I want to thank all of the parents who were able to make our Back-To-School Night this week. It serves as one of the most important nights of the year for us to come together as home and school and commit ourselves to raising up a generation of young people who will love and serve God. It was a time for us to be reminded that the real issue is not reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic; but that the real issue is a spiritual battle over the hearts and minds of children and the need for us to help create an environment at home and school that helps shape them into the mold of Christ before the culture squeezes them into its mold.

Parents, please do not let it be too long before you communicate with your child’s teachers again! Constant communication is imperative if we are truly going to partner together. If you consider any meaningful relationship, it requires effort! It has been often said, “Well, I may not have alot of time but the time I do have is quality time.” I would contend that a strong relationship requires both quantity and quality time.

Our teachers are top drawer! They love the Lord Jesus, they love your kids, and they are passionate about teaching. Please take the time to establish a good connection with them now before any problems surface. They want the same thing you do–to help your child become all they God has intended them to be. Partner with them and you will see amazing things out of your children this year!

Though you may be busy (and who isn’t?), please do not get so busy that you fail to invest in your child’s education with time talking with your child’s teacher. It is the best step you can take to ensuring that not only is your financial investment in ECA reaping dividends, but that your children are being equipped to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives.

As we begin another school year at ECA, we marvel at God’s goodness—even in the midst of trial. Hard to believe but this will be our 37th year of Christian school ministry in the greater Elkhart area and we look forward to what God has in store for the students entrusted to our care this year.

Like many of you, we have hit hard economic times as a ministry. Enrollment is down and fundraising is lagging—but we sincere believe God Can! God can sustain us and grow us on His terms because we serve a great God who has proven Himself over and over to be faithful. Like Joshua and Caleb, who after their covert operation to spy on the Canaanites believed they could take “the giants” because of God’s track record with the nation of Israel (Numbers 13), we too believe great things are in store for ECA. Because of this hope, we have embraced God Can as our theme for the upcoming school year from Psalm 73:26, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

I am convinced that ministry success is not measured by budgets, enrollment numbers, or new programs—mission fulfillment in the lives of students is our focus for success. At ECA, we provide an education that is distinctive, Biblical, and life-changing with the goal of preparing students for life. As we do this in the lives of the students who come to ECA this year, we have had a successful year!

During a difficult recession, it does create challenges for everyone, especially non-profits like ECA. Please know our hearts are hurting for the families who have to pull their children from ECA because of a lack of resources. We also ache for the local business owners, who are vital partners to our ministry, for the extreme hardships they have been facing. It is our prayer that God will allow the local economy to bounce back and that we will receive spiritual and financial blessings from Him in due time. May each of us believe that God Can as we begin another year of Christian school ministry at ECA.