Last month, Principal Josh Peel stood before the student body with an awful lot of coins. 

The curious students looked on as their new principal showed them the first quarter, nodding along as he pointed out that it was worth just 25 cents. But the quarters kept coming, stacks and stacks of them.

Before their very eyes, Josh’s stash of quarters grew to be worth one hundred dollars. He explained that when you are saving up for a big purchase, you are hopeful that you will save enough. Even starting out with just a small amount, hope is what makes you keep saving and growing your piggy bank.

And so began this year’s chapel theme: “Filled with Hope,” inspired by 1 Peter 1:3: “Praise be to God … He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Each month will see a focus on a different aspect of hope. September covered Jesus as the giver of hope. October’s focus is on hopeful endurance, as in Romans 5:3-5. Josh says this scripture reminds us that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces hope.

“It’s never easy to say trials give us encouragement,” said Josh. “But amidst our trials, we can have hope, which gives us the ability to endure.”

Josh says he always tries to gauge how effective the chapel messages were in the days following chapel. Mrs. Julie Ball has already reported great engagement with her first grade class on the topic of hope. She said the youngsters all had thoughts and questions to share after chapel, and she is more than happy to discuss these with them.

Josh has a variety of guest chapel speakers and activities lined up for the students, and he looks forward to seeing the students develop “grit” as the year progresses.

“I think we’ll see in the classroom more and more that they’re motivated by hope,” said Josh.

“We’re in a season of change, and it’s easy to get discouraged. I hope students will grow their sense of grit and grow their sense of who Christ is.”

Curious K4 students this year will be delighted to join Beth Brewer’s class. A missionary, world traveler and amateur archaeologist, Mrs. Brewer has stories and insights to share with young imaginations. 

Beth attended King’s College in New York City for her bachelor’s in elementary education and went on to earn her master’s in education from Cairn University in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

She helped her church start a private preschool and kindergarten in Pennsylvania in the late 90s. She taught there and also served as the director of the school, where she was delighted to serve students who otherwise may not have heard the gospel. 

She and her husband went on to serve in the missions field, which led to her teaching at a Christian school in Canada, helping found a new Christian school in Ontario, Canada, and teaching first grade in Jaffa, Israel.

Since returning to the US, Beth has worked in education in South Dakota and her home state of New Jersey.

Beth’s husband, David, was called to serve at Emmaus Bible Church in Wisconsin in 2023. Beth then earned her commercial driver’s license to drive the school bus for the West Bend school district.

Beth said, “I’m so blessed that everywhere missions has taken my husband and me, I am able to work with kids!”

Two years ago, Beth had the opportunity to return to Israel for an archaeological dig set where the Tabernacle is believed to have been. Digging near the presumed location of the Holy of Holies, Beth found several artifacts including an Iron Age ring.

In her article on the experience, published by Associates for Biblical Research, Beth said, “The thrill of these finds made every moment worthwhile.”

Beth’s next big goal is to publish her book on archaeology for children.

Though her own two daughters are now grown, Beth never stopped enjoying the wonder of the early years of childhood.

“I feel like a kid myself half the time,” she said. “I love what they say and how honest they are.”

Beth is thrilled to be joining the OCS team, so she can once again share her contagious love for learning about God’s world.
 

A vibrant new teacher is joining the OCS family this fall!

Stefanie Wade will be teaching art to kindergartners through eighth graders.

For years, Stefanie has worked as a graphic designer, working on websites, brochures and photography for two different companies. Her creative marketing solutions have led her to see art in both a beautiful and practical way.

Stefanie and her husband of 15 years have three sons: a nine-year-old and seven-year-old twins.

She has been volunteering with her church’s children’s area for years, including three years helping out with the VBS program.

“I enjoy my kids,” said Stefanie, “And I didn’t know I would also enjoy spending time with other people’s kids.”

This revelation led Stefanie to go back to school to earn her teaching certificate from UW Madison. Her student teaching experiences led her to gain experience in a high school setting and a kindergarten through fifth grade setting, and she is ready to dive in!

“I just love encouraging kids in their art practice,” said Stefanie. “The young ones have such an excitement for it to begin with. They always amaze me.”

Stefanie said she wants to teach her students to use art as an act of worship.
“I want to relate art to God’s intentionality and design. … I’m excited to be at a Christian school where we can be open with how we talk about God.”

Stefanie is especially passionate about three dimensional art and plans to have a variety of materials at the ready: cardboard, coat hangers, modeling clay and more!

While student teaching, Stefanie helped students work on projects with real world applications like “zoo stations,” where students built habitats for zoo animals, and product packaging, where students brought in household objects and designed an attractive package for presenting the object in a store.

With projects like these, Stefanie hopes to encourage students who love art to explore careers in design, architecture and other specialty fields.

When Stefanie is not in the classroom, she enjoys photography, sewing, strength training and board games with her family.

OCS is pleased to welcome a new fourth grade teacher this year: Sara Benzschawel!

While Sara waited for a fresh new order of textbooks to arrive, she expressed how excited she was to begin teaching at OCS.

“I love the sense of community they have here,” said Sara. “I like how all the kids know each other in all the grades. Everyone is really close. … It’s a different vibe [compared to a public school].”

Sara has been a substitute teacher for OCS in the past, so she is familiar with the supportive environment.

“I was blown away by everybody’s kindness and willingness to help each other,” she said.

As Sara prepares her lessons for fall, she plans to include plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning.

“I’d like to have them up and moving around,” she said. “I don’t want them to just sit in the classroom. I don’t want to just speak at them.”

Sara, who grew up in Hartland, Wisconsin, in a Christian household, earned her master’s degree in education from Portland State University. Since returning to Wisconsin, she has had more opportunities to get involved with her church.

Sara lives with her husband Eric and their three daughters and two cats in Jackson. They are soaking up the summer with outings to carnivals, water parks and hiking trails. 

Sara loves spending time outdoors and taking photos, with her daughters being her favorite subjects.

If you have a fourth grader, be sure to say hello to Mrs. Benzschawel this fall! Your student will be in good hands in her lively classroom.

Joshua Peel, an Appleton native, saw God plant the seed for something life-changing on a chilly winter morning.

Josh visited his in-laws at their church in Mequon. They told him that Kris Austin had visited their church a few weeks ago. They explained that Kris, after 35 years of running Ozaukee Christian School, would be retiring after this school year. And there was no principal to take her place.

That got Josh and his wife Mary’s attention. At the time, Josh was working as a principal at a Christian school in Illinois. And although Josh loved it there, he felt God pulling him and Mary back to Wisconsin.

“Could this be our opportunity to move back home?” he wondered.

Josh and Mary had begun dating when they were teaching at a Christian School in Oshkosh. She was a music teacher, and he was a math and Bible teacher.

“I loved teaching math and the Bible,” said Josh. “I was able to integrate Christ’s world into math, and it was changing lives.”

Josh held degrees in youth ministry and Bible education from Moody Bible Institute. He was so inspired by what God was doing through him that he decided to add a bachelor’s in math and a master’s of science and math education to his resume.

He and Mary were married in 2022, and Josh began working his first principal job in Illinois.

When Mary’s parents moved to Ozaukee County, the Peels wanted to visit. And that is how Josh found himself presented with an unexpected opportunity from God on that chilly winter morning. Josh applied for the position of principal at OCS and was accepted.

Now he and Mary — with their two-year-old son and a baby girl expected to arrive any day now — are moving to Saukville to be close to OCS and Mary’s family.

When asked how he would help to ensure OCS’s future success, Josh said, “Step one is reliance on God! Paul told us about the church in Corinth. He planted, and the disciples watered, but God provided the growth! I want the students to keep their hearts open to the work of the Lord. I am just here to prepare the soil."

Josh emphasized that he has no intentions of rushing in and making changes; he wants to “learn the culture” to determine how to best serve OCS and its families.

“My goal is to learn. I have my own leadership tendencies and personality, but we have the same mission of cultivating the next generation to impact the world for God’s glory,” said Josh. “I am passionate about making sure that students receive an education that is excellent and God-glorifying."

Josh explained that the school board’s decision to “split” leadership responsibilities into the roles of principal and head of school is something that will continue to evolve as he and Chris Bergstresser, the next head of school, settle in.

Josh said, “I will be working more closely with the teachers, students, education, discipline, and the community. Chris will be working more on the long term goals.”

Josh added that he is excited to get to know the OCS community. He looks forward to meeting everyone and learning from them.

In January of this year, Chris Bergstresser, a resident of West Bend, heard something from God.

Chris knew then that Ozaukee Christian School was about to lose its founder and Head of School Kris Austin to retirement. Following God’s call, he began to pray that God would use him to help the school.

Chris and his wife Mary have three sons (eighth, sixth and fourth graders) and one daughter (a second grader) at OCS.

Chris said, “When we started sending our kids to OCS, I could see the impact on them immediately.”

Pleased with what OCS was doing in his children’s lives, Chris attended the Lion Chasers Committee last fall to discuss the plans for OCS’s future high school.

“I started praying for more opportunities to get involved,” said Chris.

He soon found his next opportunity as God whispered into his heart this winter. He became burdened to help.

God worked on his heart, putting into focus Chris’s years of experience in positions of leadership, from his time in the Air Force to managing stores and a foundry to now leading the children’s ministry at First Baptist Church of West Bend.

Chris holds degrees in biblical studies and business and expects to add master’s degrees in theology and education administration in the near future.

With God’s voice in his heart, Chris said he could suddenly see how all this time, God had been molding him to be a sufficient leader for OCS.

“I will never claim to be the ultimate authority on anything,” said Chris. “The Lord has given me the opportunity to learn a lot of things over the years.”

Now “Chris with a C” is humbly stepping into Kris’s role as Head of School. He said he does not feel nervous, but rests in the confidence that God will guide him.

“It really is an honor,” said Chris. “And it is not just one person who will fill Kris’s shoes.”

In addition to Chris, OCS is hiring a principal, whose role will focus on the day-to-day operations of the school, while Chris looks at the bigger picture.

Chris said, "As head of school, my specific focus is going to be the strategic planning and vision, partnering with the business manager in oversight of the financial health and business aspects of the school, building relationships with donors, the launch of a high school and preserving the healthy spiritual foundation that has been laid by Kris Austin and those who have spent countless hours pouring into the school before me."

When asked how he plans to integrate his leadership style with OCS’s existing culture, Chris emphasized that he would focus on the heart, just as he does in his own parenting and ministry.

“Math facts are math facts, but how can we integrate Christ?” Chris referenced Proverbs 4:25 and Psalm 119:11, highlighting the importance of teaching children to keep their eyes on Christ in all aspects of life.

Chris’s long term ambitions for the school include the launch of a high school, increased community impact and additional high school prep programs. As always, he seeks God’s guidance and blessing as he works towards these goals.

Ozaukee Christian School, providing quality Christian education from various buildings throughout the years, has never been defined by bricks or drywall. Its identity has been built by God and the people who serve him.

Amanda Kasinskas’s journey with OCS began before she and husband Adam had children. She taught Spanish part-time before she became pregnant with Stella, their eldest daughter. When Stella was old enough for kindergarten, OCS was the obvious choice.

“I liked knowing that it was safe, being a smaller school,” said Amanda. “It was more like a family feel than sending kids to school.”

Amanda deeply values a Christ-focused community. The faith and spiritual climate of the school gave her confidence that the teachers would not tell her child something that she would have to “undo” at home.

As Amanda and Adam added more children to their family—Jackson, Lucy and Kahlil—they continued to pour into the OCS community.

Over the years, Amanda has taught Spanish and technology and has been a “room mom” assisting other teachers. She managed the Refreshing Room on Pie Day for several years, connecting with all who came in for a break or a bite. She has energetically filled each role God chose for her.

Recently Amanda started a prayer and fellowship group for OCS moms that meets on Tuesday mornings, in addition to evening activities.

It is people like Amanda who build and maintain the culture that OCS is known for.
Having served in a variety of roles, Amanda acknowledges “the effort, work and beauty of the people that teach our students every day.” She knows the tremendous amount of work it takes, and she is grateful to be surrounded by a community of like-minded Christians.

Reflecting on Stella’s approaching eighth grade graduation date, Amanda says without hesitation, “If I had to do it all over again, I would choose OCS again.”

If you would like to join the OCS Moms group, please click here.

Since January, Mary Hoke’s seventh and eighth graders have been working on their next big “Venture,” which they presented last month.

Venture, a new event from ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International), gives students the opportunity to create and pitch their business plans to a panel of “investors.”

This year’s theme was good stewardship of the resources God gives to us. In the classroom, Mary used Dave Ramsey’s Foundations in Personal Finance: Middle School Edition as a starting point for discussing good financial decisions with her students.

Over the course of several weeks, Mary invited local business owners to speak to the students, including three former OCS Board members.

The students were divided into groups, and each group developed a business plan from scratch, keeping in mind the theme of good stewardship. They had to consider budget, customers, advertising and more.

When the big day came, each group pitched their concepts to the panel of judges, who were business owners themselves.

Nate Kohn of Nate’s Landscaping, Cari Allison of Nine Ladies Dancing and Chris Korinek of EFI Global brought their expertise to Venture and asked each group probing questions about their business plans, which the students had to answer with professionalism.

After deliberating, the judges chose a winning group. Their business plan was for an app that would track the contents of the user’s closet, helping choose matching outfits each day based on the weather and desired style. The proposed app would take note of which clothing items were used less often so the user could list the unused clothing for sale through the app, thus reducing waste and saving time.

Mary was proud of each group’s efforts and was pleased to see the confidence with which her students were able to communicate their ideas professionally.

OCS plans to include Venture in its biennial programming, alternating with the ACSI science fair.

OCS is not an ordinary school! And while there are no real bananas in leadership positions, a group of students calling themselves the Golden Bananas has recently stepped up.

OCS runs BOLD groups, which stands for Building Our Leaders through Discipleship. These groups include students from a variety of grades that meet regularly to learn and grow together.

Though a staff member monitors and guides each group, it is clear that the students take on the vast bulk of the responsibility for their group’s activities.

The Golden Bananas, monitored by Kris Austin, had it on their hearts to provide financial support to a missionary to Romania and longtime friend of the school, Brad Hayes. They decided to run a bake sale and lemonade stand to benefit Brad’s work.

The students of the Golden Bananas ran the entire project. They created promotional flyers, sold the products, cleaned up and counted the donations.

They also went on to co-sponsor a family game night over the weekend, where they raised more funds for Romania with their popcorn sale!

Kris says that the BOLD groups provide a “family feel” and help students gain friends outside of their classrooms. They sit together during all-school chapels and participate in a variety of activities together.

This type of opportunity for leadership and growth is invaluable and so treasured by the students of OCS!

Parents send their children to private schools for a safe environment, academic quality and instruction in values. And while 36 percent of U.S. parents would love to send their children to private schools, only 9 percent of American children currently attend private schools, according to EdChoice’s recent “2024 Schooling in America Survey” (Ritter et al., 2024).

Shockingly, the survey found that about two thirds of parents believe education is on the “wrong track,” yet 80 percent keep their children in public schools.

At OCS, we understand that choosing your child’s school can include a multitude of microscopic decisions, each as unique and important as your children and family.

But for those who prefer a private school, we want to empower you to make that decision by breaking down a few myths that may be holding you back.


Myth #1
"Christian schools are only for the wealthy elite."

The Association for Christian Schools International, of which OCS is a part, has a history of advocating for school choice legislation (Kienel, 2024). With the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program, your family’s neighborhood does not need to dictate where your children will attend school. Families of all backgrounds can unify around faith in our Creator!

Myth #2
"Sending your child to a Christian school is un-American."

Christian schools have existed in American settlements since 1607! It would be over 200 years before the idea of a state-controlled school came to fruition, still using biblical educational resources (Kienel, 2024). Horace Mann, the figurehead of American public schools said, “Our system earnestly inculcates all Christian morals; it founds its morals based on religion” (Mann, 1848).


Myth #3
"Christian schools are not funded well enough to produce effective academic programs."

Research has shown time and again that exactly the opposite is the case! Students with a private school background consistently outperform public school students in almost every subject, as shown by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP, 2016). The National Association of Independent Schools found that even when taking the SAT for college entry, private school students excel above and beyond their public school peers (Torres, 2016).

So what are you waiting for? If you are among the two thirds of American parents concerned about the direction that education is heading, the time to act is now! Your child will not get a second chance to grow up in a nurturing environment surrounded by God-honoring teachers.

Step out in faith and make the choice that has always been tugging at your heart. Call us today to set up your visit, or join us on January 21 at 6:30 p.m.; we have been waiting to welcome you into the OCS family!


Sources:

Ritter, C., Aldis, A., Kristof, J., & DiPerna, P. (2024, August). 2024 schooling in America | edchoice. EdChoice. https://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024-Schooling-in-America.pdf

Kienel, P. A. (2024, August). Shattering a Few Myths About Christian Schools. ACSI.  

Mann, H. “Twelfth Annual Report of the Massachusetts State School Board,” (1848) in The American Nation: Primary Sources (ed. Bruce Frohnen; Indianapolis, IN: Liberty Fund, 2008), p. 248.

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). (2016). NAEP dashboards - schools. The Nation’s Report Card. https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/dashboards/schools_dashboard.aspx  

Torres, A. (2016, Spring). Independent Schools and the SAT. NAIS. https://www.nais.org/magazine/independent-school/spring-2016/independent-schools-and-the-sat/

When Ozaukee Christian School students were asked to “do planks” at the end of January, it was more than just a fun exercise. It was an invitation to pray and prepare their hearts for a Sign-a-Board (or, “plank”) event!

Patty Deising, the Interim Director of Development at Habitat for Humanity of Washington and Dodge Counties, says OCS students have been building a relationship with Habitat for Humanity since last school year when older students researched and presented on local non-profit organizations.

Seventh grader Kate Sherman-Bender and fifth grader Malachi Voisin from the Student Leadership Council took the lead in contacting Patty this year to find out more about the organization and how they could help.

Patty said, “We talked about how we are building homes to pull people out of poverty and offer stability in a family’s life.”

So how did that lead to “planks”?

Patty explained, “Students under the age of 16 are not allowed to work at the construction build sites, so [Sign-a-Board] is a family-friendly way to share the love and support that we have to the families we serve."

Students of all ages signed the wooden boards, wrote Bible verses and prayed for the families who would live in the homes built with the boards.

Patty says she especially appreciated Kate and Malachi’s help in leading the other students, including loading and unloading all the boards from the truck.

“I was most impressed by the students’ prayers over the boards and their genuine desire to see these boards frame and build the homes for a family in need,” said Patty.

Habitat for Humanity of Washington and Dodge Counties would like to invite readers to check out their silent auction fundraiser, which will open for bids online on February 17 at 7 p.m. Go to https://e.givesmart.com/events/FZB/i/ and use the “Items” tab.

They also invite families to volunteer for West Bend GERMANfest, a “polka-loving” festival that the organization will be running for the tenth year in a row!

Patty says Habitat for Humanity is blessed to partner with the students of OCS, and looks forward to future events and projects with them!

An alphabet chart
List of classroom rules
Large daily schedule

These are fairly typical items displayed on most classroom walls. Depending on the personality of the teacher or the content of the class, the walls may be very busy visually. Or, they may have lots of blank space to give students a little sensory break.

Children and teens spend a large part of their waking hours each day in school. Even though teachers do everything possible to provide engaging lessons, the reality is that students’ eyes will undoubtedly wander from poster to poster, window to window. What will these roaming eyes (and mind/heart) encounter?

Here is a glimpse into what the walls are speaking to the children at OCS.

We thank God for our friends at school!
God made me!
He is the Best and Only True God!
Jesus died for our sins.
He forgives us when we sin.
God is big, strong, and all powerful!
God knows our name.
He hears our prayers and heals our sickness.
God’s Presence is here!
Thankful for God’s grace and mercy.

At OCS, the walls SHOUT God’s love and grace to students and staff. Imagine what these words mean to a child who forgot his lunch, had a friendship break up at recess, or couldn’t remember how to spell very many words on the weekly test.

And then there are the teens. This mirror is in our middle school hallway. When a girl stops to make sure her hair is just right, these words of life and encouragement infuse her soul. When a boy flexes a muscle or checks to see if a little mustache hair might be growing, these strong words of affirmation are there to remind him of Truth.

If the walls could talk…at OCS, they do!

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” 2 Thessalonians 5:11

“One year from today, in what ways (if any) do you want your son to be a little different than he is right now? And, in what ways (if any) would you like your daughter to be the same as she is right now?”

I enjoy meeting new parents when they come for a tour. I want to hear the hopes and dreams they have for their child. Listening to what parents share takes precedence over anything I may have to say regarding curriculum, athletics, or hot lunch program.

The questions posed above eventually do become part of the conversation. It’s also important for me to understand that OCS will be a good fit for this family.

Today, I challenge all parents to consider these questions. We tend to naturally be a bit
more reflective at the beginning of a new year, so this is a perfect time to be reading this
little blog.

May I suggest these broad categories for your consideration?
- Spiritual well-being, growth, and age-appropriate maturity
- Biblical worldview
- Relationships with others at home, neighborhood, church, and school
- Academic growth
- Work ethic, self-discipline, and grit/perseverance
And, finally, may I leave you with this word of encouragement?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5 – 6)
------------
I would love to hear your thoughts about what I have written. Feel free to connect with me at HOS@ozaukeechristian.org. I promise to answer!

Another school year has come to a close, and another set of eighth grade students is preparing to join the ranks of high schoolers in fall.

After studying "My Heart - Christ’s Home" by Robert Boyd Munger, the  class of 2023 had a chance to consider what kind of reputation they would have at their respective high schools. Here are two of their responses:

“I want people to see me as who God made me. I want to show kindness, love and peace. I want to show others God and his awesome ways and merciful ways. I want to be loved for who I am and who I will be in the future. With God’s help, my parents, church and my school, I can be that person.”

“I would love to be known for my academic abilities, but more importantly I want people to think of the character of Christ when they see me. I want to be in prayer every day, to be actively reading God’s word, following commands he puts on my heart, seeking a godly community, and obeying the truth. In the end, all that matters is God’s name and his name alone, because he is above all creation (Philippians 2:9). So, let them not remember me, but his holy name.”

Ozaukee Christian School sent middle school students to see God’s movement in the foundations of our country.

The much-anticipated trip to Washington DC gave students a renewed appreciation for God’s hand in the lives of those who built our country.

Students Lucas and Anaika were both struck by the symbolic placement of the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Capitol, and the White House in the form of a cross.

Lucas noted that the Washington Monument was at the center where the lines of the cross intersect. “On top of the Washington Monument there is an aluminum cap that says ‘Laus Deo,’ which means ‘Praise be to God.’”

Anaika recalled, “It shows so much evidence of the power of God.”

Kiera was most drawn to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. “From the knee down it is unfinished … because while [he] was alive his work was unfinished. His dream hadn’t yet been fulfilled.”

Kiera paraphrased one of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s sermons, “You cannot overcome darkness with darkness; only light can do that. You cannot overcome hate with hate; only love can do that.”

Leah was moved by Thomas Jefferson’s library. She recalled seeing Bible verses on display. “My favorite part was how God was woven into all of it.”

A highlight of the three-day DC visit was David’s Tent, a place of perpetual worship on the National Mall. The middle school worship team had the opportunity to sing there one evening.

Elizabeth said, “[God] was everywhere, and at David’s Tent I could feel God in me. And God was with me the whole trip.”  

No student on the trip avoided the striking sense that God is in control of the country, and has been since the beginning. The evidence was in every building and landmark.

Jesse said, “DC taught me that even today, God is a big part of our country!”

This month Ozaukee Christian School’s middle school students completed their annual Serve Projects. While OCS offers students opportunities to serve both on and off campus throughout the school year, Serve Projects place an extra emphasis on the importance of following Jesus’s example of service.

This year the fifth and sixth grade students served at The Threshold, an organization offering practical and recreational services to adults and youth with disabilities. The students led a group of adults in a game of Bingo.

The seventh and eighth grade class traveled to Sheboygan to serve at the Salvation Army, which offers food, shelter, counseling and more to community members who find themselves in need. The students packed bags of toiletries for the homeless and helped cook and serve a meal at the shelter.

Whenever OCS students volunteer in the surrounding community, their teachers look for two important things. The first is a positive impact on the people being served. But it is equally important that the students themselves grow in their maturity and understanding of how and why God calls us to serve others.

The following are some excerpts from students’ reflections.

“We were politely loving. Praying for them and seeing them was fun.”
—6th grader

“The residents at the Threshold were very friendly.  They were all excited to meet us and loved their prizes.  I was glad that our small acts of kindness made their day.”
—6th grader

"I think that having new faces to see really makes them happy.  I was glad to make people excited.  They might get lonely sometimes, and when we were there, I think they had fun.”
—6th grader

“One thing that surprised me was how kind [the Salvation Army staff members] were and how loving and knowing Christ they were. They had a heart for the homeless and God. I felt good while serving. … I would definitely serve again. This was an amazing experience, and I thought it was good to me seeing how they live. I do think Christians should help with this.”
—8th grader

“It felt good to help them. It made me happy. I was a little sad to hear where some of them sleep. I was happy for all the people that could stay and get back on their feet. I think I served with a good attitude and a kind heart. I would love to do another field trip to the Salvation Army.”
—8th grader

“While Jesus walked this earth he set the example to serve, not to be served. I got the opportunity to follow his teachings by organizing toiletries and making welcome bedding bags at the homeless center. … While I was working I was moved to try to do my best like Jesus did, with a good attitude. I did, and it brought more joy to the work. I would love to help others again and follow his example.”
—7th grader