At Cookson Hills Christian School, service isn’t an extra activity—it’s part of who we are. Our mission is to educate Cookson Hills students academically, spiritually, and socially in a healing-focused environment. We believe true education shapes both mind and heart. That’s why one of our Expected Student Outcomes is that students will “Be motivated to…
Hello, I’m Michelle, a housemom here at Cookson Hills. I’ve been blessed by decades of Mother’s Day celebrations. But this year took the cake as the best Mother’s Day I’ve ever had, not because of the grandness, but because it gave such a clear little glimpse of what the Lord is doing in the hearts…
Learning to Cry Again I entered foster care as an infant. I don’t remember much about my early years—but I know they left lasting scars and pain. I moved through several homes before landing with the Johnston family at the age of three. “They taught me how to cry again. Before them, I had stopped…
By Ron Riley, Executive Director As we close out 2025, I find myself filled with gratitude—and awe—as I reflect on the ways God has moved through the faithful prayers and generosity of our community. At the beginning of this year, we asked you to join us in praying boldly over several strategic needs. We knew…
In my early 20s, I was a day laborer on a construction crew. We did general contracting in private homes. It was hard and arduous work – but at the end of the day, you would leave the job site knowing that you had made a difference. You could literally see and touch the difference.…
How Equine Science Is Growing Little Hearts and Big Minds If you had told me a year ago that I’d be in the classroom but bringing my love for horses with me, I might have raised an eyebrow. After serving as the Equine Specialist here at Cookson Hills, I stepped into a new role as…
Interview by: Sarah Curry Earlier this year, I sat down with two former students of Cookson Hills, Jacob and Bailey (Asbell) Spangler. They shared their stories during our Open Home event in March and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Jacob and Bailey’s stories highlight the transformative power of a supportive and Christ-focused…
Hi, I am Maya. I am bi-lingual, a classically trained pianist, artist, and child of God. I love my family profoundly. When I came to Cookson Hills two years ago, I saw a Gratitude Report and I scoffed, saying, “I’ll fail whatever assignment that is.” But here I am, two years later, filled with gratitude…
Lexi’s story I was born to two drug-addicted parents. By my first birthday, I had been in foster care. It wouldn’t be long before I reunited with my mother, but that wouldn’t last long until I was back in foster care again. Despite all the pain, the voice I wanted in my life was my…
Wednesday, March 6th, the Oklahoma Baptist University Symphonic Winds Ensemble came to our campus and partnered with our band department to host a united concert! Our students worked with the OBU students in rehearsals and sectionals throughout the day. Their hard work culminated with an incredible concert for all in the Gym. It was great…
Children from hard places often struggle with regulating their emotions and bodies due to deficits in their sensory development. We are all familiar with the five senses: seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, and tasting. But did you know we have three other internal senses that help us organize our world and regulate our bodies and emotions?…
“On behalf of the Killion and Cole Families, we are honored to be here. We are truly humbled by this counseling center dedication and ribbon-cutting event. Cookson Hills meant so much to my parents. It was an integral part of their lives, which also became a part of Carol’s and my life, then our spouses…
As told by Student Ambassador Maya This year, on a brisk day in mid-November, all the Cookson Hills students got out of school early. The staff packed up, and all headed to downtown Oklahoma City to the International Conference on Missions (ICOM). There, one could find hundreds of booths for all kinds of missions and…
Seven students went Christmas Caroling to a few of Cookson Hills’ faithful supporters, the week before Christmas. They hoped to bring them some cheer during the holidays. But what our students experienced was something much more meaningful than they could have imagined. You see, we live 10 minutes away from the middle of nowhere, and…
Mr. L, or Robb Lenardson, has been serving as the high school math teacher at Cookson Hills for thirteen years. He’s known around the school for his kindness, gentleness, math puns, love of trains, and love for his students as though they were his children. The class of 2023 invited Robb to deliver the commencement…
Your support gives our kids a home, family, and community where they feel special, loved, and wanted. Your gifts to Cookson Hills allow children to feel cherished. You help kids catch a glimpse of how our Creator sees them; valuable and worthy of love. This view is far more significant than Christmas memories; it impacts…
My name is Chayde, and I’m in the 9th grade. Before Cookson Hills, I was always getting into all sorts of trouble. I hung out with the wrong crowd and I was constantly getting bullied. It was causing me to have breakdowns every few hours and sometimes every few minutes. I always felt like I…
I remember gushing to my husband after the first day of practice with our girls in July. It was my 7th season as an assistant volleyball coach at Cookson Hills, and two things were immediately apparent: These girls had some serious potential They were the most coachable group of players I have ever worked with…
By Hayley | Chargers Chronicle | Volume 5, Issue 1 | 19 August 2022 This season on the Cookson Volleyball team, we have an exciting line-up. We have Lexie, Faith, Hayley, Ahbrianna, Taniya, and Reagan on Varsity. JV/Varsity consists of Brianna, Kelsey*, Jaelynn, and Victoria*. On the JV team, we have Maya, Amyah, Megan, Kaylee,…
My name is Jorge. My wife and I have been houseparents at Cookson Hills since 2018, but God had been preparing my heart long before we arrived. Jorge’s Story I had a good early childhood. I thought we had a strong family, but in my adolescent years, things started crumbling. My dad left and abandoned…
When a kid is looking at Cookson Hills as a possibility they usually have many questions. Sarah Curry sat down with senior, Sidney, to ask her the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) to get a perspective from one of our kids who has been through it all. This is the video (and transcript) of the…
When a family is looking at Cookson Hills as a possibility they usually have many questions. Sarah Curry and Lauren Hard answer our most frequently asked questions (FAQs). This is the video (and transcript) of these prospective family FAQs. Lauren: Hi. I am Lauren Hard, and this is Sarah Curry. We are your Storytelling Group…
I don’t get around at all. I stay well to myself. Some would say that I have no boundaries and let people walk all over me. And I would say you’re right! Because I’m a bridge, and that’s pretty much my job. I was built in 1968. You probably couldn’t tell by my looks because…
By April Graney | Chargers Chronicle | Volume 5, Issue 2 | 14 October 2022 Not having a flagpole couldn’t keep Cookson’s first-ever “See you at the Pole” event from happening on Wednesday, September 28th! “See you at the Pole” is a global movement of students organizing and leading prayer for their schools on the…
You are giving students a musical education that is changing their lives. In the safe space of our music department, students are growing their skills and finding new ways to express their creativity and emotions. Turning heads Lexie came to Cookson Hills with the gift of music, but she struggled with self-confidence. Since joining the…
Hi. I’m Sidney. I’ve learned a lot in my 18 years of life on earth. But one of the most valuable bits of knowledge that I can share with you is this: There is always a chance to start over, no matter who you are or what you’ve gone through in your life. Life will…
2022 Commencement Address: Dianne Myrick On a spring night – much like tonight — I sat where you are sitting. I was a seventeen-year-old graduate ready to head off into the wild blue yonder. I was determined to be the first in my family to graduate from college. That night, my head was full of…
When you give to Cookson Hills Christian School you are not only giving the students a fantastic education, you are also giving them a safe place to mess up. When a problem gets too hard they are encouraged to continue to try again rather than give up. Because of you, our students are learning to…
When I began working at the main office at Cookson Hills, I noticed an office mate had quilts stacked up in her office. Intrigued by the sight, I asked what all these quilts were for. She told me that a group of women make quilts for each of our kids! The quilts were so beautiful…
Surrender. It is not a word that comes easy for me in my walk with God. The biggest reason for this struggle is my mentality. Believing that my way is better than God’s way, that my plan is better than His plan for my life. Even though I surrender to God time and time again,…
1957 CHCS NEWSLETTER NOV-DEC ISSUE By Edwin L. Beem Some people choose to live entirely in a world of hard facts and realism, they accept only those things which they can contact with one or more of their five senses. Others choose to live in a dream world, refusing to accept the facts of life.…
We got goals, Yes we do, we got goals for 2022! Cookson Hills has been in existence for 65 years this year. That’s something to celebrate and cheer on. But with every year that has come and gone, so have the ministry’s goals. Last year our goals were to serve 49 children for an average…
A PLAY BY SIDNEY & JONNY Narrator: Every year Van and Tammy Benson bring their expertise and do a Motive Matters training based on The People Code by Dr. Taylor Harman for the staff and senior students of Cookson Hills. Before the class, every person takes the Personality Test to see what their color code…
People often do things in their spare time that they enjoy. Most would call that a hobby. For the past four years, I have found joy in something called woodburning, and it has taught me the lesson of patience. Woodburning is a type of art that uses a tool, much like a pen, heated up…
My name is Eric, and I am originally from Uganda. My family and I came to the United States in 2015. A month before my 13th birthday, my dad told me that I would be going to school. The next thing I knew, I was being dropped off at Cookson Hills. When I first arrived,…
One of my favorite activities in the spring is watching the horsemanship demonstrations. Students in the class show off what they have learned over the previous months while working with the horses. I like to sit in the front row so that I can see everything. That’s what I did this spring. The students displayed…
December 1956 Issue for Cookson Hills Christian School By: Arnold Kernen This is the first issue of our NEWSLETTER. Although it has been under difficult circumstances, it is sent out over a limited area with much happiness and anticipation. Many friends are already aware of plans which have quickly grown into realities, and blessings that…
Growing up I did not have a strong mother figure. I was left so many times by my birth mom and she was never fully there mentally. Between prison and drugs, my mom spent very little time with me. When she stopped calling me altogether I took that really hard. I felt I could not…
It’s hard to believe that June of 2021 marked our 11th anniversary at Cookson Hills. Through these years, it has been a journey. A journey of learning trust, patience, and grace. But most of all, a journey of God’s grace, power, and love working through us. Like most of us serving our Heavenly Father, at…
I was asked to give a devotional thought on living a life of service for a community worship night, I quickly agreed but it didn’t take very long for me to question my decision… After all, how can I encourage or challenge a community of believers who are already living a life of service to live…
It was the last week of the school year and the campus was abuzz with all the end of the year activities; awards night, band concert, field day, and yearbook signing. I was sitting in my classroom chatting with my yearbook co-advisor after class; in bounced Kaytlin. With a grin from ear to ear, she…
My name is Alec, and I am 17 years old. I was born in San Antonio to parents who struggled with addiction. At ten years old, we moved to Oklahoma City because my parents wanted to start over. But addiction took over again, and my little brother and I found ourselves in foster care. During…
Some schools have a senior trip where students spend time together doing fun activities and creating memories. Cookson Hills adds another component to the Senior Trip experience; service. For decades Cookson Hills seniors have had the opportunity to go on a mission trip over their spring break. This year looked a little different because of…
Rod and Tina Johnson’s Story God moves and speaks in ways that are unique to each one of us. He is a God of persons as well as a God of people. He will always have a very individual relationship with you as well as your marriage, family, church, culture, and country. God uses unique…
I am the kid’s ministry director at Wallula Christian Church in Leavenworth, Kansas. We have a unique situation in that our church building sits on a highway. There are multiple towns only ten to fifteen minutes away. We are very diverse. Wallula has more than seven different school districts represented in our kids and student…
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see…
A teenagers quarantine log At the beginning of the new year, my family went into quarantine to help stop the spread of Covid-19 on our campus. After a few days of boredom, I decided that it would be best to keep a log of my time. It started out as a way to be able…
For the past 5 years, my wife Joy and I have traveled to Northeast Oklahoma in late summer. The first year we came at the request of the Cookson Hills leadership. They were desiring to provide a time for the houseparents to focus on their marriages. Our church, Southeast Christian in Louisville, Kentucky responded by…
Over Thanksgiving break, the teachers had a retreat at New Life Ranch. Organized by Mrs. Jackson and Ms. Hodges, our teachers had time to learn and bond with each other and it was a huge success. The theme of the event, “It Is Well,” promoted taking care of yourself in order to take care of…
As another trip around the sun has come to pass, we celebrate as 2020 is put to rest. Many take this time to look to the future and plan what steps are needed to reach the new levels of growth. Goals help us strive to be better. They give us landmarks to see where we…
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