BBQ & Auction and Budget Updates

Psalm 46 proclaims the power and majesty of God.  Throughout the Psalm we are reminded that we should not fear because God is an ever-present help, and He is greater than any entity bent on destruction.  One verse that really stands out to me is verse 10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

This past weekend CCS hosted its 42^nd Chicken BBQ & Country Auction.  There were very few moments during this weekend when the campus was “still,” but God’s presence was clearly evident.  When the BBQ & Auction concluded Saturday afternoon, every one of the 2,090 chicken dinners we had ordered were sold and every quilt, class basket, piece of art, household item, delicious food item, and yes the Harley Davidson were auctioned off.  The weekend – a success!  The praise – only to God!!  I praise God with all of our family and friends who worked to make the BBQ & Auction possible.  God empowered our parents, staff, and students with the wisdom and strength to make this special event possible.  A special thank you MUST go out to Heather Schreier, our BBQ & Auction Chair.  Heather led our team with humility and grace . . . thank you, Heather!!

An update on the BBQ & Auction:  Preliminary income numbers are in and it appears that we are only approximately $3,500 under budget.  This is a huge praise; a praise knowing that God would see fit to bless us with any amount is amazing, but to be just a little shy of $72,000 in income is incredible.  Prayerfully we might still receive some gifts, and we do not have all our expenses tallied, but our preliminary report is good.  Thank you God!!

An update on Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) funding:  Every year the Pennsylvania Department of Education allocates a portion of their budget to education.  We at CCS usually are awarded approximately $25,000 from the PDE to purchase items such as textbooks and supplies for teachers and students.  This year, as many of you already know, the budget has not passed and money for schools has not been released.  To be better informed, please Google ‘PA Budget’ and read for yourself what the media is reporting.  What does this mean to us?  The budget impasse means that we have not received funding for the textbooks and supplies we were planning on for this year.  Our teachers have been operating to the best of their ability – and have done so without one complaint.  Our teachers are awesome and know that God IS in control.  Currently we are looking at options to get our teachers the resources they need; please be in prayer for all of us.  To let your voice be heard, please feel free to contact your state representative or the governor himself; the more people who speak up, the greater the possibility that our voice is heard.

Whether we see God’s hand of blessing as we have in the BBQ & Auction or see how He asks us to wait as in the case of budget; Psalm 46:11 is our stronghold, “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”  

War Room

I had the tremendous blessing of taking my family to see War Room this past weekend.  Have you seen it?  If you have not, you should!  War Room is an inspirational movie that reminds us that we should be concerned about what we do and not about what someone else does.  God wants us to make sure the “plank” is out of our own eye before we begin attacking the “speck” in our neighbor’s eye.  (Matthew 7: 3-5)  Miss Clara’s closing prayer exhorts each one of us become a prayer warrior and help raise up the next generation of believers. You can listen to a portion of her inspirational prayer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtRx1tUj_q0

Pray for your family today, and pray for our school.  Pray that our students will grow closer to God and honor Him in everything they do and say this year.  Pray for our BBQ/Auction and prayerfully consider how you can help.  Our volunteer sign-up will be coming out soon; please sign up to help in any way you can.  Pray for our auction coordinators. A complete list of our coordinators can be found in ParentsWeb under Resource Documents.  Pray for our solicitation efforts!  Log on to ParentsWeb and right on the front page, under announcements, you will find a list of businesses we need to visit.  If you could help us and visit one or two businesses, you would make our day brighter. :)  

Finally, please pray for our Founders Events.  Go to our website at www.conestogachristian.net and order your tickets today to hear Ken Davis, Christian comedian, at Calvary Church on March 4, 2016 or to have dinner with A & E stars Willie and Korie Robertson at Shady Maple Banquets on March 18, 2016 . . . better yet, do both!

Starting Strong

In Philippians chapter 1 Paul writes to the saints at Philippi and says that he is confident that God will continue the good He started in them until the day Jesus Christ returns.  Paul was confident in making such a declaration because of the partnership he had with his brothers and sisters at Philippi, because of what he experienced with them.  I have been a part of the ministry of Conestoga Christian School going on five years now and feel the same way; I know that God started a work at our school and that He will work in us and through us until the day that Jesus Christ comes back.  The bottom line . . . God IS faithful and He IS watching over us!

The school year has started strong.  Our Back to School Celebration Friday night was one of the best I have experienced in my 24 years of Christian education.  Maybe it was the fact that we had over 300 people on campus, maybe it was that we were outside enjoying a gentle breeze and beautiful sunset, or maybe it was because there was energy and excitement from faculty, staff, parents, and students; I am not sure why I felt this was one of the best Back to School Celebrations, but I sure am thankful that it was.  There were two things handed out at Back to School Night:

• Parent/Student Handbook with updated Strategic Plan
• School Calendar

If you were not able to attend our Back to School Celebration and did not receive a Parent/Student Handbook with our updated Strategic Plan or school calendar, please stop by the office and pick one up anytime.

Highlights from the summer:

• Repaired roof on north side of HS building.
• Sealed and striped the back parking lot. 
• Renovated the main hallway of both the ES and MS buildings. 
• Created a new ES Computer Lab and Mobile MS Lab.
• Resurfaced the gym floor.
• Received a baby grand piano for our music department – for free!

Highlights for the school year:

• BBQ/Auction – October 16 and 17 will soon be here.  Please be in prayer for our BBQ/Auction and PLEASE sign up to help (more information to come).
• Founders Events – Tickets go on sale tomorrow for an evening with Christian Comedian Ken Davis and dinner with Duck Dynasty stars Willie and Korie Robertson.  These are two separate events.  Tickets can be purchased on the CCS website. 
• Strategic Planning – Read our Strategic Plan to see what the vision of the school is for the next five years including what we are striving to accomplish this year.

This is going to be an exciting year!  The most important thing any of us can do for our school is pray.  Let your prayer be the same as Paul’s prayer for the saints at Philippi in Philippians 1:9-11, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Thinking Ahead

As we approach August 1, have you been thinking about the 2015-2016 school year?  I have heard many parents say that they hold off thinking about school as long as possible; parents, like students, want to enjoy their summers.  For some the school year brings about busy schedules, early mornings, and late evenings with homework and projects; for me, the school year brings life back to our campus.

Please do not get me wrong; there IS life on the campus of CCS this summer.  There are staff members here, athletic camps happening, and many contractors helping to "spruce up" our campus.   However, when 230 students and 35 faculty and staff are here on campus - we are ALIVE!  I have been thinking a lot about God's faithfulness this summer, and I am looking forward to what God is going to do with us during the 2015-2016 school year.

Items for prayer as we approach the 2015-2016 school year:

1. Enrollment - We are praying for an enrollment of 233.
2. Faculty and Staff - Pray for transitions for new and returning faculty and staff.
3. Strategic Planning - We are finalizing our Strategic Plan through 2020. Please pray for wisdom for our Board of Trustees.
4. Auction - October 16, 17 will be here before we know it. Please pray and help with solicitation.
5. Campus Improvements - Many areas are under renovation. Pray for strength and endurance to complete all projects before teachers arrive on August 25.

In Him, 

Two More Praises

What a beautiful May day God has given us!  Temperatures are above normal, there is no rain (yet), and we have two exciting things that happened today:

1. First, we completed and sent in our ACSI Annual Report.  We have completed the second year of our seven year technology project.  ACSI is our accrediting agency.  If anyone wants to read about what we have done in year two, please go to our website, www.conestogachristian.net, and read all about our projects.
2. Second, THE AIR IS ON IN THE GYM!!  Six air conditioning units were installed in the gymnasium and one unit was installed in the music room . . . they all work - PRAISE GOD!  Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this project; it is a true blessing.

Within the next two weeks I hope to give you another praise report - the results of Race for Education.  God gave us wonderful weather to run in last Friday.  Once we receive the per lap donations, I will send out a report.  As of last Friday we raised $25,000 through Race.  Our goal and budgeted amount for Race is $35,000.  Please keep praying for all support to come in.

Thank you for your prayers.  Make sure you keep up to date on everything happening here on campus by checking out our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/conestogachristiansch.

Social Media

How do you feel about social media?  Some parents are calm and collected while others are frantic and suspicious.  I have to admit that with my oldest child being 22 and my youngest 10, I have been on both sides of the spectrum.  No matter where you are now on that spectrum and no matter where I might be, one thing I know is that we have to be informed.  I know very little when it comes to what is out there on the Internet.  My oldest children talk about Snapchat and Vines, but I really don't understand either one.  Do you?  One of the teachers here at CCS shared this article with me; if you have some time, please read it: Dear Well-Meaning (But Ignorant) Parents.

The best advice I can give you when it comes to social media and your children is to speak Truth into your children every chance you can.  Deuteronomy 6:4-7 says, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."  The Truth of God is far greater and more powerful than the truth of the Internet.  Continually point your children to God and trust in Him.  Remember what Paul tells  us in I John 4:4. "Little children, you are from God and have overcome them [false spirits], for He who is in you is greater than he that is in the world." 

Count Your Blessings

Psalm 8:9 states “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.”  This verse concludes chapter 8 where David praises God’s name and contemplates the many things that God has done for us.  David recalls that God placed the moon and the stars where they are by the power of His hand.  David also notes that God crowned man with glory and honor and made man the ruler over His creation.  Why did God do that for man?  Why did He do that for us?  Why does the Creator of the universe care about you and me, and why has He given us a place of honor among His creation – because He loves us!  God loves us so much He sent His one and only Son to die for us.  Have you contemplated that Truth today?

Let me ask you another question – do you remember the hymn Count Your Blessings?  The chorus says that you should:

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your blessings, see what God has done.

Be honest, are you starting to sing that great old hymn?  I couldn’t help but sing it; to be honest, I Googled it and played four different versions of it.  My favorite was done by Guy Penrod (Gospel singer who sang with Gaither Vocal Band from 1994-2008).  I will be singing Count Your Blessings all day long!

As you count the blessings God has brought and is bringing in your life, let me share with you some blessings we are seeing at Conestoga Christian School:

• Conestoga’s 2014 SAT scores came out and are posted on our website in our School Profile under the “About” tab on our home page.  Conestoga’s average score is 1681 which by the way is the highest average of all our busing districts!!
• Larry Everhart, technology teacher, took Conestoga’s middle and high school students to Technology Student Association’s (TSA) Regional Competition, and our students did extremely well.  Students in both the middle and high school placed first in various categories, and many students came home with high honors.  CCS competed with multiple public schools and LMH in this Regional Competition. 
•  Mary Burke, high school art teacher, braved the weather this past Saturday and took works of art to the Tel Hai High School Art Show.  Just like with TSA, our students had a great showing! 

God’s blessings!

God has not just blessed us, He continues to bless us.  Please join us and feel God’s blessings in the following events that are about to take place at CCS:

• Tomorrow, February 24, the CCS Music Conservatory will host its annual Music Recital.  Come to the CCS gymnasium at 7:00pm and listen to 41 Conservatory students play and sing pieces they have been working on.
• Friday, March 13, the elementary school will bounce into reading with their own version of March Madness.  This elementary school event will focus on fun activities and bring out a love for reading for our elementary students.  The NCAA has nothing on us when it comes to March Madness :)
• Thursday, March 26, join Tri-County Christian Schools (Conestoga, Westmont, and Berks) for their annual TCS Fine Arts Festival.  The Fine Arts Festival will once again be held at Conestoga Mennonite Church and will begin at 7:00pm.
• Friday, March 27, plan on being in our gymnasium at 7:00pm as the elementary music program puts on Oh, Jonah.  This musical program will feature students from grades 2-5.

You can never have too many blessings! 

Closing Out January

As January rapidly comes to a close, I am encouraged by the things that are happening on campus.  Yesterday, January 22, our Elementary Science Explorers kicked off their winter session!  It is encouraging to see our high school Science teacher Mr. Kolb investing in the lives of our elementary students.  In addition to our Science Explorers, the elementary hosted another testing session for our Math Club.  You might think that taking a math test is not very fun, and when 4^th and 5^th grade students only receive 5 WORD problems to try and solve, you might think it even gets worse; but let me tell you, my son Kenny has been attending and WAS very encouraged after his last Math Club test.  It is amazing what God has done and is doing with our students.  And speak about AMAZING, did you know that our BBQ/Auction made budget?  Through God’s blessing and the efforts of many volunteers, we raised $46,910 for CCS.  The complete breakdown is as follows:

• Receipts                      80,376
• Expenses                    33,466
• Net Proceeds              46,910

Our budget for the BBQ/Auction was $43,300 leaving us $3,610 over budget . . . Praise God!

Science Explorers, Math Club, and BBQ/Auction are great examples of God’s blessings but so is our special Pastors Luncheon that is coming up in February.  On Thursday, February 12, we have the privilege of hosting the Children’s Directors, Youth Pastors, and Senior Pastors of the churches represented in our patron body.  These ministry workers will be treated to a catered lunch and enjoy the company of the children and youth from their church – how cool is that!

Every time I think about the blessings God brings into my life, and the life of CCS, I am reminded of the words from the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 13:14, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”  I am reminded of that verse because I feel that grace, love, and fellowship . . . I hope you do too.