Anyone who has coached a team of any kind—sports, business, or otherwise—knows that unity is paramount! And unity does not come naturally. Have you ever witnessed a team with so much talent and no unity? They don’t get very far.

Unity, oneness of purpose, and love for one another are so unnatural, in fact, that God’s Word says that is how we are to be recognized as His children (Jn. 13:35)! How do we love each other? How do we have unity of mind and purpose (I Peter 3:8)? It starts with an investment.

Now, I’m not talking about a monetary investment (although you have made that commitment!). I’m talking about investing in the lives of those around you, specifically in your church and your school. There are never any shortages in work needing to be done in ministry, and there is rarely a surplus of help!

The strongest relationships I’ve built have been through teamwork—working with and relying on others to accomplish a goal. In this case, the goal is growing your children to be equipped, Godly leaders wherever God sends them. Won’t we work together as a team with love, unity, and oneness of purpose to accomplish what God has called us to do?
Thank you
Tom Krick, Principal

1. DON’T view your child as a burden (Psalm 127:3).
2. DO make time for your child, even when it’s not convenient.
3. DON’T stop teaching your child, even though they’re not in school (Proverbs 22:6).
4. DO give your child structure (even chores!). Work ethic is invaluable.
5. DON’T neglect time with God. Summer can be busy, but show your child what’s most important!
6. DO enjoy every moment you have with your child: each day you’re given comes from God.

I know, rocket science, right? But I wanted to give you these reminders as this is what I’ve been reminding myself of. Summer is already packed with “stuff” to do; but if the shutdown of last year taught me anything, it was the importance of our children. And investing in their lives is never wasted.
Have a great summer!

Do you have to earn the respect of your children? No. God commands children to honor their parents regardless of the parents’ shortcomings (Eph. 6:2).

Do the governing authorities have to earn your respect? No. Romans 13, written by a man who was wrongfully imprisoned and martyred by the government, calls for us to submit to the authority God puts over us.

Do you have to respect that obnoxious neighbor, that slow person in line in front of you, that horrible driver, or that ridiculous… you get the point. And the answer is, “Yes!” Read Matthew 7:12, Titus 2:7, or I Corinthians 10:33 for reference.

This is what we should be teaching our children, and this is what we should be modeling for each other every day. I Peter 2:17 sums it up well: “Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” Mr. Tom Krick, Principal

But this message isn’t all doom and gloom, there is hope in the midst of the chaos! Despite the natural world and humanity heading toward disorder, God has given a clear and simple path. He doesn’t hide it. He offers it freely to everyone (Jn. 3:16, II Cor. 5:17).

Today in our Easter chapel, your children, from Pre-K all the way to the seniors, shared the truth so clearly. They told me about our need for a savior because of our sin. They explained how the Old Testament pointed to a Messiah. Even the younger children understood why Jesus came—to serve, to die, and come alive again to save us from our sins!

I challenged our students to share what they know about Jesus with the people around them, the world. And I challenge you to do the same, to share the good news of Jesus with the world around you that is living in darkness. “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (Jn. 8:12)

Have a Happy Easter celebrating our risen Savior! Mr. Krick, Principal

Walnut Street Christian School teaches from the foundation of the Word of God, fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and we make no apologies for it! I Corinthians 3:11 says, “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus.” Any other foundation we would try to stand on would lead to our failure! “And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Mt. 7:26-27)

Over the past 45 years, WSCS has faced many storms. The only reason we exist today to serve you is because of the grace of God and the foundation of Christ. “Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” (Luke 6:47-48)

This foundation is the same foundation we challenge our students to build their lives on. In the end, what we build on that foundation is all that matters. I Corinthians 3:13-16 says, “Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?”

Every day we each must decide what to stand for, but let’s not forgot the foundation on which we stand!

“You’ll never open.”  “You’ll get shut down in two weeks.”  “You have to stay open no matter what!”  How many of you thought that a month after school started we would still be having school in the building?  I’ll be honest, I rode the “what if” rollercoaster every time I talked with someone about it.  I didn’t know what the future held—but God did, and He still does.  Aren’t you thankful for that?

This school year has started off with great success, and we are looking to keep that momentum going!  By now, your child is starting to get into that school routine, but with that new routine comes a new set of challenges.  One of those challenges is adversity.  Your child will have struggles (if they haven’t shown up already).  It may be grasping a new concept, memorizing facts, social interaction, or just getting out of bed!  Doesn’t it seem like progress is almost always followed by adversity?  Nehemiah and the people of Israel saw this same pattern.  They were seeing progress; the wall was to half its height!  And then the work stopped.  They were tired.  They felt inadequate.  They were threatened.  But Nehemiah gave his people some perspective, and I hope this same perspective that was shared 2400 years ago is a challenge to you as well.  “Do not be afraid of them.  Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” –Nehemiah 4:14.  

Your battle may look different than Nehemiah’s did, but that doesn’t change who you are fighting for and Who is on your side.  You face the daunting task of training your son or daughter in a crazy, messed up world where right is wrong and wrong is right.  Remember the Lord, surround yourself with Godly friends, and know that we are here to help you in that fight!  Your children are worth fighting for.

Thank you.

Tom Krick, Principal

“Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.”  Psalm 119:129

The gift of the Word of God is full of wonderful revelations, wonderful commands, and wonderful promises! As Charles Spurgeon says of this thought:  “…the more he [David] wondered the more he obeyed.”  This obedience displays itself through joy, passion for souls, a giving attitude, unity, thankfulness, and encouragement. Could this be the problem with the Church today? Are we in awe and wonder as we open the Word of God, searching for those gems, waiting to uncover a truth that we need today?  Psalm 34:8 tells us to “…taste and see that the Lord is good!” The best Christmas gift that we can offer is time with God, furthering our relationship with Him!  This gift then spills over into our relationships with family, friends, and co-workers!  These presents are priceless!   

“We have come to a turning point in the road.  If we turn to the right mayhap our children and our children’s children will go that way; but if we turn to the left, generations yet unborn will curse our names for having been unfaithful to God and His Word.”

This quote does not come from a sermon preached last month but from one preached 130 years ago by Charles Spurgeon!  No, we cannot be held responsible for the years before we were brought into this world, but the question must be asked, “What am I doing today to make a difference in the spiritual growth of the children or grandchildren that God has blessed me with?  Am I faithful to God and His Word?  What spiritual legacy will I leave for my grandchildren?  According to Romans 14:12,at the end of life, each of us will stand before God and give an account of our lives.  Lest we think that the world has never been worse, consider Noah’s time.  Genesis 6:5 says, “…and that every imagination of the thoughts of his [man’s] heart was only evil continually.”

Reflect also on Paul who lived in a culture that was literally rotten to the very core.  WHAT IF THESE TWO MEN HAD THROWN UP THEIR HANDS IN DESPAIR AND SAID, “IT’S NOT WORTH IT!”? May God give us the strength to stand faithful to Him and His Word every day so that the generations following us will praise God for our obedience.