Twenty five percent of the 2019-2020 school year has officially passed, and it feels like those past nine weeks were wearing rocket-powered roller skates. It has been an active quarter and has gone by quickly, but, as Nathaniel Hawthorne says about time, while it may fly over us it does “leave its shadow behind.” In that shadow we have had numerous sporting events, retreats, PSAT Testing, Cyber-patriot competitions, school conferences, chapels, Spirit Days, class meetings, and many academic classes. October was great!
The Lord is moving in our seniors. The seniors went on a two-day retreat where they had the opportunity to grow together and deepen their roots in Christ, in our school, and in one another. They came back with a passion to serve their school and I am excited for the plans and ideas they have for our high school this year.
The Lord is moving in our juniors. The juniors took part in a mini-retreat up at High Country Orchard on “the bluff” (thank you Storys for your generosity in providing such a great location) and were challenged by Mr. Ricks to be leaders in our school, digging roots deeper into Christ and into NWC (they will be taking over the Wednesday November 13 chapel day as our seniors head out that day to serve at the Union Gospel Mission!).
The Lord is moving in our sophomores and freshmen as they continue to shine, becoming more and more involved in the school community, and they are challenging our upperclassmen in Spirit Days like never before!
The Lord is moving. I see this in our school, the student body, in the individual students, and in the staff and faculty; and I am so very excited. But do you know who isn’t excited that the Lord is moving? The devil. I also see that the more God works in our students – the more He tills the fertile ground of their spirits to deepen their roots in Christ – the more worldly pressures and distractions force their way in. John tells us in 1 John that “the whole world lies under sway of the wicked one” (5:19), and Peter warns us that the devil “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8-9). As our students threaten “the sway of the wicked one” in this world, Satan seeks to devour them. I encourage you to continue to pray for our school, our students, and our teachers. God IS moving, but there will be growing opposition to Him; “for our struggle is not against flesh and blood . . . but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). With the pervasiveness of social media, entertainment, and technology, students are confronted with the darkness of this world in ways unimaginable in years past, so please pray. God tells us in Jeremiah to “call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen” (29:12).
A lot of great things have happened in the first quarter of the school year, and we will continue our active pace in November. Knowledge Bowl and FBLA kick-off, play-offs for Fall sports are underway and then the start of Winter sports, the holiday season, and numerous other events and activities, all while our school classes continue to deepen understanding and knowledge of the world God has created. We are excited for each day and look forward to each tomorrow. We are thankful for your support, partnership, and trust in us to serve your students. We are also grateful for your prayers. From the great Christian and author Oswald Chambers: “Prayer does not fit us for the greater work, prayer is the greater work.”
God bless you.
Christopher J. Wells
Dean of Students NWCS
