randy and Carol Ownby at a reception prior to the McKinney Christian Academy banquet Thursday night at Southfork Ranch. Mark Davis is a well-known radio talk show host and newspaper columnist, and Carol Ownby is director of development for McKinney Christian Academy.
By Dan Eakin, deakin@acnpapers.com
McKinney Christian Academy (MCA) celebrated its 20th anniversary Thursday night with a banquet at Southfork Ranch, featuring Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor and former presidential candidate, as the keynote speaker.
More than 300 people packed into the Southfork Ranch Conference Center for a $125-per-plate dinner and to hear Huckabee and celebrate the growth of MCA during the past two decades.
Huckabee, who was a Baptist minister before going into politics, told the crowd that Christian schools are essential to the future of America.
He told how he had worked several hours into the night one Christmas trying to put a tricycle together for his 3-year-old son.
"If all else fails, read the directions," he said.
Too many young people are growing up today without ever having read the instructions given by the "Author of the universe," he said, referring to the Holy Bible.
He said Christian schools are important because they not only educate the mind but also deal with students' spiritual needs.
Huckabee acknowledged that tuition fees for Christian schools are very expensive. He praised the parents and grandparents of MCA students, many of whom were in the audience, for choosing to sacrifice more money to send their children and grandchildren to a Christian school.
"It is one of the best investments you will ever make," Huckabee said.
Mark Davis, well-known radio talk show host and newspaper columnist, served as master of ceremonies for the banquet. Davis praised Huckabee as "a fierce warrior in the political arena."
Although not running as a candidate for president, Huckabee is a prominent conservative voice in America, with a regular TV program and an impending radio program similar to that of Rush Limbaugh.
Several people who attended an invitation-only reception at the Southfork Ranch mansion prior to the banquet were carrying copies of Huckabee's book, "A Simple Government (Twelve things we need from Washington and a trillion that we don't)," which the author had made available at the event.
Davis noted that five families got together in 1992 to form MCA. It began with 13 students in kindergarten and first grade. Today, MCA has more than 500 students.
Huckabee said most Christian schools have difficulty getting as many as 200 students enrolled.
He displayed his musical talents following his speech, joining soloist Sidney Thompson, an MCA junior, with his electric guitar.
Dr. and Mrs. Jeff Williams gave testimonials as to how MCA had helped prepare their three boys for life.
In addition to the income from ticket prices, several local businesses provided funds to help sponsor the event and support MCA. Cards were available at the end of the banquet for people to pledge certain amounts in support of the academy.
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