When God Shows Up By Mark Kok

K, I know the title As if that were not enough proof that God was is a contradiction telling us loud and clear that He is in control, I Oin terms. God received a phone call from a student’s grandmother is omnipresent and omni- telling me that a friend of their family wanted to scient.s God is everywhere all make a donation to our school. That family friend was thethe time, so He can’t technically American Idol winner Jordin Sparks. She wanted to “show“show up.” But the fact is that God donate two VIP passes to her Super Bowl Experience often only seems to show up for us when in Miami; airfare and accommodations were included we need Him the most. It is when we are in tune with in the package. Furthermore, she would be willing Him that we see Him at work in our lives. to come to our school and draw the winning ticket in God has been “showing up” at Grace Community person. The students got busy selling tickets for the Christian School (GCCS) for 35 years. The school began drawing; in all, they sold nearly $20,000 worth. As it as and still is a ministry of Grace Community Church. turned out, without that unexpected gift from Jordin, It was Pastor Guy Davidson’s vision to offer a quality we would have fallen $20,000 short of our fund-raising education with a Christian worldview. The school motto is goal for the year. “Education in Christ, Preparation for Life.” The school has We were once again reminded that God is the never wavered from that motto. And as this new school great provider as promised in Matthew 6:26, “Look year begins, teachers are focused on praying for their at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap students and for their students’ spiritual growth this year. nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father God has been faithful to GCCS throughout the feeds them. Are you not worth much more than years, but that doesn’t mean that every year is free they?” (NASB). If God wanted to provide $20,000 for from challenges. We are well aware that there is a the school, He could have sent a donor to give one continuous spiritual battle in this world. Our campus big check, but He chose to provide a fund-raising is no exception. Satan would like nothing more than to opportunity that brought our school together through divide staff, discourage students, and cause parents to student excitement and participation. It also gave the doubt the school and its mission. students a special opportunity to see Jordin Sparks up GCCS has gone through major changes in the past close. We serve a wonderfully creative God. few years. Since its inception in 1975, Grace has always Typically, teachers stay at GCCS for many years. had two classes per grade level. The night before Job openings can be rare. But between the 2007/2008 enrollment began, parents used to camp out in front and 2008/2009 school years, GCCS had an unusually of the offi ce to ensure a spot for their children. As large staff turnover, hiring nine new teachers. These recently as three years ago, GCCS was running classes changes presented new challenges. That same year, at full capacity. But over the past three years, pre-K–8 because of an ACSI recommendation, we moved from enrollment has dropped from nearly 500 to 360. This a junior high (grades 7–8) model to a middle school drop has challenged the school in many ways. (grades 6–8) model. This move raised issues such as Because of our dramatic drop in enrollment class fl ow, 6th-grade lockers, and new scheduling— and the uncertain economic times, our fund-raising while we were simultaneously orienting new middle dollars had the potential to drop as well. One of our school staff members. We were all learning and annual fund-raisers is the Patriot’s Run Jog-a-Thon. adapting together. As a completely reorganized staff, Typically we send out 3,000–4,000 support mailers to we had to rely on God to help us gel as one unit and family and friends around the country. Last year we accept all the new changes headed our way. sent out a mere 2,200 mailers because of lower student In the Old Testament, Daniel looked to God numbers, and we were concerned that the event’s for wisdom: “It is He who changes the times and fi nancial goal would not be met. How foolish we were. epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He We surpassed our goal by $3,000. God showed up. gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of

28 2010/2011 . CSE Volume 14 Number 2 . When God Shows Up Grace Community Christian School, Tempe AZ

understanding” (Daniel 2:21). By remaining faithful in show up, we have prepared our classrooms to receive prayer and working hard, we received God’s wisdom more students. to handle these changes. The transition to middle As believers, we recognize God’s sovereignty. school was successful. By understanding this, we surrender all control to Christian schools rely heavily on tuition to meet Him. “He’s got the whole world in His hands”—as the their budgetary needs. As the 2008/2009 school year old spiritual suggests. We don’t know why God has progressed and reenrollment came due, we began to brought so many tough challenges and changes to realize that our usually stable enrollment was about to our school over the past few years. One thing that we change dramatically. It became apparent that we were do know is that God will be glorifi ed on the campus going to have to make some severe staff reductions of Grace Community Christian School. We have faith to operate a sustainable budget for the next school in this because we know that “God causes all things year—just one year after hiring so many new staff to work together for good to those who love God, members. Every staff member I have ever worked with to those who are called according to His purpose” in Christian schools was there because he or she loved (Romans 8:28). the Lord and loved to infl uence children for Him. It is If you are reading this, most likely you are not an easy thing to tell people who have poured heart involved in Kingdom work, as we are at GCCS. It and soul into their students’ lives that their contracts is a privilege and a great responsibility to educate will not be renewed. It was a gut-wrenching process children within the framework of Christianity. But for all involved. But once again, God showed up. we know we will be attacked by Satan. Our great- est defense against discouragement during tough We now have a special sense changes is prayer. When the prophet Elisha was attacked by the Arameans, he prayed to God, and of camaraderie that I have God sent a hedge of angels to protect Elisha (2 Kings 6:8–17). We must constantly ask God for a hedge of not experienced in the past. protection around our school. God has been faithful to GCCS, and we have confi dence that He will continue Our staff have never been closer, and we now have to be faithful in the future. a special sense of camaraderie that I have not experi- enced in the past. We have nine fewer employees, and References yet we have retained most of the programs that GCCS Kendrick, Alex, and Stephen Kendrick. 2006. Facing the is known for (physical education and sports, speech giants. Movie. Directed by Alex Kendrick. Albany, GA: therapy, programs for students who have learning Sherwood Pictures. disabilities, and an extensive music program.) Our Traditional. n.d. He’s got the whole world in his hands. hardworking, highly qualifi ed staff members have Various publishers. continued to step up and pick up the slack. They have willingly taken on more responsibilities for the same pay because they recognize that it is not about them; it Mark Kok, BA, currently serves as the assistant administrator at Grace is about giving God the glory in all they do. Community Christian School in Tempe, Arizona. He has 15 years of I’m reminded of one of my favorite movies, Facing teaching experience in Christian education. He lives in a suburb of Phoenix the Giants. There is a scene in the movie in which a with his wife, Lisa, and their three children—Olivia, Emma, and Nolan. local pastor comes to talk to the head football coach and tells the coach a story about two farmers who prayed for rain—but only one farmer prepared his fi eld to receive the rain. The pastor then asks the coach, “Which one are you?” (2006). Expecting God to

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