In 1996, a small group of friends sat around a kitchen table to dream of a radically new type of school in Indianapolis. They envisioned a school that would serve children from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. Two years later, this visionary group of founders launched The Oaks Academy.

In 1998, 53 students gathered on the front steps of 2301 N Park Avenue and took the first school photo that has grown to include over 1,000 students each year at four campuses in 25 years. As we reflected on this growth – amazing as it is for our community – we reminisced on the small, close knit community that was able to continually gather all together in worship each and every day. While each campus continues the tradition of lauds and chapel to start each day, there are few opportunities for our entire community to come together now that we extend to three locations.

At the same time, we celebrated the last 25 years of student success and transformation as a school and embarked on a journey to commemorate that with a special project. In true Oaks tradition of reflection, we spent some time with many of the people who played a role in our early years to shape and form The Oaks into what it is today. From this, we created the documentary, “The Story of The Oaks Academy: For the Display of His Splendor”, a story about the miraculous founding of our school.

With these things in mind, we found it fitting to come together as One Oaks community to worship together, celebrate the last 25 years, and joyfully look forward to the future. One Oaks Chapel on Saturday, October 7, 2023 was a beautiful morning that we are unlikely to forget anytime soon.