Joel Pepin, Head of SchoolUnder the leadership of the head of the school, Joel Pepin, Rejoice Christian School has flourished, both in size and substance. With record enrollment and expanding programs, the school is experiencing a season of growth that reflects its strong foundational values and visionary planning.
Central to this growth is what Pepin refers to as the “playbook,” a leadership tool adapted from Patrick Lencioni’s organizational framework that drives the school’s clarity, cohesion, and culture.
The playbook is not just a metaphor—it’s a practical, annually updated guide built around six critical questions: Why do we exist? How do we behave? What do we do? How will we succeed? What’s most important right now? Who must do what?
These questions serve as a compass, ensuring the school stays focused on its mission: to provide a whole-person Christian education that immerses students in a transformative biblical worldview.
“Every year, our leadership team re-engages with these questions to ensure we’re not drifting from who God has called our school to be,” says Pepin.
This discipline in vision-casting and goal-setting has anchored Rejoice even as it adds new programs and expands its reach.
What sets Rejoice apart from many other Christian schools is its immersive—not merely integrated—biblical worldview. Biblical truth and grace are infused into every corner of student life, from the classroom to the athletic field. The school’s commitment to this immersive faith formation is stated in its mission and consistently lived out.
A compelling example of this comes from the school’s football team. Players are encouraged to pray for their opponents in the week leading up to each game, a practice that humanizes competition and fosters empathy and spiritual maturity. In one poignant instance, a Rejoice player contacted an opposing athlete after a contentious game. Instead of retaliating with harsh words and aggressive play, he offered prayer and compassion. That act of grace opened the door for a deeply personal conversation, culminating in the opposing player giving his life to Christ. This kind of transformation—unprompted, unscripted, and deeply spiritual—lies at the core of the Rejoice mission.
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Every year, our leadership team re-engages with these questions to ensure we’re not drifting from who God has called our school to be
Beyond spiritual development, Rejoice boasts exceptional academic, athletic, and extracurricular offerings. Its aviation program, developed in response to Oklahoma’s growing aerospace industry, stands out among these. Students explore flight mechanics and are taught to consider how their skills can serve others and bring glory to God—underscoring the school’s dual emphasis on vocational calling and Kingdom impact.
Rejoice’s facilities reflect both vision and generosity. Fueled by a record-setting $55 million donation, the campus includes state-of-the-art STEAM labs, an expansive field house, and new business entrepreneurship and swimming programs. While its connection to its founder, Rejoice Church, remains strong, the school was launched early in its history to be an independent, community Christian school, drawing families from more than 60 church backgrounds. This diversity within a unified theological framework fosters a rich environment for dialogue, mentorship, and mutual encouragement.
Still, Rejoice Christian School's greatest asset may be its people. Faculty and staff undergo biblical worldview assessments to ensure alignment with the school’s mission. Chapel services, Bible classes, mission trips, and local service projects are some ways Rejoice equips students to be spiritually, intellectually, physically, and socially prepared to impact the world for Christ.
Not only does Rejoice recruit excellent staff, with over 97 of their staff members having advanced degrees, but Rejoice ensures that Biblical truth and grace are infused into every corner of student life, from the classroom to the athletic field. The schools commitment to this immersive faith formation is stated in its mission and consistently lived out. Every grade level at RCS is responsible for a service project, ranging from Operation Christmas Child to food drives for Neighbors in Need, and so much more.
Rejoice Christian School is more than an institution—it is a community intentionally designed to raise disciples who lead with courage, love with boldness, and think through the lens of scripture. Rejoice offers students something far greater: a rooted, whole-person education that lasts a lifetime in a culture often marked by fragmentation and haste.
