Walking in the footsteps of faith:

Future Hope Academy Christian School was established in 2025 as a rebranding of a pre-existing seven-year-old international school. The school had formerly assisted students in Scarborough, Ontario in transitioning into Canadian life and education, offering courses that led to the Ontario Secondary School diploma. Future Hope’s leadership increasingly felt a calling to incorporate the Christian faith into the equation, and so, with the help of a new board of Christian directors, Future Hope became a Christian academy.

The board’s vision was a basketball prep school with a twist.        

Each student would be individually mentored to foster their faith life and realize their call to service.

The mission of Future Hope Academy Christian School is to create hearts for Jesus Christ. As its mission statement says, “With faith as our foundation, knowledge as our tool, and service as our calling, we empower students to step confidently into their future, ready to lead and shine for Christ.”

Jeremiah 29: 11

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

As educational consultant, my task was to plan the new academic program, as well as branding materials, and supply the marketing to fill up the classes with students.

We created a website and the promotional materials we needed to spread the word about our unique mission. We hired an outstanding team of coaches who had coached Toronto Raptors players AJ Lawson and Leonard Miller.

We ran basketball tryouts around the clock during those first six months ferreting out talent from Scarborough to Ottawa.

The blitz paid off—during its first year of play Future Hope rose to fifth standing in the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association, the province’s top league, an incredible achievement by any standard.

FAITH

Every day starts with Bible study with our chaplain.  He helps students navigate their personal ups and downs, the stresses of competitive basketball and the challenges common to teenagers from a faith perspective while grounding their outlook in biblical teachings.

I chose a religion curriculum that alternates years of instruction in faith and apologetics so that students can develop their appreciation for the coherence of the Christian faith.

KNOWLEDGE

Most courses are taught at an academic level, and since students have to maintain a high GPA to stay on the team, we put a tutoring program in place to assist learners with differentiated learning styles, among others. 

Adding to the challenges faced by any new school, the Ontario government selected Future Hope Academy for inspection the first term! With assistance from teachers of extraordinary tenacity and skill, we sailed through our inspection with the highest certification, a two-year pass.

Even though it was our first year, we offered a co-op program that was instantly popular. One of our students was offered a job with a plumbing company at his placement on graduation, if he wanted. We attracted Christian universities from the States and Canada to visit and recruit our students.

SERVICE

Students took the opportunity to participate as assistant coaches  at a basketball camp run by a local church, and it was wonderful to see our students’ faith in action, fulfilling our promise to help them give back to the community.

At the beginning and end of the school year, Future Hope honors its students with awards including a leadership award, most improved, and so forth. As I reflect on the school’s first year, I think it went from an “If you build it they will come” award for success in getting on its feet, to “most likely to produce a faith-forward athlete”.

Cheers to the future, Future Hope!