by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal
I love a good spring thunderstorm, and last weekend provided quite a show where I live! Even though I’m “all growed up” I still enjoy counting “One-Mississippi, two-Mississippi…” after each flash of lightning, waiting in eager anticipation for the thunder, to determine whether the lightning is moving closer or farther away. Sometimes it’s underwhelming, barely detectable, yet on rare occasions it can be exhilarating as the powerful, thunderous boom reverberates through the neighborhood, the impact shaking my house. As God lit up the Saturday night sky, I enjoyed a front row seat to the awesome display of creation in action. As parents and educators, we have been given a front row seat to an equally awesome display of our children living out their discipleship. We may not often experience a thunderous boom, but the impact is both seen and heard throughout our community. In a recent journal entry, a second-grader beautifully documented the significance of a missional field trip she had just returned from. “Today we went to be missionaries at the Brookdale Retirement Center. The people there liked all of us and thought we all were pretty. We handed out May Day baskets with flowers in them. Being a missionary brings me joy and everlasting joy for the people.” As our second-graders exuberantly recited their bible verses, sang praises and honored their elders, they were, as the Apostle Paul describes, “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:2). A speech pathologist providing services to one of our students in first grade was recently moved to tears after their session. She shared with her student that she needed to take a leave of absence to care for her sick husband. Without hesitation, the student quickly replied, “I know what I am going to do, I am going to PRAY for you!” This was a profound moment of ministry to an adult in her life who isn’t walking with the Lord. Each week at chapel, a preschool student distributes her offering to fellow students who do not have one so they may also participate in this important form of worship. In simple and magnificent ways, our students are demonstrating Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” God is doing a mighty work at Crosshill, beautifully orchestrating experiences by which our children are living out their discipleship. As they continue to follow and grow closer to Jesus, they are proving to be powerful flashes of godly influence, gloriously lighting up this dark world! – Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
This past month, Crosshill Christian High School hosted a team from AdvancEd as part of its regular accreditation cycle. AdvancEd provides accreditation to schools and colleges across the nation to ensure the quality of its diplomas. The experience provided opportunity to celebrate the good things God is doing, while highlighting areas identified for continued areas of improvement. CCHS retains its accreditation and the visitation team had many positive things to say about the parents, staff, and students. While certainly profitable, the process was uncomfortable at times. It is often much easier to evaluate others than to examine your own life. The apostle Paul instructed the church in Corinth to “examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Cor. 13:5) Each week teachers give tests in their classrooms to motivate and measure learning. Without a doubt, the most important test that can be given in a school (or a home) is the test of faith. The test of faith cannot be taken on a piece of paper. Just because a student aces their multiplication table, that doesn’t make them a mathematician. When a student memorizes a sonnet, it does not make them a poet. In the same way, authentic faith cannot be judged by answers to simple questions. Most students at Crosshill Christian are blessed to be in a home of faith, a church of faith and a school of faith. Some day these students will move on from their current home, church and school. If their faith has not become integrated into their lives, their faith will be left behind. The first priority of discipleship training is guiding students to develop an authentic faith that they own and travels with them beyond their childhood circumstances. There are six strands of faith that can contribute to the formation of a student’s authentic faith (adapted from Steven Garber’s book “Fabric of Faithfulness”): 1. Reasonable Faith (Believe it)
2. Integrated Faith (Absorb it)
3. Embodied Faith (Live it)
4. Willing Faith (Own it)
5. Community Faith (Share it)
6. Consuming Faith (A true disciple)
– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
As Crosshill completes its 25th anniversary, the school has a goal during the upcoming month of June to raise $200,000 for the current capital campaign. With this goal in mind, a generous donor has committed up to $100,000 in matching funds to this effort! Every dollar given in June will be matched dollar for dollar up to $100,000. In the Old Testament, God instituted a 50 year jubilee to provide liberty, restitution, and rest. The jubilee was a reminder of God’s faithfulness and generous provision. In similar fashion, God has been generous to Crosshill Christian these past 25 years through daily discipleship in homes and Crosshill campuses. Due in large part to the investment of courageous families who have gone before us, God’s faithfulness is evident in the transformed lives and resources we benefit from today. A jubilee is the special anniversary of an event, especially one celebrating 25 or 50 years. Crosshill Christian will complete its 25th year of schooling this June, after it opened its doors on the South Campus in 1992. Originally named Willamette Christian School, the vision given to Church on the Hill has grown to include Preschool through High School classes, with campuses in both South Salem and Keizer. The history of the Keizer Campus stretches even farther back prior to merging with Crosshill, which is even more reason to celebrate. A jubilee marks the end of a season, and the beginning of a new one. As we look ahead to the next 25 years, God continues to confirm the call to expand the South Campus, including additional classrooms primarily for high school students. The generosity from the Crosshill community has been overwhelming, with hundreds of thousands donated thus far. The Crosshill Development Team continues to prayerfully and diligently pursue multiple streams of funding so that construction can continue in the fall. We are asking each Crosshill family to consider a generous gift during June. Families who pay their tuition on an 11-month plan make no payments in June. Would you consider budgeting the same monthly tuition payment as a gift during the month of June? Any gift given will automatically double in size. If you have already given in the past, would you prayerfully consider if June is another opportunity to multiply your generosity? As a community, let’s come together for a June Jubilee that will impact the next 25 years. Please consider sharing this opportunity with friends and family to maximize the matching funds. During this current capital campaign, our goal is for 100% of Crosshill families to participate in some way. If you have not made a gift yet, consider giving this June to double the impact of your gift, and participate in our June Jubilee. – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
Each spring the school celebrates God’s faithfulness during the previous 12 months, and looks ahead in faith to the plans He has for the school for the upcoming 12 months. There were many highlights shared at the recent Celebrate Crosshill event on Friday, April 13th. Through the generous support of Crosshill families, dependable and quality school buses now transport students between campuses and to important events. Student access to technology on both campuses continues to increase preparing students to succeed in the 21st century. The Salem community and global community were blessed through school mission trips that built houses for those in need and shared the good news of Jesus Christ to countless others. We would all agree that God has been faithful far beyond the past 12 months. For example, the harvest we see in the lives of Crosshill Christian High School students began decades ago when faith collided with action at the school’s origin. This past decade, God spoke into the hearts of Crosshill leaders and families about extending the school’s discipleship training beyond 8th grade with the creation of the high school. God also called the school to enlarge its capacity to train disciples by adding a Keizer campus. In fact, many current high school students and graduates began their discipleship training as elementary students on the Keizer campus. God continues to call the families of Crosshill to increase the school’s capacity so that additional families can join this community. The school is not driven by the ambition of growth, but by its clear mission of discipleship training. Many current classes are at capacity and God continues to confirm the need to provide discipleship training to more families. The school’s enrollment has just about doubled over the past six years and the demand from among the community remains strong. The school is in the middle of capital improvements intended to meet this demand. This past year, the main entrance of the South Campus was updated and expanded (the Link) and important capital improvements were completed on both campuses. In preparation for additional classrooms on the South Campus for secondary grades, site work for more classrooms is being completed and will continue through the summer. All of these past and current improvements through September come at a cost of 2 million dollars and those financial commitments have all been met. The school’s desire is for the construction of the new Eagle Building, containing eight classrooms and two locker rooms to continue in the fall. We are currently in the process of raising the 1.5 million dollars needed for the project to continue in the fall. At the recent Celebrate Crosshill event, close to $50,000 was raised in one night! Our prayer is that the giver will be blessed, just as they are a blessing to so many others. Continue to pray in faith for the completion of God’s will over the next 12 months and consider how you might be a part of stepping out in faith as we continue to provide updates. – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal
On a recent family hike up at Silver Falls, our plan was to traverse the “Winter Trail Loop”, but we left home without the map and once there, had no cell service. It was a lovely day and became much more enjoyable when our trail passed by the visitor center with its blessing of a free map. The guidance of that map made all of the difference in our experience. Had we simply gone our own way, deciding to take trailheads that appeared to be good, we most likely would have veered off the intended path in the wrong direction, turning our refreshingly pleasant 5-mile hike into one we would not have been equipped for. Often in our search for direction, we fully acknowledge that God has a plan, path, and purpose for our lives, yet we look for guidance in our circumstances, our own thoughts and desires, our friends, and many times, cultural influences. Proverbs 3:5-6 states, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (NLT). The Psalmist writes, “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11 (NIV). Nothing surpasses the safety, divine resources, power and presence of God when we are on course and headed in God’s chosen direction. Yet even when moving in the right direction we encounter the unexpected. Along the path of our hike that afternoon we were suddenly stopped in our tracks. It was not the breathtaking view of the falls we experienced, but that of a young man who decided to leave the path, enter the icy cold and swiftly moving waters to stand precariously near the edge of the falls. After a minute, he slowly made his way back to safety, avoiding the 65-foot descent. I will never know the circumstances by which the young man decided to risk his life, however, it highlights the fact that choosing to forge your own path, or follow one that seems more exciting or “appears to be right” takes us into the enemy’s territory, onto a slippery slope, or down a path to destruction (Prov. 14:12). Just as all eyes were intently on the young man at the falls, our children’s eyes are intently on our actions. By our example of seeking God and proclaiming his goodness and faithfulness in the midst of each trial and decision, they will place value on learning to trust and pursue God. In the everyday moments that display our lives joyfully surrendered to the Lordship of Christ, we sow seeds of wisdom and righteousness along their path into God great adventure! – Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
Recently, two CCS freshman girls boldly and intentionally approached a woman on the streets of Portland. They attempted to share both the love of Jesus Christ and present the gift of eternal life. Though roughly rebuffed, the girls kindly persisted to pray for the requested needs provided by the stranger. Before entering into prayer, when the two girls asked the woman her name, she gruffly responded, “Nun-O’-Yur-Bisnis!” The girls retained their composure and continued to pray out loud for their friend, “None Of Your Business” that both her physical and spiritual needs would be met. During the High School mission trips and other weekly outreaches, students engage with others in Salem, Portland, and Ensenada, in order to “go and make disciples of all nations.” Through apologetic training, acts of service, and evangelism, students shine their light brightly. In the process of presenting and defending their faith, students also develop ownership of their beliefs, forming a more authentic faith. While some interactions might feel disappointing to students as described above, other conversations are often very encouraging resulting in true conversations of faith in Jesus Christ. When we share our faith, there are basically three potential outcomes: 1. The person can accept the gospel completely. 2. A seed can be planted for a potential future conversion. 3. The gospel can be rejected (sometimes defiantly). The outcomes would commonly be characterized as great, good, and bad when judged by human standards. But Scripture provides a different context. In I Peter 4:14 we read, “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” And Jesus declared, “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven” (Luke 6:22-23). Even when the gospel is shared (in gentleness and love) and rejected, the messengers are blessed as God’s spirit rests on them and future awards await them. One of the greatest hurdles for sharing our faith is fear of the outcome, which might include a rude (sometimes incoherent) response. But as we see, all possible outcomes are wins! One student recently remarked that sharing your faith is similar to jumping off the diving board. The first time you jump in takes a lot of courage. But once you get wet, the joy of taking the plunge soon takes over. We can all be thankful that somebody else made knowing our name and sharing the gospel with us part of their business! – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
There exists an unspoken law of the universe that whichever checkout line you choose at the grocery store, the one you choose will always be the slowest. The corollary to this law is that if you change lines midcourse, you will only find a slower line. Unless of course you don’t change lines but only think about it, then the line you had considered but did not move to will move at warp speed. To ease my frustration, I have decided to pick out my favorite checker (Zach), and simply go to his line every time. I enjoy seeing a familiar face, and despite any delay, I feel less like a grocery line victim, and more like a grocery line victor. Followers of Jesus often use the catchphrases of “open door” or “closed door” when trying to make a decision. Even after a decision has been made, “doors” are considered to either stay the course or change course. Much like the grocery checkout line, it is difficult to stay put when your line seems to be fraught with delays. You are discouraged as you feel like you made the wrong decision and can feel certain that any other decision (line) is now a better one. Circumstances we label as “open doors” or “closed doors” are often used to dictate the next plan of action. I doubt the apostle Paul has much experience with modern-day checkout lines, but he certainly understood the concept of “open doors” and “closed doors”. In I Corinthians 16:9, Paul decides to continue His ministry in Ephesus rather than moving on because “a wide door for effective work has opened to me.” He had made a decision and was sticking to it. It was his lucky day. It appears he had found the uncommon speedy checkout line. But the latter part of the same verse describes “AND there are many adversaries.” Now that doesn’t sound like a typical “open door” to me. When I define circumstances as an “open door”, it comes with a different AND. Such as AND my life will be easier and more comfortable, AND I will be safe and experience success, AND I will check out my groceries and get home before midnight. Yet it appears that Paul’s “open door” was open BECAUSE there were adversaries. The enemies of this world and the dark spiritual forces are adversarial to the cause of Christ. In fact, we should expect these adversaries more often than not when walking through the doors God opens for us. While not necessarily a promise, this idea is a principle that should govern our lives and the lives of our children. Adverse circumstances are often necessary to build perseverance, compassion, courage, patience, and self-discipline. And adverse circumstances need people of character to shine the love and truth of Jesus Christ. So next time you are adversely affected by a slow checkout line, consider other “open doors” of adversity God wants you and your family to walk through and take the time to pray for the passion of Paul. – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
I think I have invented a brand new career: “Substitute Dental Patients!” I am not volunteering myself to enter this exciting new field, but rather am recruiting others to sign up soon. I don’t have the logistics confirmed yet, but the main idea is to provide a substitute for all major dental appointments. Rather than undergoing the uncomfortable process of dental reconstruction yourself, a willing substitute will gladly take your place. Through a yet-to-be-discovered process, your mouth will be healed and you don’t even have to enter the dental chair! Jesus gets pretty excited about sharing His amazing Father with us. He even gives us the roadmap: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). For some of us, that statement may seem a bit backwards. Shouldn’t we go see God so we can become pure in heart? You see, the Father is equally excited about sharing His amazing Son with us. In vs. 3-7, we learn about the our responsibility in developing a pure heart. As we become poor in Spirit, we surrender our will to the creator and center of the universe. Those who mourn over their sin begin to recognize a need to be saved from it. A person who becomes meek begins to realize that coming under God’s full authority releases immeasurable power in their lives. We begin to hunger and thirst for something better through a new “right-ness” with God. As we seek forgiveness in our lives, we extend mercy to others. And just as we are willing and ready to see God, Jesus says we need to be pure in heart. It’s kind of like going through all the steps to go to the dentist, and your substitute dental patient doesn’t show up! Fortunately for us, Jesus is our substitute sacrifice providing the ultimate purity for our heart allowing us to truly see God and experience His presence, awesomeness, and grace firsthand. God is the one who ultimately purifies our heart through His son Jesus. Paul tells Timothy to demonstrate “love that issues from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and a sincere faith” (I Timothy 1:5). It is a sincere faith that genuinely pursues the Father through the Son as outlined through the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. I doubt the new “Substitute Dental Patient” career space will be showcased soon on a Shark Tank episode, but one can dream. But perhaps the next time you find yourself or your child at the dentist, take a moment to remember how Jesus was our substitute for the penalty of death our sins deserve. If a “Substitute Dental Patient” did exist, we might do everything in our power to hire them, especially if they were free. The blood of Jesus is absolutely free, and He wants us to see God daily. Just as daily brushing and flossing keeps a healthy mouth, being in His Word regularly maintains a grateful, healthy, and pure heart. – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal
The concept of scripture being a living and active part of experiencing God in our everyday lives has captivated me lately. It began with a quick prayer to cover and equip me for the known and the inevitable unknown battles I would be facing throughout my day. In an immediate response, the Holy Spirit whispered: “you have not been putting on your armor”. Without hesitation, I retrieved some old, tattered papers, where every space in the margins and on the back was completely filled with notes, scriptures, and quotes. It was my well-worn copy of Charles Stanley’s, “The Whole Armor of God Prayer” based on Ephesians 6:10-18. During a significant season of spiritual growth, this phenomenal daily prayer taught me to identify areas of weakness and the means by which to change my ineffective, defensive stance, into a confident and godly offensive perspective. It intertwines old and new testament scriptures and promises that inspire believers to engage in “God’s battle plan” activating the power that is available every moment of every day. It also seeks to guide us fearlessly into our purpose of defending, caring for, and serving others. As I shared my renewed determination to go into every day fiercely armor-clad, I discover that the 2nd-grade class was studying that same passage of scripture (coincidence, I think not). They worked to secure those verses firmly in their hearts, discussing the power and purpose each piece of armor possessed. They grew in their understanding of the battle they face, the enemy’s tactics, and God’s provision. They created life-sized, and very interesting paper versions of themselves as armor-bearers; visual reminders of the unseen, ever-present protection of God. At our Grandparent and Special Friends’ Day celebration, the second graders proclaimed and preached Ephesians 6:10-18 boldly, and with great faith. In that moment I believe every guest in the room experienced the Word of God come alive in the hearts of these mighty warriors! It was such an overwhelming blessing to heartily agree that these grandparents indeed have the most amazing grandchildren, and share how our mission of discipleship is raising up a generation who are “strong in the Lord and his mighty power” Eph. 6:10. – Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
Many parents spend countless hours attending athletic events for their children at rain-soaked playing fields and crowded basketball gyms. When first starting out, participating in sports introduces children to new friends and new experiences, challenging them to mature in many areas. When children are very young, many sports do not even keep score as simple participation and enjoyment are the clear goals. For example, the Upward organization waits until 3rd grade to begin keeping score for basketball games (though most children are keeping score well before then). At the heart of competition is keeping score. Without a score, there is no opportunity to declare a winner or determine which performance was better. The benefits of competition are vast. Children can learn how to set goals and create plans in order to meet those goals, eventually building confidence. Humility can be developed through both winning and losing. Perhaps most importantly, competition provides constant opportunity to reflect on both physical and mental abilities and provide motivation to train to become your best. As children begin to pay more attention to the score, sometimes instead of learning to give their best they can instead give less than their best. When losing, children can become easily discouraged and give up or deviate from their training. When winning, children can begin to cruise and just do enough to stay ahead. Instead of competition motivating their best, it can instead be a trap for a defeated attitude or one that settles for average. Appealing to our competitive nature, Jesus writes, “Be perfect, therefore as your Heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). Jesus sets the ultimate standard for our daily behavior. Yet He knew that true perfection comparable to the holiness of God world only come through His own saving grace at the work at the cross. But through His sacrifice, Jesus calls us to be mature and complete just like our Heavenly Father. On our own, when we compare our righteousness against the Holiness of God, we will always be found wanting. We can become easily discouraged just like a child who believes they should win every single game they play for their entire lives. We also can’t simply give up and stop trying, like an immature child whose team gets behind on the scoreboard. We are most mature and most complete we we compete to give our best in every area of our lives. As parents, spouses, employees, children, and neighbors, Jesus is calling us to reflect Him to others. That is His definition of victory. The best coaches don’t use the scoreboard as the only means of motivation, but sparks the players’ internal drive to become their best. In the same way, as a community of parents and students, may we strive for maturity, completeness, and grace-filled perfection in our lives and the lives of our children. – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent |
Adam Kronberger
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