Teacher Dedication Series

Message: School Year 2025 – Make a difference!

Thesis:

We are placed here by the Lord to make a difference – all of us – to be light in the midst of darkness – to do good – to change lives with the help of the Holy Spirit!

Scripture Texts:

Galatians 6:9:"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Matthew 5:16: "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Introduction:

Dear Teachers, School staff, Student leaders, Church staff and Church congregation and visitors: (This message is for all of us!)

I want to begin by telling you a story. Ever since I was a little boy, I’ve remembered a Walt Disney quote I heard watching Disney on Sunday nights, “A dream is a wish your heart makes.” I watched Disney on Sunday nights growing up and the themes always had the heroes! I was the little boy who dreamed about being a Disney superhero – I looked up to heroes like Superman, the Green Lantern, Spiderman, and a host of others. I wanted to make a difference with my life even as a young boy – I just did not know how to do that because I did not know Jesus.

Then my dream evolved in my later teen years to leading me to Jesus! I found Jesus and served him with my whole heart, and he gave me the clarity of what I was called to do become a preacher, teacher, pastor and minister! Why me – I thought I am not good enough to be a Rev – true but Jesus qualified me – Why - to make a difference! Yes, my alter ego changed I caught the vision to be a superhero for the Kingdom of God. I wanted to do something in my life that I knew would have an ever-lasting impact, whether for one person or for many. So, with the nudging of the Lord, I left my carpentry trade to pursue a ministry pastoral position in the ministry. I had no idea where it would lead me!

That?vision brought me back here to Christian Hill Church and School about 18 years ago (It will be 18 years in Nov.). I was excited, along with my wife Kathy, to mark the end of our 11 summers in Amery Wisconsin at New Life and return to a struggling Church and school. I had a vision to see the church heal, the school heal and once again pursue spiritual and academical transformational in the school and church. I wanted to make a greater difference than I was in Amery Wisconsin! Impact more people for the Kingdom of Heaven.

God called me when I was at a Men’s retreat with about 8 of my guys from the halfway home we started in Amery. I looked at my guys worshipping the Lord in that moment – these were hard core guys set free from Meth, drugs and crime. They had facial Tattoos, scars on their bodies from a hard life and there many bad choices showed on their bodies. But, I heard the voice of the Lord say to me “You need to return to CHC – you will see 100’s more changed and transformed!” then a Scripture verse echoed in my spirit and heart: I pulled out my Bible and looked it up: Proverbs 14:4 “Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.” I read that verse and I knew we had to return to Christian Hills Church and school.

So today I want to encourage all of you with this truth: You may not know the extent of the impact you’re going to have, but you’re about to impact your future, the children of this school’s future, the church’s future and our country’s future. I know you cannot imagine the ways the Lord is going to use you to help change a life this school year. But you are going to make a difference! The same goes for you attending CHC.

I can assume that we’ve each been asked the question, “Why did you want to become a teacher, a pastor, a missionary, an evangelist or you fill in the blank?”

For me the question was, “Why go back to Christian Hills Church and School?”

The first reason I know that God called me back here to make a difference. For my other answer, I think back to the opportunities I was afforded growing up: I had the opportunity to have some amazing teachers in public school. I recall Mrs. Kelsey in 3rd Grade impacting my young life. Mrs. Vollmer in Highschool who spoke into my troubled teen life. I never attended a private Christian school until Bible college. Which explains why I never knew of Jesus or even what he did for me until after high school. But my wife Kathy, my 3 kids and grandkids did and do attend private Christian School – it has impacted their lives spiritually and academically. It does make a difference – I have seen it personally! So, I came back to this area to make a difference through the church and the school. I have seen good changes in many lives!