Stutzman Center for Christian Education

Unapologetically Christian

For almost 80 years, Mount Dora Christian Academy & Children’s Home has had one singular focus: to provide an excellent education that is unapologetically Christian. From a mere 55 students in 1945 to 800 students today, we remain steadfast in our mission to educate, equip, and empower our community to love God and others, pursue excellence, and impact our world.

The demand for Christian education is at an all-time high. Thus, to meet the need here in Central Florida, we are launched our latest initiative on Giving Tuesday 2023: The Cletus M. Stutzman Center for Christian Education. Named in honor of our former president, the late Cletus Stutzman, who served in the role from 1981 to 1990, this building will serve as the cornerstone for Christian education and biblical studies on our campus.

Cultivating Faith-Driven World Changers

The Stutzman Center aims to provide a home for our daily Bible classes, which are required of every student, and a dedicated planning space for faculty and staff as they prepare for daily chapel services, a cherished tradition for MDCA&CH students. With the intent of being cost-effective, we are creating the Stutzman Center by converting an existing building that has been underutilized since 2008. The renovation will allow us to create five Bible classrooms, research space, conference space, and storage in this 5,500 sq.-ft. space.

With the relocation of the Bible Department, other classrooms will open up on campus. This additional space is critical to meet the growing academic needs of our campus, which includes adding third sections of next year’s fifth, sixth, and ninth grades. We will also be able to expand both our Bible class offerings and selection of electives.

Cletus M. Stutzman 

Cletus Stutzman came to Mount Dora Christian Academy & Children’s Home by providential design. His family moved to Zellwood, Florida, when he was in seventh grade. While waiting for the neighborhood bus to take him to the public school, he accidentally got on the wrong bus and ended up at our campus. That proved to be the turning point in his life and a divine moment in the history of our organization. 

Upon graduating from MDCA&CH, Stutzman attended Alabama Christian College (now Faulkner University). He then returned to his alma mater to teach in 1954. He went on to serve as a coach, guidance counselor, athletic director, vice president, executive vice president, and president. He was involved in all aspects of campus life and often could be found cooking the fried chicken for our chicken suppers.

He was a passionate athlete and coach, leading our 1961 boys basketball team to a state championship. He was later inducted into the MDCA Sports Hall of Fame. 

We believe that the creation of the Cletus M. Stutzman Center for Christian Education will speak volumes to our students, parents, and community: MDCA&CH is a place where the study of God’s word is paramount. Your commitment to our cause has always been inspiring, and we invite you to join us in this endeavor, one that seeks to create a physical space to ultimately change lives spiritually