Lionheart Children's Academy

Don't forget, the Safeguards 4 Kids event is in Dallas THIS WEEKEND! We are excited to sponsor this Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention event featuring counselor and author, Julie E. Lowe! If you haven't already, you can register here: https://lnkd.in/gFKXxJtH Be sure to use promo code LIONHEART to get in for free! You won't want to miss it!

Happy TENTH anniversary to Dana Davis! As a "floater" teacher, Dana has had the opportunity to love on almost all of the children that have come through the doors at Lionheart Children's Academy at Lake Church! We are so thankful for her decade of dedicated service and tenacity! Congratulations, and thank you!

We are excited to welcome Becki Jones as our new Academy Director at Lionheart Children's Academy at FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH VAN ALSTYNE. Becki has worked in numerous roles in early childhood education over the past 25 years, 17 of which she spent in the classroom. Becki and her husband have four grown children. They moved to Texas in 2020 at the prompting of their 3-year-old granddaughter. When not at work, Becki loves spending time with her family, both near and far, exploring Texas, and chasing after her two Aussie Doodles! Here's a little more about Becki in her own words: "I’m so excited to be joining Lionheart and working in God-centered learning environments that inspire children to grow spiritually, academically, socially, emotionally, and physically as a whole child. It’s such a joy to come along side families and encourage children to be lifelong learners and foster their love for Jesus." We are so glad Becki said "Yes!" to Lionheart and are looking forward to seeing God work through her in this new role!

We are excited to introduce our new Workforce Planning Specialist, Christina Riesco. With a rich background in ministry and a passion for strategic planning, Christina brings a unique blend of experience and dedication to this new role. She holds a B.A. in Biblical Studies from SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary, where she deepened her commitment to service and leadership. Over the past decade, Christina has been deeply involved in various facets of ministry, from hands-on children’s programs to administrative roles and strategic planning. Her extensive experience in non-profit planning and scheduling, combined with her natural talent for sales, positions her as an invaluable asset to the Lionheart team. Outside of her professional endeavors, Christina is a devoted wife to her husband, Jose, and a loving mother to their five children. Her commitment to faith and family fuels her drive to serve the families at Lionheart with compassion and excellence. Christina is excited to contribute her skills and passion to creating a positive impact in her new role.

At Lionheart, we’re more than early childhood education—we’re part of a Kingdom mission to transform the child care industry for Christ. By partnering with local churches, we offer quality care for working families and share the Gospel at a critical stage of children’s spiritual growth. Research shows that if a child doesn’t come to Christ by age 13, they may never do so—this fuels our passion, and we need your help to help us grow this ministry! Join us this North Texas Giving Day and help us reach more children with God’s love. Every gift counts! Give today: https://lnkd.in/gCnGhV8T #NorthTexasGivingDay

Don't forget that the Safeguards 4 Kids tour will be at Dallas Baptist University on September 21! This important event will feature counselor and author, Julie E. Lowe, who will help parents and care givers have wisdom and discernment in parenting and teach them to have age-appropriate conversations with their kids about abuse and threats. There will also be mini-talks about human trafficking and internet safety for kids. Learn more about this important event at https://lnkd.in/ge5PFDrC. And don't forget, as a sponsor of this event, Lionheart families attend for free when you use the code LIONHEART when you register! Hope to see you there!

We are excited to announce that Misty Irwin has been promoted to Assistant Academy Director at Lionheart Children's Academy at First Baptist Church Greenwood, OH! Misty is a mom of 8 children and 16 grandchildren! She moved to Indiana from upstate New York in March. Here's a little more about Misty in her own words: "I am overjoyed to be working for Lionheart in a position that allows me to serve and share Christ with children, their families, and our fabulous staff. Pouring the Love of Christ into people and sharing the Gospel of Christ is truly my passion. In my "down time" I enjoy our little homestead and the multiple animals that we have. I have many hobbies including reading, crafting, sewing, and painting. I also play multiple instruments. Before I came to Indiana I was in management but also ran a 501c3 theater company and taught music lessons, voice and piano." We are so glad Misty said "Yes" to Lionheart and are excited to see her bless the academy in her new role!

Happy 5th anniversary to Pam Wilhelm! Pam has faithfully taught our Pre-K class at Lionheart Children's Academy at 121 Community Church, bringing faith and fun to the days and ensuring children have a strong biblical foundation before they head off into kindergarten! We're so grateful for all the ways you have poured into this ministry, Pam! Happy anniversary!

We are excited to partner with the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention on a topic that is near and dear to our hearts -- keeping kids safe! The Safeguards 4 Kids tour will be in Dallas on September 21, and we hope all our DFW-area families will join us! ⁠ ⁠ This event is all about protecting our kids from abuse and other dangers and equipping parents with information and resources to do so. We’re participating because it’s a cause we deeply care about, and we know you do too. Come gain valuable tools and knowledge to keep our kids safe. ⁠ ⁠ All Lionheart families can attend this important event for free. Just use the code LIONHEART at registration! Learn more about the event at https://lnkd.in/ge5PFDrC Hope to see you there!

Ten Year Trivia! Our Chief Operating Officer has been with us from the very beginning, starting at the front desk of our first academy. At Lionheart, we love to see growth for students and grownups, alike! #Lionheart10years