2021: Fearless Exploits
- WCFS Staff
- Nov 17, 2021
- 6 min read
A Year for Exploits
“… but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” Daniel 11:32b (KJV)
Exploit (noun): DEED, ACT
especially: a notable, memorable, or heroic act
2021 has been a year of exploits here at WCFS! Looking back at the past twelve months, we marvel at all that God has allowed us to accomplish for His glory. Join us as we review some of the landmark events of 2021 and celebrate God’s use of the challenges we faced to carry out His perfect plan.
Exploits at Home:
Gary's Exploit of Rest
Last December Gary undertook what may well have been one of the most difficult tasks he has ever been assigned: to rest. On Christmas day he was rushed to the Emergency room after suffering a heart attack. God answered our prayers and preserved his life, but while he recovered, he was forbidden (well, we tried anyway) from taking part in any church or school-related business.
Though it was a genuine trial for him to relinquish the duties he has performed so well for so many years, the state of his health gave him no alternative, and he was forced to step away. But as he would tell you, there was no greater joy for him during this season than seeing how God provided! Not only did God preserve Gary’s life, but He also preserved the WCFS ministry, bringing in the right people at the right time to enable us to carry on while he recovered. One such person was Timothy Shell, graduate of WCFS and missionary to East Asia for the past 20 years. Timothy took up many of Mr. Cox’s speaking duties and has been a tremendous blessing to the ministry. You may read more of Tim’s testimony here: New Ministry Dynamics at WCFS: A Special Update from Tim Shell.
Our topic for the January’s Midyear Teacher’s Conference was Knowing God and Doing Exploits. Tim reminded us of the greatest exploit of all: Loving the Unlovely, during the conference’s keynote session, and the idea of fearless exploits has remained our theme throughout this year.
This year’s Family Heritage Expo was held here on our campus on May 2nd. The students’ projects were put on display for viewing and judging in WCF’s fellowship hall while the students played games and enjoyed a picnic on the back lawn. It was a delight to see executive function at work in the creative projects they made and the God-honoring testimonies they wrote.
Storm Cleanup
One of the most memorable events of this spring took place when a giant maple bordering our parking lot blew down across our driveway - right where our staff would have been driving ten minutes later. Mercifully, God caused it to fall precisely when and where it did, allowing everyone to make it safely home, and return later for a wood-cutting party with many happy, helping hands!
Campus Maintenance
This year’s Nathaniel Bowditch Mentoring Clinic serves as another demonstration of God’s perfect provision. General maintenance needs of our campus have long been neglected as more urgent concerns took priority. This year, by bringing together the largest group of students enrolled in the Clinic to date, and Tim Shell as our new Grounds and Maintenance Director, God provided us with the manpower and leadership we had been lacking. During the Christian Service/mentoring projects period of the Clinic, Tim and the students have been putting many things to rights, hugely encouraging us all!
Elevator Lift Installation
This year we have felt the truth of the verse “Desire accomplished is sweet to the soul” (Prov. 13:19) in reference to many things, but especially when we finally witnessed the installation of an elevator on the WCF/S Campus. It took far longer to complete than anyone expected, with setback after setback, but by God’s faithfulness all that now remains is some fine-tuning and trim. Meanwhile, the lift is fully operational, and a regular blessing to families in both our church and school.
WCFS continues to expand its international ministry. Through our three international affiliates: Homeschool Global (Philippines, Middle East), the Joshua International Academy (South Korea), and the Global Homeschool Academy (South Korea), we are now providing academic help and oversight to over 1,200 home-educated students around the world.
Most of those students are enrolled through Homeschool Global in the Philippines and the Middle East. It is at once an immense blessing and a daily adventure to be able to participate in the work of God in Asia and the Middle East, and we thank you for your prayers as we continue to serve Him in this venue.
Executive Exploits
The Family Leadership Conference of 2021 was held at Roxbury Holiness Camp in Orrstown, PA, with the theme: “Be Ye Holy for I am Holy!”
This year’s conference was extended from three days to four, to accommodate a special workshop-style seminar filled with practical, hands-on projects, including a special Creation Wonder Contest!
Conference sessions explored topics such as, “Making the Most of Your Personal Role in Your God-Ordained Family”, ”‘Learning to be a Safe Listener”, and “Developing Executive Function”
To demonstrate the ideas of executive function and family roles, the schedule included multiple break-outs, Q and As, and family activity sessions. We also held a min-Expo and family game time and finished the conference with a picnic on Saturday evening, concluding three blessed days of fellowship and instruction!
Policy Updates
As the scope of our outreach increases, so does our desire to “Provide things honest in the sight of all men” and “abstain from all appearance of evil” (Rom. 12:17; I Th. 5:22).
This has led WCFS to partner with Jessica Crouse of Over the Rainbow Child Advocacy Center to begin to educate and train our staff on the issues of protecting children in every way. As part of this process, WCFS held a special session during the FLC conference, titled “Purity vs. Innocence” where Ms. Crouse introduced herself and the work she does in educating people on this subject in a wholesome, godly manner.
We are looking forward to hosting Ms. Crouse at some of our workshops this school year. By being well educated and prepared, WCFS hopes to prevent problems before they arise, maintain a safe and pure environment for our little ones, and be better equipped to serve our families and community.
Field Trips
With the decline of COVID restrictions comes the return of Field Trips! Mrs. Dawn Adams kindly orchestrated two field trips for our school this fall, held at Winterbrook Family Farms and Thorpewood Mountain Retreat. Several families were able to attend each excursion and revel in God’s creation together! We are looking forward to more in 2022 😊.
The Pandemic's Silver-lining: Happy Homeschoolers
Although most public schools are now allowing students to return to in-person classes and some degree of normalcy, many parents are still not happy. With an increasingly hostile stance towards parents, God seems to be using the public school system’s fickle decisions on pandemic issues to generate increased interest in homeschooling.
According to Steven Duvall, PhD, of HSLDA, in an article entitled “Homeschooling Continues to Grow in 2021” “in one year’s time, the percent of homeschool households more than tripled.” The abnormally high number of phone calls we have received this year from parents interested in homeschooling would seem to agree with that statement.
This year WCFS welcomed in eight new families from Maryland, one from Singapore, and one from the Philippines, with other families expressing interest in future enrollment.
A New Generation to Perform Exploits!
After last year’s family-only ceremony, we were overjoyed to be able to welcome all who would come to participate with us in the Class of 2021’s Commencement Exercises.
It was a privilege to celebrate all that the Lord had done in these young people’s lives and witness the fruition of the years of tender care and godly instruction they have received from their parents and mentors.
The most joyful event of all was listening to the testimonies of the students as they described how God worked in their lives, giving them new perspectives, and helping them persevere as they completed their education. We look forward to seeing what exploits God has planned for their futures!
Opportunities for More Exploits!
With current trends in world events, 2022 may look vastly different than 2021. But Jesus’ calling to us remains as changeless as His character. He calls us to not be afraid, but rather to know Him and do exploits in His name.
The fields are more ripe than ever for spiritual harvest (John 4:35). Let us be bold for the truth, tenderhearted towards those who are living in fear, and always remember to direct them towards Him who can help them overcome their fear and do exploits!
Thank you for your prayers and support in our endeavor together to help families all over the world carry out this vision!
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