STOP! Have you read Part 1?
Of course you are welcome to read Part 2 first, but it means so much more if you read Part 1 beforehand!
Click Here to Read Part 1
Picking Up Where We Left Off
In our first article, we shared all that God miraculously provided in order for Crook County Christian School to reopen in Fall 2022. While it was nothing short of miraculous, what we didn’t realize in that moment is that He was just getting started! In Part 2, we want to share some of the incredible and unexpected things that God has been doing to prepare us for the future and for what He has called us to do. He continues to write the story, and we feel so blessed to simply serve Him in any way He calls us to participate. It has been exciting because He continues to do unexpected things while calling us to simply walk by faith and obedience:
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Paul the Apostle (Ephesians 2:10)
Miracle #4: Expanding Our Amazing Team
Last summer, God helped us build the most amazing team combining seasoned teachers/staff with talented new staff that came along side to create an incredible, dynamic and gifted team. God blessed those endeavors, but we had to work EXTREMELY hard to find and complete that team in record time without sacrificing quality or standards. It was challenging!
As we headed into our final trimester, we saw signs already of needing to hire more teachers. Our Kindergarten pre-enrollment grew from 7 kids last year to 22 so far, so we opened a second class. At the same time, some really great, highly qualified teachers started reaching out to us! Within the span of a month, and without advertising, God brought us three highly qualified hires (one in preschool, one in elementary, and one in secondary).
Our elementary hire (Haelee) is amazing, coming with her B.S. in Elementary Education and the highest recommendations from her pastor, teaching colleagues, and others! Next, God brought us another amazing teacher (Margo) who brings her Master’s in Education to complement her Bachelor of Science in English Education to help anchor teaching English in our new Middle School Program. Immediately after, God brought another hire directly to us to help out in our Early Education program (Robin). Three incredible hires in the span of 2 weeks without a single job board advertisement. Since then, we’ve also had more teachers contacting us, and we are now needing at least one more to accommodate growing enrollment.
Sola Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone)!
Miracle #5: Prepping for Our Academic Needs
God’s timing is perfect, as we wanted to expand into Middle School this year, but we were determined not to do so until we had teachers who were subject matter experts and qualified to teach those subjects. Based on our experience last year, this seemed like our greatest challenge. Once again, God has brought us not only the necessary teachers, but they are all highly qualified and experienced! As mentioned above, they are coming with subject matter expertise, degrees, and most already certified!
This is also extremely helpful as we pursue accreditation with ACSI (Association of Christian Schools international) which has far more rigorous standards than our previous regional accreditation (Cognia, AdvancedEd). It requires all of our teachers to be degreed and certified, which is important as we grow our Middle School program into a new High School program as students advance. With our newest hires and future hires, God is providing exactly what is needed to meet the most rigorous standards.
Sola Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone)!
Miracle #6: Prepping for Our Physical Needs
Just a couple weeks ago, our Vice Principal (Lexie) and Office Administrator (Jodi) were talking about our growing enrollment and the need to order more desks. They went online to price the desks they wanted, and they were $170 a piece. Less than 2 hours later, we got a call that a school was closing and they wanted to know if we were interested an any desks. THEY WERE THE EXACT SAME DESKS they had just been browsing and discussing how we could raise funds to pay for them.
Not only did they have desks, but they asked if we needed kidney-shaped reading tables. They had 10 of them, and of course, that was the exact number we needed to ensure we could have one in every classroom. What only we knew is that we had put one table in Kindergarten, and couldn’t put them in the rest of the classrooms because they cost $400-$500 per table. God knew the need, and He provided so much more!
When they arrived this past Tuesday to deliver everything, we were surprised to find not only the desks we wanted, but dozens more we also needed to support growing enrollment. Additionally, they brought several preschool tables we had no idea were coming. Of course, we were also just discussing the need to purchase more to support our growing preschool programs and new 2-year-old class. And without even asking, God once again supplied the need.
While this was the most recent donation, we’ve had more donations than we could possibly list, including a hospital that donated 24 new training tables/desks for our middle school classrooms. At every step, God isn’t just providing the immediate need, but the future need.
Sola Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone)!
Standing in Awe
Truly, this has been one of the most incredible seasons of provision we have ever walked in over the span of 10+ years of ministry and since our humble beginnings 29 years ago. God is once again meeting needs without ever asking or soliciting anyone, and even meeting those needs before we can ask. Not only has it been incredible for us, it has been so faith building for our staff to watch God do the impossible month after month pouring out his blessing. Collectively, God has used it in such a powerful way to cement what He is doing in our team and school. While none of us knew what to expect, His promise of provision has been more evident than ever to all of us.
For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow…
-Jesus (Matthew 6:33)
Looking Forward
As we look to Fall 2023, we enter with a completely different position and expectation than we did heading into Fall 2022. God has done so much, enrollment for Fall has already grown more than 50% before summer even begins. God has brought us the staff and resources needed. When we stand back and take it all in, all we can do is give Him all the Glory and commit ourselves to follow and obey wherever He leads us and/or whatever He asks us to do.
SOLA DEO GLORIA
Previous Article
If you haven’t already, Click Here to Read Part 1
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!
Leave a Reply