Minnetonka SDA Church Does NOT Need MCA!
What did you say? Are you serious? Let me explain...
I was twelve years old and finishing 6th grade in the local one-room Adventist grade school located on the campus of Enterprise Academy in Kansas. In addition to the resurgence of spring flowers and warmer days, this springtime brought the church member representatives from across the conference to the campus of the school to discuss its closure. The academy had suffered declining enrollment, loss of accreditation, and facilities that had suffered lack of adequate maintenance and were in need of replacement.
In the previous two years, the school had regained its accreditation but the facilities were so bad that students did not find the school attractive to attend. I remember going to the academy chapel and listening to the adults discuss the rather dire situation of the school and the alternatives that were being discussed – closure or rebuild two of the major buildings. The decision was based not only on a vote but on the willingness of the delegates to indicate their financial support as well.
I remember one lady that stood to her feet indicating that she felt that the school should remain open. She and her husband had been saving money for some time so that they could install the first bathroom in their home. As the need of the school had been presented, she continued by telling the delegates that she and her husband would give those funds for the rebuilding of the academy and further defer the installation of plumbing in their home.
Upon completion of grade school, I attended that same school and graduated as a four-year senior. Along with a number of the students in my class, we continued our studies at Adventist colleges and have since contributed significantly to the pastoral and educational ministry of the church. And so it has been for many generations since the first Adventist school was begun – schools and colleges have served to extend the work of the Adventist home in providing a place for kids to come to know Christ and make Him their “Forever Friend” for the rest of their lives.
As a teacher and administrator at two of our schools and Andrews University, it has been my privilege to share the story of my “Forever Friend” with students and colleagues; it has also been my joy to see the results of kid’s lives that were changed because of teachers and staff that poured His love into them for eternity. Cherie and I had a stream of kids come through our home – kids that were friends or acquaintances of our children. As an administrator of the university, it was during the fun times in our home that many of these students found another reason to cast their vote for the same “Forever Friend”.
To return to the initial statement “Minnetonka SDA Church does NOT need MCA!”, I would propose that the statement is true, but every child and youth of our church does!
By Ed Wines, V-Chair, Governing Board |
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