| Author | Message | ||
| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 721 Registered: 6-2005  |
Tomorrow my son starts his Senior year of High School at a (Gasp) Public school.... Four years ago, a year after I left the adventist church, I took my son out of SDA's schools where he had attended Kindergarten through the 8th grade. I enrolled him in a large metro Atlanta Public high school. I was concerned for his welfare, having been warned my whole life about public schools. I had only attended adventist schools myself all the way through college. He went from a school of 130 to a school of approx 2800. My son encountered kids with drug problems, unplanned pregnancies, homosexuality, atheism, pornography, witchcraft, fighting and stealing. Then he left that "sheltered" enviornment where he attended K-8th grade and went to public school.  . Seriously He found similar things at Public school. He also thrived. Many of you prayed for him. I am so grateful for your prayers. My son is a mighty young man of God. He is 17, and his faith is strong. He is a leader in FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). He prays in the halls with students. He walks the grounds and prays. He prays with teachers. He is a leader in his youth group. He speaks boldly of Jesus. Tonight he went to a worship group, and asked for prayer as he is about to start the mission field of his Senior Year of high school tomorrow. I cannot be more amazed at how God has matured this young man, protected him, and blessed him with honor and favor in his enviornment. My son and I reminisced today about his first day at public school, and how scared he was. He now walks with Holy Boldness and genuine compassion. He mentioned how many of his adventist peers have drifted away from God... even those in Academy. He has proved the predictions from adventist family wrong....that i was "leaving the one true church, and would end up "lost" and be responsible for making my son "lost", especially if I took him out of Adventist schools and put him "in a worldy enviornment". ... I hope to encourage those of you who have to make this hard decision. God does exist in the public schools. Christian teachers and administrators and students can and do stay strong in their faith. Im also curious about the experiences of others. I remember a number of us had 9th graders a few years ago making a transition. Lori | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 6460 Registered: 9-2006  |
YAAAaaaa Lori! That is so encouraging, I love to hear good news every once in a while. I love to hear about the Lord working in the young peoples lives. Thank you for posting. River | ||
| Sabbatismos Registered user Username: Sabbatismos Post Number: 16 Registered: 7-2010 |
Wow, Lori!! What a beautiful testimony of the Lord's faithfulness in your son's (and thereby your) life! It was just amazing to read of his commitment to the Lord and Holy Boldness for Jesus! Praise the Lord!!!! | ||
| Skeeter Registered user Username: Skeeter Post Number: 868 Registered: 12-2007 |
Wonderful Lori ! We share in your joy and your pride in your son for having the courage and the heart to stand up for God where ever he is.:-) Francie | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 8398 Registered: 3-2004  |
Yeah God. Lori that is wonderful how God has taken your son and used him and you. I took my son out of sda school in 4th grade. He is now where God wants wants him, in the miliatary as an Air Force major. I am so glad we both took our kids out of sda schools. Diana L | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 1743 Registered: 6-2006  |
Lori, that's awesome!! I grew up in the public school system. One thing I liked about it (in hindsight of course) was all the different cultures I encountered. Kids from all over the world, different financial backgrounds, different faiths. I learned to get along with everyone! What was interesting was that my school was in sort of a low income area, where you could find trouble if you really wanted. Coming from a home with great parents who took us to church each week, I naturally ended up with best friends from the same kind of environment. I knew there were kids on drugs (didn't necessarily know them personally) and that they were for the most part, losers. There were gangs too. I just stayed away from them. There were also a lot of really nice kids too. I was active in school and was an A student. Never felt tempted to drink or party or run around with boys in Tijuana. Our kids are the very first generation in probably 70 years who are attending public school and not an SDA school. I just found out yesterday that the school's California state testing scores were the top of the district and rank high in the state! I guess I'm trying to say that kids can find the good in school and be successful even in a crummy public school. Who knew?! Leigh Anne | ||
| Cloudwatcher Registered user Username: Cloudwatcher Post Number: 138 Registered: 5-2009 |
That's awesome and encouraging. Thanks for sharing! | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 11523 Registered: 12-2003  |
Lori, I'm thanking God. What a journey—and what a victory of God your son is! Colleen | ||
| Angelcat Registered user Username: Angelcat Post Number: 179 Registered: 11-2008 |
Thank you for sharing. In September, my daughter starts kindergarten in a public school. I actually had the principal of the local SDA school write on my facebook wall that I should seriously consider sending my daughter to their school. I think enrollment is down and they are desperate for students. It makes me feel better to hear of kids who have done well in public school. On my mom s side, Rachel is the first one to go to public school since my grandparents. My mom and her brother were in the the SDA school ytem thru unversity, her youngest brother attene thru highschool,my cousins thru college, and my nieces are in ad adventist school. Actually, my ucousin's daugher might be in public school. They were sure what they wer going to do last time we talked. Even church school wasn't good enugh for my folks,so my brother and I were sort of homeschooled. I say sot of, as I pretty much got neglected educationally, dropped out in grde 9, and finally finished thru the adult education department at the community college. | ||
| Joyfulheart Registered user Username: Joyfulheart Post Number: 749 Registered: 10-2006 |
Lori, all I can say is praise the Lord! God is sure using you and your son. I prayed for both of you today. Angelcat, I am a Christian public school teacher. There are lots of Christian teachers in the public schools. We love and care and pray for our kid's salvation every day. I wish you and your daughter all the best this year - and prayed for both of you today. It's going to be OK. My advice to you is get involved in Rachel's room and get to know the teacher. (Flowers on the first day never hurt. ) Soak your daughter's room and teacher in prayer. Oh - and take lots of pictures on the first day. Our hallways are lined with camcorders during the first day. Everyone's a little bit excited and nervous - even the teachers, but we all get through it. At the end of the year, there is so much joy and laughter as the kids look back at their memory books and remember how nervous and excited they were on that first day of school. | ||
| 1john2v27nlt Registered user Username: 1john2v27nlt Post Number: 48 Registered: 5-2009 |
I read this with joy for you & your son! And gut-wrenching sobs for myself & our children who were wounded in SDA schools. But Colleen's words which I have read here on these boards are also on my lips as I cry to God for my children: God wastes NOTHING and REDEEMS EVERYTHING! Thanks for sharing - all of you. J9 | ||
| Hec Registered user Username: Hec Post Number: 1211 Registered: 3-2009 |
Those words of Colleen are like a mantra to me. God Wastes Nothing and Redeems everything! Lori, I am so happy for you and your son. Reading you testimony makes me want to meet your son. What a warrior for Jesus. He wouldn't had have that opportunity in a SDA academy. God knows what He is doing. God bless you and your son. Hec | ||
| Mrsbrian3 Registered user Username: Mrsbrian3 Post Number: 136 Registered: 8-2005 |
Yeah Lori! My kiddo will be a Sophomore this year. We pulled him out of the local SDA school after his fourth grade year. Like you, we received the warnings. Like you, we were a bit fearful. But God is good. He is thriving. He is happy. Varsity marching band lists were posted this morning and once again he made the varsity marching band playing his trumpet! Kim | ||
| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 722 Registered: 6-2005 |
J9, (((((Hugs)))) I took the wayward route, and God has certainly redeemed much in my path, and brought me to salvation and security in Him. And He got a hold of my son, despite my many mistakes and sins as a parent. Even with my sudden divorce when my son was 13---God has brought good out of that. Thankfully He is not dependent on our circumstances or parenting, or even our education decisions.... My heart goes out to you and your children. Jesus, answer the cries of these parents quickly! Lori | ||
| Angelcat Registered user Username: Angelcat Post Number: 181 Registered: 11-2008 |
Joyfulheart-thank you for praying. I'm pretty sure my family will actually be praying for school not to go well, so we need all the prayers we can get. J9, I am also praying for restoration in you and your children's lives. God does redeem everything! I know He has restored so much to me, and He's not done yet. Have you ever read the book "the power of a praying parent" by Stormie Omartian? I really recommend it. | ||
| 1john2v27nlt Registered user Username: 1john2v27nlt Post Number: 54 Registered: 5-2009 |
Lori & Angelcat - thank you for your prayers. I know that God loves us & our children & He is in control. It just seems today that this is part of my awareness & 'renouncing' that is needed. Tears well up again just reading that you are praying. I have read 'The power of a praying wife' & I know there is a whole series of them - kinda like the 'chicken soup' series. J9 |
