My Dad The DOSO
Written by Elijah Burris
My Dad The DOSO
(Director of Secondary Operations)
Da Priest. Construction Cody. Master Griller. Pastor Brownie. Coach Poppy. He goes by many names, but the name that I know him by is…Dad. Let me begin by telling you a little bit about my dad’s back story. He was born and raised in a small East Texas town named Corrigan. Actually my dad Is very similar to me in many ways. As a kid, he played basketball, football, baseball, golf, ran cross country and powerlifted. My dad loves to hunt and he has always enjoyed the outdoors, especially snow-skiing.
My dad (Cody) grew up in a family that prioritized going to church. The summer before his senior year in high school he decided to go to youth camp with his church. It was there that he felt convicted of his sin and placed his faith in Jesus as his Savior. A short time after that he felt that the Lord was calling him into the ministry. When he graduated he attended East Texas Baptist University in Marshall Texas. It was there that he served on the Rec Team, led the evangelism team for the Baptist Student Ministries, and worked at three churches serving as youth minister. While at ETBU he also met and fell in love with my mom, Reese. I have to mention that when my mom was a sophomore in college she was a foriegn exchange student at Hong Kong Baptist University (thanks to the relationship between ETBU and HKBU). What’s pretty stinking awesome is that my dad flew over to see my mom to show her how much he loved her (even though he had never flown before). A few months after my mom got back to ETBU, my parents got engaged and were married while still at college. My dad would go on to serve as a youth minister in two more churches totalling twelve years in student ministry. He has also been a pastor for the past ten years as well. Three years ago, Cody took on a second job teaching and coaching at Bay City ISD where we have lived for the past sixteen years. Thankfully the Lord brought him to Brazosport Christian School as an administrator and a coach this year. There is so much more I could say about my dad, like how even though I can at this age beat him at most everything we compete at, he still dominates me in bowling…but those stories are for another time.
This year BCS has a new head of Musical Arts. Bo Carter started at BCS this year and has since taught the kids in his music class how to lead a student lead chapel. The students have become musicians and have a full praise team with a lead vocalist, guitarist, and a keyboard player. Some female students sing in a trio or quartet, such as Kaylee Conner, Bella Newby, and Carlie Martinez. Hunter Simmons leads the group as lead vocalist and guitarist. Seth Henderson backs him up with the guitar. Callie Listak plays the keyboard and Luke Coburn plays the Cajon.
Mr. Lawhon is returning for his third year at Brazosport Christian. Mr. Lawhon teaches the Holocaust class during 6th period. When asked why he felt the need to teach this elective he said, “ It is his calling…why wouldn’t a liberator’s son do it?” He takes this elective seriously because he “owes his research to over 11 million people.” He has seven students that attend the class and loves every single one of them.
Homecoming, in general, has always been centered around the football team. It is a celebration of the last home game for the team. This year the Eagles were matched up against St. Joseph’s Catholic School. Many students and alumni came to watch and cheer on the Eagles. The game was a fierce clash which unfortunately ended with a loss for the Eagles. However, the following week the Eagles secured a victory against Grace Christian, ending their season with a win.
The Homecoming dance is the other main event the week holds. This year’s dance was amazing and gained much acclaim from all the students. The theme for this year’s dance was a “Night in Venice”, immersing students in an Italian dinner and a great time of laughter and dancing. Many memories were made that night, from the hilarious “Who’s Who?” awards, which showcase students on a range of different aspects, to the funny commentary given by the MC’s.
Homecoming brings the school together and allows students to show their support for the school. It brings an energy and excitement to the atmosphere of the school that is just contagious. Homecoming 2021, you were awesome! We can’t wait to see what is in store for next year.
Here at BCS we want to remember our History. We see it as an important part of the school we are today. As Tryon Edwards once said, “Some of the best lessons we ever learn from our mistakes and failures. The errors of the past are the wisdom and success of the future.” While the school might not have had errors it definitely had some trials to navigate in its beginning years.
As Cynthia Woodard tells it, Brazosport Christian School was founded in 1980. Many people do not know this, but the school originally held classes at First Baptist Church of Lake Jackson instead of our present day campus located on Willow Drive. The school opened with 92 students after a group of families, who had been praying for a christian school, started the assembly. The school added a grade on every year as it gained more students, and eventually in 1992 the school offered Pre-K3 all the way up to 12th grade.
Sadly a fire broke out in the library of First Baptist Lake Jackson and spread to several of the classrooms the school used. However, that did not stop the spirit of BCS. Cynthia Woodard says that they continued with the school year and just used some of the houses across the street from the church to conduct classes. Then two years later in 1994, the school opened up its own building located off of Willow Drive. It was just one building to start out with, but the Lord continued to bless the school with students and a second building plan was drawn up. In 2001 the school officially opened up its second building that would house secondary academics and the new gymnasium for the athletics program.
What started out as a group of families praying for a school has now turned into a family and culture that has been going strong for 41 years. Without their dedication and prayers our school would not be where it is today. What could have been shut down with a fire, turned into a two building campus that now holds almost 300 students who are being disciplined and taught to serve the Lord. We are very thankful for the dedication of those who came before us, and let their perseverance inspire us to continue building the legacy that will go on for many more years to come.