A testament to God's faithfulness

All jokes aside, I am really looking forward to school beginning tomorrow morning. This has been a miraculous summer. Grace Christian Academy finished the 2004-2005 school year with 57 students, seven of whom graduated. As many of you know, May was a tumultuous month at Grace Bible Church. Ray McCrary, our pastor, felt led to resign (while agreeing with the board to stay on until the middle of June 2006) as did our school administrator, Jeff Allen. We also had several teachers who either retired or transferred to a different school.

While I understand the call of God to be paramount to all else, it was difficult to be optimistic when looking ahead to the fall. Not having an administrator is an overwhelming burden for a school and church board to bear. But we not only were lacking an administrator, we were also missing all but one teacher. Scary! Understandably, many of the parents made the decision to transfer their children to other schools. As late as the middle of July we barely had 20 students committed to coming to GCA this fall.

However, God's people began to pray. I know of one group that met several mornings a week to specifically pray for the need. Obviously, the church and school boards were earnestly seeking God's direction for the future of the school. "Should we keep it open? Does God want this ministry to continue? God, we need to know."

Lori felt led to work part-time (more full-time than part-time) as a temporary administrator, just to get us through the summer. In the meantime, several of our congregation began to feel God leading them to volunteer to help out in the academy. However, the nagging problem remained: no administrator and no teachers.

If I remember correctly, it was on the third Sunday evening in June that we had an incredible service. God's presence swept over our congregation, the altars were filled, the walls that had been between certain individuals in our church were brought down, it was just one of those times when God takes over.

It had started with a time of singing and testimonies. Several testified about the difficulties that they were struggling with and how God was helping them. A gentleman who had attended our church for the first time that Sunday morning stood up that evening, not knowing anything about us or what we were going through. He began by saying "I've never done anything like this before, but I feel as though God wants me to say something. I don't know you and you don't know me. I don't know if I'll ever see you guys again. But, I believe God is telling me that the problems that some of you have mentioned have something to do with the school you have here." Well, when he said that everybody's jaw dropped (including mine, as I stood before the people). He went on to say that he believed strongly in Christian education, that it was not only important but necessary. He told us that he was sensing that God was telling him to share with us that we shouldn't close the school. He said this all quietly, no fanfare, no wild gestures. He said it and sat down. People sat dumbfounded for quite a while. Ray said a few words and told the congregation that he needed to pray. He asked if there was anyone who wanted to join him?People surged to the altars. God's presence settled on the church and He began a healing process that is continuing even now.

Since that time, after nearly a month of prayer, God led the school board to offer the administrator's position to the quiet man who listened to God's voice, Milo Wittkopf. God has also sent us teachers and assistants for every class except high school (and just hold on, that's going to happen, too) and provided volunteers for nearly every program at the academy. Our enrollment is now at 65 students with more calling to set up appointments. God is doing something great at Grace Christian Academy.

Many times, when faced with difficult situations we try in our human strength to solve the problem. However, that's not what God wants us to do. I Peter 5:7 says that we're to "cast our cares upon Him, because He cares for us." Philippians 4:19: "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

We talk big about faith in God when things are going easy, but I'm telling you, God truly proves His faithfulness when we are dealing with the impossible. This year of GCA is going to be a testament to His faithfulness.

I had to share the story.