By Barbara Giuliano ( Founding Board Member)
Many years ago, I did!
I would like to tell you that I was a wise and Godly woman and did as I felt God directed. However, that would be a lie. I can tell you God was wooing us to Him, and it was at a Christian school. However, if you are reading this and trying to decide if this is the right option for your child, I do encourage you to first pray and seek where God would have your child. As encouragement, I hope you will read our story.
Our family moved many times. Our children attended both public and Christian schools. Among the transitions, we left a wonderful public school system in Maryland and headed to Florida. Concerned and researching at a nauseating pace and detail, we chose an area known for being the best schools in southern Florida.
Unfortunately, the public school had an open classroom concept that had been in place for the previous years. The results were negative – it had failed. Due to shortage of time and resources, the school set up dividers between classes. When I actually saw the set up for the classrooms, all I could say was, “Oh, such a mess!” Just a few days in to the school year, my oldest daughter told me she could hear the teacher in the class behind her better than her own teacher. This was followed by her asking me, “What’s pot?” My response is not printable. Yet, God’s response is very printable. It was the beginning of our family’s transformation.
Today, as you are confronted with the issues beyond your control, whether academics or social issues, I am sure you can relate.
Our change began the very next day. I drove my daughters to this perfectly chosen school and dropped them at the front door. I drove about a mile or so down the road, pulled into a parking lot and cried! Through mother tears, bulging eyes and emptying Kleenex box sobs, I looked up. I was sitting in the parking lot of Coral Springs Christian School! Does God always do things like this? Sometimes.
Now I must pause and tell you, I am from the northeast and had been an academic snob - exposed to Catholic schooling but had no idea what Christian schools were all about. Raised in a church and in ‘crisis mode,’ I had to check this out.
After a quick clean up, I paraded into the building. The greeting from the receptionist was unbelievable, warm, and welcoming. The questions I asked, provoked her to escort me into the headmaster's office (or maybe it was the red eyes and nose). He greeted me in the same manner, warmly and welcoming. I asked as many questions, academically oriented, and then told him my story of woo. The headmaster said, “Let’s pray,” and he did. I had never experienced someone praying for my needs. He followed this with, we have room for your youngest daughter but not for your oldest but, “Go home and pray, and we will too! Let’s see what God will do.”
The next morning, at 7 a.m., the headmaster called. His first words were, “Your prayers have been answered!” A family was moving. Both my daughters could enroll at Coral Springs Christian School.
My daughters' experiences at this Christian School impacted everything in our family and everything for them for life. Beyond the warm and welcoming environment was a biblically-sound school, that educated everything through the eyes of God’s Word.
My daughters came to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior! They saw biblical lives surrounding them all day – in the teachers, in the teaching, in the lives of the other parents, and eventually their own parents! All of this to say that my children were richly blessed by the combination of faith, academics, and Kingdom workers.
Our family has had many more major woos, but have been and continue to be, comforted because we are part of The Kingdom.
Kingdom workers are part of The Kingdom, by God’s choice, skilled by God’s provision, - and workers, by their obedience – teaching how the Kingdom did come and should be done on earth.
We want to continue Kingdom work at Evergreen Christian School.
Pray and see if your child should join us at Evergreen Christian School!