In Just 2 Years, Crook County Christian School Stands Out as a Miracle Story That God Continues To Write (Part 1)

At our church (First Assembly on South Main Street), we make it a regular practice to share testimonies with each other about what God is currently doing in our lives. While one of the key benefits of doing this is the mutual bolstering of our faith, our chief purpose remains to give God glory for all He does. He writes the BEST stories, and the story of Crook County Christian School stands out as one of the most incredible stories of God’s provision and leading I’ve ever had the opportunity to be part of. What God has accomplished in just 2 years is nothing short of a miracle. Here’s part of the remarkable story God is writing, and it is truly a story worth sharing…

In The Beginning:

When God called us to replant Crook County Christian School in May of 2022, it was an impossible task that we knew was completely out of our reach. To be open by September would require resources that we did not have as a church, and we knew it would require a miracle:

• We needed teachers, but had no resources to hire them
• We had buildings/classrooms that had been completely stripped bare and were in need of remodel
• We needed desks, chairs and furnishings that would cost tends of thousands of dollars to outfit
• We needed new curriculum (about $40K) for students we didn’t yet have registered

Though we were literally starting from ground zero with nothing but empty buildings, our church board determined to move forward with what we believed was a clear mandate and vision from God to replant Crook County Christian School with the original vision and quality that inspired its establishment in 1994. Nearly 28 years to the day since our congregation voted to establish and build the school (and 7 years after its closure in 2015), our board voted to re-establish CCCS by faith.

God’s Miraculous Provision and Seed

I’ll never forget Memorial Day weekend of 2022. After leaving Stephanie and our kids in Vancouver with family so I could return home for Sunday’s church gathering, I prayed a simple yet desperate & heart-felt prayer as I pulled away from my in-laws home towards the freeway:

“God, this is impossible, and we have no resources to accomplish this vision. If this is truly your will, and I believe it is because your clear will in Scripture is to make disciples, then you’re going to have to be the one to do this. You’ll have to provide everything, because our church does not have the resources (financial or otherwise) to accomplish this apart from you.”

What happened next is truly astonishing. Approximately 2 hours later, just outside Madras on the home stretch, my phone rang and I answered it. The voice on the other end changed the trajectory of CCCS in a single moment:

“My wife and I have been talking and we believe in the vision God has given you and the church. We know you need to begin hiring teachers, and we know you don’t have the resources you need. We want you to go ahead and move forward with hiring, and whatever the difference is between tuition and expenses each month, we’ll cover that difference the first year. Let’s start a school…”

Just two hours removed from that simple prayer, God supplied the most critical need to reopen a K-6 school, and He did so completely unsolicited. Though we never asked a single person or entity to help us, God provided over $300K in donations of cash, supplies and equipment from several sources in year one to relaunch Crook County Christian School in a way that only He can receive the glory for. In addition, He helped us find and build an incredible teaching team and staff so we could open in just 3 months. Even though we couldn’t gain access to the physical buildings until July 1 when the current tenant’s lease expired, Crook County Christian School reopened on time that September in what can only be described as a miracle.

Two Years Later, The Miracle Story Continues

In part 2, we’ll detail all that God has done since then. In just two years, we’ve seen God provide:

1. An exceptional staff and teaching team that is not only highly qualified, but who love to be part of changing the lives of students and families and reshaping Christian education in Crook County. Our staff is truly what makes CCCS such a great place!
2. Financial self-sustainability and independence apart from outside donors (in just under 2 years!)
3. Expansion to 8th grade in year #2, and our first high school class this September.
4. Preparation for completing accreditation with ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International)
5. Vision to expand our programming and to offer new options to families in Crook County that have never existed previously.
6. So much more than we could ask!

As we stand back in awe of all that God has accomplished in just 2 years, we also realize this is just the beginning. The best is yet to come, and the future has never been brighter for families in Crook County that desire the best possible academic and spiritual education for their kids. Are you ready for a change that will benefit your entire family just as it has benefitted those who have already discovered CCCS? God writes the BEST stories, and we want to invite you to come be a part of the incredible story God is writing at Crook County Christian School!

SOLI DEO GLORIA (Glory to God alone)

Aaron Mapes
Principal Administrator (Crook County Christian School)

More Info about CCCS

Are you a parent wanting to know how your child can thrive at Crook County Christian School? At CCCS, we aim to help students pursue God through excellence in Discipleship, Academics, and Leadership!

Reach out today and make a change that will benefit your student for a lifetime!

Admissions Info: https://crookcountychristian.com/admissions/

Schedule a Tour: https://crookcountychristian.com/tour

Call Us Today: 541-241-8855