“It’s An Honor To Be Here”
This school year marks my thirty-first year in Christian education! Over the summer I mentally and emotionally “retraced the steps” of my journey. As I was meditating upon our school’s year verse in preparation for what I would share at orientation, I was struck by the fact that it was such an honor to be involved with this ministry. II Peter 3:18 states, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”. My pilgrimage of Christian school administration has been just that ~ growing, in grace, in knowledge, and in Christ.
I can still remember (1979) receiving the call (both spiritually and by phone!) to accept the headmaster position at a small Christian school in upstate New York. With fear and trepidation I assumed the leadership of this fledgling school of 85 students (K-6). My oldest daughter and I began our first day of school together. The fact that it was an honor to be granted this opportunity never crossed my mind . . . I was too nervous and inexperienced to know what I had gotten myself into! Seventeen years and 450 students later (my youngest daughter being the last graduate to receive a diploma from me), I moved on to a different path.
In 1993, the phone rang again. It was a good friend who invited me to participate in answering a call from the Russian Ministry of Education to come and share with their teachers how to teach the Bible in Russian schools. WOW! What an honor had been given me. Here I was engaged with other Christian educators in an historical window of opportunity to share the gospel in a former atheistic country that was now starving for faith, hope and love. It was out of this experience that my wife and I then moved to Budapest, Hungary to continue ministering to Christian schools in Eastern Europe that had been birthed out of the rubble of socialist totalitarianism.
The next phone call I made myself. We had finished the work we came to Hungary to do and were being called home. I heard of a school that was in need of a headmaster and contacted them. Little did I know that they were trying to contact me! The match seemed to fit and now, ten years later, I still serve the Lord here at Wilmington Christian School. It has been an amazing journey, with too many stories to tell here, but certainly enough to last a lifetime. Heaven alone will reveal the people that have affected my life and, hopefully, I have done the same . . .
As my mind traveled this road of Christian school education, it brought me to that verse from Peter’s letter. Growing in grace and knowledge of Christ has been the one constant in all the changes, the one destination in all the traveling, and the one “friend” in so many encounters. Sure I have learned much and, again hopefully, taught some folks along the way. But through it all I have experienced, like Peter, the thrill, the blessing, and the honor of “participating” in the very work of the Kingdom of God. Nurturing young hearts and minds in the nature and reality of God, the grace and knowledge of His beloved Son, and the wisdom and counsel of the Holy Spirit IS the greatest work before us in these days. Little did I know that as I picked up the phone back in 1979. It’s an honor to be here . . .
3 Responses to ““It’s An Honor To Be Here””
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Dear Mr. Stevens: Not only is it your honor to be here, but ours as well. To have a man
who not only cares for our children. But is interested in their lives and is praying for them to see that they will grow in the wisdom and stature of Christ.I am so thankful that my children have had the opportunity to receive their education here and to have such an honorable example as yourself.
Thank You
Maureen Frankel
Dear Bill,
Absolutely it is an honor to be at WCS. My son Brandon was paid a compliment the other day. Brandon works with me, and after work someone needed help changing a flat tire. Brandon happened to be leaving at the time, and he had the right tool they needed, and proceeded to change the tire. It took two men to remove the tight lugs, and he finished and left. The man that complimented me was helping also, and he said Brandon’s attitude was one of servitude, and happiness. I was told Brandon had great up bringing to to develop into such a fine man. He said God was looking after them that day. I think of WCS as a partnership in raising our children. Now having almost 4 kids graduate (3 already) from WCS it has been an honor to have WCS as a partner. So it is an honor to partner as well as be there.
Thank you WCS as a team of wonderful people that care for the hearts of my kids.
love and respect,
Kirk and Cheryl Reed
Mr. Stevens, thank you for sharing your heart in this blog. I continue to be impressed with your exceptional leadership, both academically and spiritually. Our community is truly blessed by you and your dedication to furthering our LORD’s Kingdom.
Best regards,
Frank