Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Close your eyes and dream with me for a second. Imagine being in a culture where families are struggling, and dysfunctional and children are getting the worst of it. Where children aren't well-loved, disciplined or directed, where they aren't given a vision for a life filled with meaning and purpose. Where ancient truths once passed from generation to generation by parents and grandparents around the dinner table are no longer remembered and no longer transmitted. Now imagine in the middle of that community, a place was begun to heal this. A place was designed for children to be brought daily to be loved, discipled, and instructed in the way of life, the way that would allow them and their children and grandchildren to flourish for generations to come. Imagine a place where children were valued, taught and coached to learn truth, create beauty and serve their neighbor. Imagine a place where children were taught that they were made in the image of God and were precious to him, that Jesus was the way, the truth and the life and that the law of the Lord was like honey. Imagine a place were in the midst of the blighted culture - children were rescued, loved, thrived and became adults who brought healing to their world with careers in medicine, architecture, music and business. Is there anyone who wouldn't be enthusiastic about such a place? Is there anyone who would resist making such a place available to every child possible?
This is the mission of SRPC - this is why we have a five-day-a-week discipling program for children (we call Seven Rivers Christian School) to prepare them to thrive as God's emissaries to our broken world. Is our school mission all we want it to be - is it accomplishing its mission without fail, is it hitting on all cylinders? No, not yet! This weekend in worship, I'll introduce you to Dana James, the new leader of our school mission. Dana and Sheila James, with their son, Timothy, moved here from Athens, Georgia this summer to join our church staff and to be a catalyst for improving our school ministry. If you'd like to consider SRCS for your children or grandchildren, or for your investment or service - please connect with Dana at the SRCS table that will be set up in the narthex this weekend. Don't assume that you can't afford Christ-centered education-Dana will go the extra mile to help make this possible for your child or a child you love.
Last week, I watched the movie, "The Book of Eli" starring Denzel Washington. The language is caustic and the violence is graphic, but the message is transformational. Denzel's character has a precious book - it's the only Bible left on an earth that has been destroyed by nuclear holocaust. The movie details his quest to protect, preserve and deliver the Bible so that it's not lost to future generations. Needless to say, his mission costs him dearly. Our mission is the same - the next generation isn't thriving, they need the Book. SRCS exists to be sure they get it!
Sincerely,
Ray
