The Messick Family Legacy

ALUMNI

The Messick Family Continues Their Legacy

“He, who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it …..” Philippians 1:6

In 1953, Walter Parks Messick Sr. and Nellie Messick moved from North Carolina to Mt. Dora, FL to fulfill a promise they had made to God. This promise was to give their son, Parks, a Christian education. Parks was immediately enrolled in Christian Home and Bible School, where he remained until graduating in 1965. Parks played basketball for Coach Cletus Stutzman, who was a huge part of his life.

During this time, his father, Parks Sr. worked at the school from 1957-1973, serving as Campus Supervisor and as a member of the Board of Directors for 16 years, during one of the largest expansion efforts at the time. He worked on the construction of some of the original buildings and did grounds work. Mr. Messick constructed five of the buildings that are on campus today. He began to plant trees and plants to beautify the campus.

Parks and his wife, Jan, returned to CH&BS from Sarasota, FL in 1979 with two-year-old Carissa. Emily and David were born shortly after the move. They lived in an apartment on campus before moving into a house on 12th Ave.

"We made the decision to continue our family legacy of Christian education for our children. I had a dream of making the campus look like a beautiful garden under all those whispering pine trees, so I began making the changes that I could while employed at the school from 1979-1981." - Parks M.

Parks has always done all of the landscaping design on campus and has also served some years on the Board of Directors as well as the P-T-A president for several years while his children were in school.

"Between 1990–2003, it was my honor to serve on the school's Board of Directors. The school experienced another growth period and through the help of many beneficiaries, we were able to transform our campus into a beautiful and serene garden-like learning environment. This commitment is an ongoing mission, and I give God the credit for all that has been accomplished and will be in the future." - Parks M.

Parks later started his own business of landscape and irrigation, but has always continued to help on campus with landscape designs and irrigation. To this day, his family has been proud to see him working when they pass him on the sidewalk, and now his grandkids get to do the same.

Carissa (Messick) Kessinger began attending CH&BS in kindergarten and graduated in 1996. She met, and later married, her high school sweetheart, Ryan Kessinger, a 1995 graduate of CH&BS. They have four children who all attend MDCA. Their oldest son, Riley just graduated in May 2021. Their other children include Colby (9th grade), Carlyn (6th grade), and Brayden (3rd grade). "We wanted to have our own children attend the school because this is our home. We know the sacrifice it took my grandparents, parents, and Ryan's parents to put us through school here and we wanted to raise our own kids in the same type of experiences and atmosphere. Ryan and I decided to do whatever it takes to keep them at school here. The family legacy is so special, but their Christian walk with Christ is the ultimate goal. Having Christian examples in teachers is the best thing we can wish for them." - Carissa K.

Emily (Messick) Mabry, graduated from CH&BS in 1999. Emily and her husband, Jason, have two children at MDCA, CJ (9th) and Hunter (7th). Emily has worked at MDCA for the past 10 years as a lead VPK teacher. "I LOVE my job. I love working with the kids and getting to know their families and building relationships with them.

Walter Parks Messick, Sr at a board meeting Cletus Stutzman and W. Parks Messick Jr. looking over the plans for a new entrance to the school. Ryan, Class of 1995 Carissa, Class of 1996

Working at MDCA is like working with family. I love that my class knows my boys and my dad from seeing them on campus, and I love how they shout hello to them and get so excited when they see them. The close-knit family feel that MDCA has is irreplaceable, and I wouldn’t want to teach anywhere else. I have friends who I have known since childhood at MDCA, and I have new friends that will last a lifetime because of MDCA." - Emily M.

Their brother, David attended CH&BS, but transferred to another school for his high school years. He now works next to Parks, carrying on the legacy of their family business.

The Messick siblings have had cousins on both sides of the family that have attended CH&BS. Their cousin, Shane Huckeba, graduated from CH&BS in 1990.

What did it mean for you to graduate from the same school like so many of your family members?

Emily: At the time I graduated, it didn’t mean as much as it does now. Now that I work at the school and my children attend, it means the world to me. When I am walking on campus, I think about how I could be walking the same path that my grandfather walked at one time and it gives me chills. The fact that CJ and Hunter attend MDCA and walk those same paths that their great grandfather, grandfather, mother, aunts, and uncles have makes it even more special.

What is one of your favorite memories from being a student at MDCA?

Emily: There are so many...I would say cheering and basketball games, chicken suppers, and the friends I made throughout the years. I still get flashbacks every time I walk by the gym before a basketball game and hear the balls bouncing and shoes screeching on the floor. I loved getting to see my Dad on campus so often, too. I always assumed he was there to see me because he would always bring me lunch and goodies, but then I graduated. When I returned to work at MDCA he was still here all the time. So, I guess I wasn’t the only reason he was on campus so often, but I still say I was top on the list!

Carissa: My favorite memories are the old playground and pool (even though I hated that they made us take swimming lessons as our P.E. during elementary), the stream, chicken suppers, and chapel. I also love my memories of the basketball games and eating atomic fireballs, popcorn, RC Cola, and running around with our friends. I have memories of singing in chorus as a junior and senior and noticing Ryan as more than just my buddy while on chorus tour. Most importantly, I remember the dearest friends that I have made at school.

How do you feel knowing that your own children will one day graduate from MDCA?

Emily: The feeling is indescribable. Knowing that they will be third-generation MDCA graduates means so much to me and my family. Having our boys at MDCA has always been a priority to Jason and me. Not only does my family have history at the school, but Jason's grandfather, Paul Noe, is in the school's hall of fame for all of the volunteer work he did over the years of his life. We knew we would make any sacrifices needed in order for them to attend. CJ and Hunter have both attended MDCA since preschool and are currently entering 7th and 9th grade. It will be an emotional day when they are high school seniors and walk down the aisle alongside my preschool graduates.

Carissa: Being a part of CH&BS/MDCA means continuing my grandparents' desire to see their children raised in Christian education with a strong foundation academically and spiritually. It means a great deal to us to still get to see some of the same families that we have known all of our lives. So many of these people have been solid leaders and examples to us.

Recent graduate, Riley Kessinger, says, “It's amazing and an honor to follow in the footsteps of my parents and grandparents and to keep the alumni going strong.”

"I am grateful to continue to be able to contribute to a place that has been such a big part of my life and the lives of my family. As my dad’s promise was completed, all three of my children received their Christian education, too. My oldest grandson just graduated from MDCA, achieving thirdgeneration alumni for our family. As I spend time on campus now continuing to do whatever I can to advise and design, it gives me great joy to be greeted by my six grandchildren attending my old alma mater, and a daughter leading her classroom with the same commitment to give back to the lives of others." - Parks M.