To all the CCA Family,

With the cancellation of the last 2 tournaments of the 2020 Season effectively bringing an end to our 2020 season, it seems fitting we share some thoughts with you, our CCA Family. This year was the 15th year of the CCA journey, and clearly no year has ever been like this one. It was a very rare thing in years past to cancel a single tournament (usually weather related), yet this year we have cancelled 5. To say this was a disappointment would be an understatement. We all eagerly await our tournaments for many reasons and to have so many cancelled is deeply saddening for us all. However, we have not lost our Joy. God’s Word reminds us that “many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” (Prov. 19:21) and therefore we know without hesitation this was ordained from the Lord to be so and therefore it is so. God knows “His plans for us” (Jer. 29:11) and this year was part of that plan. We simply must walk in Faith encouraged that God knew our league needed these events for His purposes and is “working it together for good” (Romans 8:28). These Heavenly truths do not necessarily eliminate our earthly emotions of disappointment and sadness and these also are part of God’s sovereign molding of our personal and collective character through circumstance. Therefore, let us be grateful for these unusual times and worship Him for His goodness to us. We also want to encourage the students who spent so much time on their speeches and debate cases that the time spent preparing was not in vain. The highest calling of our league is to help prepare ourselves to “give a defense of the hope that lies within us” (1 Peter 3:15) and the time spent in preparation, research and practice was certainly well spent, with or without an earthly Speech and Debate Tournament. We want to deeply thank the many volunteers who saw their hours of preparation for coming tournaments wash away with these cancellations as well. We have also been encouraged by and appreciate the efforts of local clubs experimenting with new ways in which to keep our CCA family engaged via virtual tools and other means. Lastly, we are eager to see everyone again, the Lord willing, at next year’s tournaments competing and Glorifying God while doing so through competition, volunteering, judging and coaching for the betterment of God’s Kingdom. May the Lord Bless you and keep you.

The CCA Board of Directors.