Building a Spiritual Oasis in Western Maryland

Story by Rob Gettys

Highland View Academy (HVA) is on a mission to bring young hearts into communion with the Creator. In a world filled with constant distractions, stealing the attention of our young people, it has been the academy’s mission to provide a spiritual oasis in Western Maryland. Whether it’s treating the sports teams as ministries or training students to be leaders in their communities through the work program or becoming active church members through the Campus Ministries program, HVA holds fast to this truth that the work of education is “the harmonious development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers. It prepares the student for the joy of service in this world and for the higher joy of wider service in the world to come” (Ellen White, Education, p. 13).

By creating spaces for students to connect without the distraction of technology and focus on the spiritual development of every student through every program, HVA has seen incredible growth in its student body.

Senior Katie Miller says, “My walk with God has grown immensely through the things I have experienced [at HVA]. I went on two mission trips: Holbrook Indian School in Arizona, and Santiago, Chile. These trips have helped me to be a missionary for God and … to see that God can use me and my talents for His glory. My walk has grown during the many spiritual retreats I have attended. These retreats helped my love for God to keep burning brightly. I will be forever grateful for these opportunities.”

Academics, sports, on-campus jobs and general programming are all tools the campus uses to draw students closer to Jesus. Juliana Clayton, a junior and a recently baptized student, says, “The staff and different activities on campus help draw my mind to Jesus and, overall, during my time here, I have been able to experience God so much more.”

The atmosphere on HVA’s campus is different from the surrounding area; it is a place where students from many different backgrounds can experience Jesus, say leaders.

It’s for this reason that HVA traveled to Columbus, Ohio, to participate in the annual Generation of Youth for Christ (GYC) conference—a place where thousands of like-minded young people come together to experience God. A small team of staff and students set up a HVA booth at the exhibitors’ center at GYC, where they were able to tell many people about the awesome ministry that is happening at HVA.

As the academy continues to focus on the spiritual development of its school, they also intend to tell more people about the hidden gem found in the hills of Western Maryland and provide an opportunity for more students with a desire to know and serve Jesus to join the HVA family.