From the Board of Directors

If you are like me, you desire consistency in your life. We prefer to eat at the same restaurants, maintain our exercise routines (or lack thereof), and habitually re-read our favorite books. As we conclude the current academic year and begin looking forward to 2023-2024 at Heritage, we see little consistency on the horizon, however. This upcoming year we will be learning the new language of educational savings accounts (or ESAs), installing two new school board members (Scott Kallemeyn and Brad Beane), adapting to a new board president (yours truly), on-boarding several new teachers and staff, and welcoming a new head of school (Mr. Brian Goodbar).

As we were discussing these changes at a recent school board meeting, I was surprised to find that I was at peace with, and even excited for, the challenges that lie ahead. In the past, my reaction to this level of inconsistency typically included some anxiety, a few sleepless nights, and several jagged finger nails. Through my work on the school board this past year, however, the Holy Spirit has been developing within me the “…perfect peace…” spoken of in Isaiah 26:3. This peace has fostered a steadfast spirit within me (Psalm 51:9-11), which has me eagerly anticipating God’s plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11) and feeling content in my present state of not knowing those plans just yet (Philippians 4:11).

This contentment also grew out of God’s faithfulness to Heritage, which He once again demonstrated throughout the school year. God provided Dr. Greg Gilbaugh as the Interim Head of School we needed to re-establish our school culture. God provided generous donors and benefactors to lighten Heritage’s financial burden during this time of economic uncertainty. God provided faculty and staff with sacrificial hearts that worked overtime to fulfill the educational roles and responsibilities necessary for a successful school year. And, God provided Brian Goodbar to serve as our next permanent head of school.

God also reminded us of His goodness when we celebrated Heritage Christian School’s 30th anniversary in March. It was inspiring to hear the stories of God’s hand at work in building Heritage from a “one-room schoolhouse” to the bustling 190 student facility we have today. It was also motivating to see the commitment of the parents, faculty, and staff to the calling God placed on their hearts. I believe that calling is perfectly encapsulated in the mission statement they adopted for Heritage:  Heritage Christian School exists to serve Christ by partnering with parents to provide Biblically faithful, academically excellent education.

So even though the educational and cultural landscape has drastically changed over the last 30 years, God’s faithfulness to, and His mission for, Heritage has not changed. My hope is that all of us will renew and strengthen our commitment to that mission as we seek to discover the thoughts God has about Heritage for the next 30 years.

In Christ,

Christopher D. Stoakes