CDA parent Loren Hsaio brought to life the first Lionheart Retreat in the summer of 2024. Inspired by a similar retreat he attended in college, Hsiao decided to create this meaningful opportunity for students at CDA Collin County.

At the retreat, students completed a 360-degree audit of their lives, evaluating their “life maps” which included topics such as heroes, goals, sin, and hurts/fears. During the first half of the week, students and chaperones stayed at a local hotel where eight speakers came to discuss faith and God’s work in their lives. They also participated in games, competitions, and entertainment. The second half of the week, students made their way to Broken Bow, Oklahoma where they became the speakers and presented their life maps to each other.

Hsaio reflected that students and adults alike were surprised at the heavy answers which led to an opening in camaraderie. The overall theme of the week was community and accountability. “Even though we go to a small, Christian private school, these students have similarities to public school students. They are looking for identity, have mental struggles, and feel the pressures of social media and life. This gives them a judgement-free zone to relate to one another.”

When asked what the best part of this experience was, Loren Hsaio and wife, Stephanie, said it was the “Top 10 highlight of our entire lives” and they have every intention of doing it again this summer. Their desire is coming to pass, because another group of students—this time from all CDA campuses—are going to enjoy the Lionheart Retreat in the summer of 2025.

They added, “We also couldn’t have done it without all of the parent volunteers, including Scott and Suzanne Teson, who served as leaders. This was truly a team effort.” CDA’s mission to train ethical servant leaders and wise thinkers goes hand-in-hand with this retreat

The discipleship and Christian community at CDA Collin County make this such a special place for students and families.