Ambassador Club is affiliated with both the Tennessee home school speech and debate organization called Christian Communicators of Tennessee, CCT, and the national, Christian, home school speech and debate league called Stoa.
Christian Communicators of Tennessee, CCT, is a service organization promoting speech and debate for home-educated students in our state with the ultimate goal of training students to articulate truth and defend their faith. CCT, as a chapter of THEA, provides Ambassador Club with a $2,000,000 liability insurance without which we could not use the facilities we need for our weekly Club meetings and our tournaments. CCT also sponsors Student Congress in conjunction with the THEA Rally Day at the Tennessee Capitol each Spring.
Stoa works with Christian home-educated students who are ages 12-18 by October 1st of the current competition season. Since Ambassador Club is affiliated with Stoa, our Senior Varsity students are trained in the Stoa debate and speech events. See the link in the left margin with the listing of the SV events, all of which are Stoa events, with the exception of Student Congress.
Memberships
Every family who joins Ambassador Club is a member of CCT because a portion of the Ambassador Club fees are given to CCT for your membership. This allows every family in Ambassador Club to be covered by CCT's liability insurance.
Stoa Membership, is required to participate in tournaments and opens June 1st of each year.
A little more information about Stoa
Mission Statement:
Speaking Boldly. Changing the World for Christ.
Scripture verse:
“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:36 (NASB)
This verse encompasses the scope and breadth of Stoa’s forensics-based mission. Stoa believes human speech, the ability to communicate with the spoken word, is “from” God and that it is only “through” the triune God that we can speak with grace, truth, and beauty. Stoa believes all things, only one of which is speech, are “to” God or are directed to His purposes. Stoa emphatically stands for these key Biblical principles as it helps to develop young people into winsome and God-honoring orators in all walks of life. In the broad sense, Stoa embodies an entire culture of thought, public discourse, apologetics, and intellectual inquiry. As such, it is emblematic of the Western Civilization and representative of the many goals we are reaching for in our children as we strive to bring them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
Watch this awesome video, What is Stoa Like?
Goal:
To train homeschool students to speak boldly and change the world for Christ.
Purpose:
Stoa exists within the Christian Homeschool speech and debate community to:
* Facilitate opportunities for competition and training.
* Build a world class community.
* Equip Christian coaches in the art and science of public speaking and debate excellence.
* Promote the development of a Biblical worldview.
* Share the benefits of speech and debate to the homeschool community.
* Start new Stoa speech and debate clubs.
Core Values:
* We are committed to following established process and structure.
* We are organized and communicate effectively.
* We promote a transparent culture of servant hearts.
* We communicate a clear vision and mission.
* We promote integrity and honesty in every situation.
* We recognize competitive excellence.
Quick Facts
* Stoa was established on the model of our nation’s founding fathers with a commitment to limited central government and maximum local control.
* Stoa trusts local leaders to know how best to serve their local communities in administering their own local tournaments.
* Stoa offers approximately 100 tournaments nationwide during each tournament season.
* Tournaments are held from Hawaii to Washington DC, from Seattle to Tampa!
* Stoa tournaments are all open to families from around the country.
* Stoa is building a world class community of speakers, debaters, and family members who are committed to Speaking Boldly and Changing the World for Christ in their homes, churches, communities, at colleges and universities, and in the workplace.
What does “Stoa” mean?
In ancient Athens, people would gather at public buildings to listen to politicians, philosophers, and poets. Greece’s Mediterranean climate rendered the interiors of these buildings unsuitable for crowds much of the year. Architects therefore designed the Stoa, the long covered porches fronting or surrounding buildings, often with a double colonnade, that became the symbolic feature of classical Greek architecture. Here, in a shaded but well-lit and well-ventilated space, people could gather to conduct business or test new or competing ideas. It was in such a setting where the Apostle Paul delivered his famous speech in Acts 17 when he challenged the beliefs of the Epicureans and Stoics. In the same way that stoa existed to provide a place for public speaking, debate and the exercise of rhetorical skills, Stoa exists to provide locally-organized opportunities for friendly forensics competition in public speaking and debate for privately educated Christian homeschooled students.
Exceptional Student Outcomes
“Competing in speech and debate was a life changing decision and the best experience of my high school years. I am a more well-rounded person as a result of being challenged by so many different types of events–and the benefits have carried over into my college experience, too! Stoa changed the way I approach problems in a way that inspires me to keep digging into tough questions in class and pursue an intellectual lifestyle. Almost daily, I find myself grateful for the coaches, parents, and friends who made my time in Stoa fun and fruitful!”
Hannah Socolofsky, alumna
“The Stoa league broadened my thinking and improved my speaking skills beyond what I thought possible. Stoa speech and debate teaches students to critically analyze the events of the world around them, to understand opposing opinions, to defend their personal beliefs, and to articulate their views with confidence, clarity, and conviction. The competition breeds the determination to improve and excel, driving students to write, research, and speak with excellence. Students learn how to conduct themselves professionally not only in front of an audience, but also in conversations with peers and adults. I always relished these conversations of love and encouragement. God has changed my life through the people of Stoa and the speaking and debating skills the Stoa league has fostered in me. Through the Holy Spirit, I have been able to speak at an international conference, lecture, coach, and preach messages of hope in various settings. My Stoa training has made public speaking a reality and a joy for me. God is using the Stoa community of believers in kingdom-advancing, globe-altering, earth-shaking ways. Thanks to Stoa speech and debate I can and will continue to speak boldly and change the world for Christ."
Lucie Gillette, Stoa alumna