A week ago today, we graduated the Class of 2021, the 59th Class of Norfolk Christian Schools. After missing so many festivities with the Class of 2020, it was wonderful to walk through this years’ events with some normalcy. What struck me most as we went from celebration to celebration were not the accomplishments of our talented seniors, though there were many. What struck me was their desire to build each other up in their final moments as a group. I can think of no better example of the Ambassadorship we seek to instill than to share a few of those moments with you now. 

A tradition at our Senior Dinner is for graduates to select two classmates who will speak at their last gathering. On this night, Anna Sandwell was the first to take the stage, where she challenged her friends to remember that they had been prepared to stand boldly for what is right, as Daniel did. But she also reminded them to pursue God with Daniel’s quiet humility, when no one is watching and nothing external can be gained. 

“We post and we argue and we defend our beliefs and we make sure that it is public, so that everyone can see how good we are at standing out, or how good we are at being Christians. If we are not careful we quickly lose track of the things that are private, the things that are hidden. We lose track of our purpose and of the intimate relationship with God.”

After Anna, Daniel Rodriguez spoke to his peers about his own shortcomings and the fact that, no matter the masks they wear, none of them is perfect. He then recounted Jesus’ parable about old and new wineskins, encouraging the crowd to let Christ fill their longings with His Spirit.

“Your beautiful self reflects a beautiful Father. (In Matthew 9,) Jesus is talking about the Pharisees, and as people who have grown up in the church, we should be careful not to become Pharisees, looking at the Bible and seeing rules instead of seeing Jesus…It’s time to reach deep into yourself as you leave this place, deep enough to dig out the things that cannot fill your emptiness. There, you will find yourself and a new wineskin to be filled.”

At our Commencement ceremony, the two students with the highest grade point averages are invited to address the crowd. This year, that honor fell first to Salutatorian Katherine Visser – daughter of NCS alumni Britt and Roxanne (Albis) Visser – who spoke about how fortunate she felt to have spent her whole life surrounded by NCS. In a recent conversation with the CESA school review team, she was asked to describe Norfolk Christian in one word. What immediately came to her mind was “family.” At graduation, she reminded her peers to never stop leaning on the family they had built together.  

“As we go our separate ways, let us not forget the family we made at Norfolk Christian. You all have blessed me in ways unimaginable. I have made relationships that I rely on emotionally and spiritually. I have teachers and coaches who treat me like their own children. And most importantly, I have a community that has pushed me to live a life that honors and glorifies the Lord…I am so honored to graduate from a school where I consider myself a part of a family.”

Last, our 2021 Valedictorian Tyler Jones used his love of numbers to cite some sobering statistics about the sin that so easily entangles this generation. How would they become exceptions instead of falling into the cultural norms of a secular society? This, he reminded us, has already been laid out in the greatest book ever written: 

“We already have that answer. We are solidly equipped to handle all of the issues we will face. I encourage us to lean on Ephesians 6:10-11:

‘Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may stand firm against the schemes of the devil.’

We need to stand strong, even when the people around us are not. We must drown out the noise and be rooted in a truth deeper than ourselves. So when the world pulls you to become one of these statistics, when people ditch you and you feel alone, remember the greatest statistic of all: Christ died for 100% of your sins and He wants 100% of your heart.”

As I listened to the wisdom of these young adults, I realized that they are not cookie-cutter Christian school kids, ready to, as Anna said, “Post Bible verses with coffee mugs” to impress the righteous with their spirituality. Instead, I saw young men and women who have wrestled with their identity in Christ, recognize that Christian values may not be welcomed in the world they’re leaving us for, and know that there is a cost required to identify with Christ outside of our walls. And while any of us would choose an easy road for our children, where their values are applauded and their experiences are always positive, we know that is not the world these Ambassadors are walking into and prepared for. What I was so proud of last week was the resolve of these young adults to support each other as they fight the good fight, knowing it won’t be easy. 

Congratulations to the Class of 2021. I can’t wait to watch the rest of your stories unfold.

May “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).

We are officially in the last half of the most unpredictable, unexpected school year ever and we are still together in person! Thank you for your tenacity and care for others in the last few months; it has allowed our students to thrive in community and on campus. 

It’s been difficult for our campuses to be closed to parents this year and I know some of you feel disconnected, especially if you’re new to the NCS community and you can only go on assurances of others who’ve been here that the community is strong!

As a result, I wanted to give you a glimpse into the great things that have happened in our classrooms so far this year. Things like coding and robotics classes in our Lower Schools, fifth graders mastering the engineering design process, sixth graders in Mrs. Heider’s class creating original exhibits for the “Heidersonian Museum,” (including a working model elevator!) and our High School AP Computer Science Principles class being honored by the College Board with the Female Diversity Award, one of only three private schools in Virginia to receive it!

However, when I asked our team for their suggestions, they didn’t respond with the accolades and achievements I expected. Their stories were not about students shining a light on themselves; they were about students choosing to serve, to carry out this year’s theme of “Loving your neighbor” in the most genuine ways. From collecting more than 2,000 pounds of food for the Foodbank and gathering close to 100 blankets for PiN Ministry and the homeless, to filling teen Christmas stockings for the Salvation Army, re-stocking the shelves of a local church food pantry, making cards for elderly patients alone at Christmas, and so many more acts of service. I wish I had room to share them all. What I can share is that they all had one common denominator: the passion to see these efforts through came from our students. They show an urgency, creativity and excitement about meeting the needs of others.

This same display of neighborly love has also been evident on our homefront, as students supported one another through unusual times. Fifth graders have displayed their ingenuity and campus leadership by planning creatively to ensure no one missed out on traditions like the Christmas Pageant, See You at the Pole, Love Out Loud and Kindergarten Buddies – all while staying safe during a pandemic.

While teaching 8th grade Bible, Mrs. Sandwell saw the spiritual maturity in eighth graders during their study of Imago Dei–how each of us is made in the image of God. Recently, they completed a Harkness discussion exploring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From a Birmingham Jail.”  In her words, “they did an outstanding job applying the principles articulated in his letter to our modern times. I was so proud of how respectful their dialogue was, while also completely authentic and even raw at times. They came away with a new understanding of other people’s perspectives and how we can love one another well, like our Heavenly Father intended.”

As I pondered each of these situations, it was clear that I was witnessing the beautiful result of a Christian worldview permeating everything we do. I had asked about our students’ accomplishments. I got that, but even more, I saw their hearts for Christ and His hurting world. What better example of ambassadorship could there be?

So thank you, for the privilege of pouring into your children each day. Thank you for helping us mold young men and women who think more of their neighbors than themselves. And thank you for partnering with us in the important mission of creating Ambassadors for Christ. It is an honor to be co-laborers with you on this journey.

I Peter 3:15, NIV

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

Some of my most vivid memories are of my years playing basketball. One thing I can still feel is the exhaustion of giving it all during a tough match-up, only to have the game extend into overtime. After the exertion required for the first 32 minutes, the thought of summoning maximum effort for another five seemed impossible. 

It feels like we are in a similar position now. I’m not sure about you, but I know I’ve had multiple heavy conversations over the past several weeks, grappling with difficult problems that seem to be intractable–strife, mistrust, disease, restrictions, and on and on. As we throw ourselves into trying to be good enough, strong enough, powerful enough to make these situations better, the normal responsibilities of life still beckon; work, finances, relationships and family need no less of our attention. To top it off, the news with which we are perpetually accosted reminds us just how broken the world is. Headlines are designed to steer our thinking and provoke emotion. We see depravity and humans being inhuman to one another, and wonder, how long, O Lord? I think we would all admit the same thing: we are weary.

The reality is, outside of the grace and strength and peace of a wonderful Savior, it’s impossible NOT to become weary. But here enters the beauty of the living Word of God. Because as overwhelming as the world around us seems, our scenario is not new. The Bible is full of stories of oppression and tyranny and hardship, many beyond what we could imagine in 21st century America. 

Surely the giants of our faith felt this weariness as they traversed the globe, taking the gospel to one broken city after another. There had to be days when they wondered if they could summon the energy for another task. Yet some of Paul’s last words to us before his martyrdom are as moving today as they must have been to Timothy nearly 2000 years ago: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (II Timothy 4:7)

How could Paul say such a thing with his world in the state it was? It wasn’t the fact that he was good or strong or powerful. It wasn’t that he had fixed all of the brokenness around him. Paul had one thing to cling to that superseded everything else – the hope of eternity with Christ. And I have no doubt that everyone he encountered during his ministry knew the reason for the audacious hope he displayed.  

As we begin a new year with all the challenges set before us, my prayer is that we would cling to the hope Peter speaks of. Our journey here will be rife with the ugliness of a fallen world. The enemy will be hard at work to discourage us. But our hope is not in a perfect world or an easy walk; it is Christ in us, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27) 

Every year around this time, I begin to lament the shorter days and the increasing darkness. While driving to an appointment the other day, the sun was on the horizon, shining into my eyes making it difficult to see. I glanced down at the clock in the car–4:18pm! Immediately, I lamented how quickly the daylight dissipates and the darkness falls.