Making Educational Choices for Your Children

We believe that God has given the responsibility for the education of children to parents. As a church, we desire to come alongside parents and support you as you prayerfully and diligently seek God’s will for your family.

Those of you who choose to work in the public schools or to send your children to the public schools, I support your decision. You have a great mission field before you, and I pray God uses you to do great things to further His kingdom.

Those of you who have chosen to home school your children, I have great admiration for you and the awesome task you have taken on. We have many families in our church who have chosen this option and do a very good job of it.

If you have been in our church for any length of time, you know that, as a church, we support Christian education. We started Rocky Mountain Christian High School (later became Helena Christian High School) because we believed and still believe our community needed a Christian school. If you have chosen that option for your family, we realize the sacrifices you make to send your children to a Christian school. We support you in your decision.

Last week’s message was given by one who believes in Christians being a light in the public school and appeared to promote one method of education over the other two choices. It is not our desire or job as a church to tell parents what God’s will is for their families, but rather to preach the truth of God’s Word and to let the Holy Spirit work in your lives and lead you to make godly choices.

Some have asked me where I stand on Christian education. I would think anyone who has heard my sermons over the years would know that answer. Anyone who knows my educational background should know that I have both a master’s degree and a doctorate in Christian education. Of further importance, I have started two Christian schools and been heavily involved in starting a third school. I served as a consultant for several Christian schools in Minnesota. I support Christian education, but will not condemn Christians who are teaching in public schools or send their children to public schools.

We all need prayer and mutual support as we raise our children.

Dick Crosby, Senior Pastor

Take a Vacation to Recharge

Vacations are great and, in fact, I think they are necessary. Jesus often broke away from the disciples and crowds to pray and refresh. I hope that everyone in the church has had or can have a vacation break this summer. It seems that breaking one's routine has an effect to then refocus one's current life. That usually allows us to make adjustments to accomplish previous goals that somehow became derailed in our daily grind.

There is always a bit of a slowdown in the church during normal summers. This year is an exception. We have had a busy summer; and, generally, the church attendances have been higher than normal. I think these facts are all pretty cool. Here are some things I have observed this summer.

1. Thursday night church. These services have averaged over 50 people per evening. We have had a variety of musicians leading these church services and a wide variety of men preaching. Actually over the summer we will have eight different speakers.
2. Junior Camp. Now every summer we have Junior Camp and other camping programs. The difference this summer is that we are conducting camp at our very own camping facilities at Mizpah Christian Retreat near White Sulphur Springs. What a great opportunity this facility brings to the ministry of Hannaford Street.
3. Worship Pastor Search. This is not a new occurrence. We have had to seek new staff people before. These are always exciting times and trying times. It is a very taxing process to locate people and do the searching necessary to find what you hope will be the right person. This weekend we have a man and his wife coming to look at us and we at them. Jonathan and Julia Wimp will be here Thursday; Jonathan will lead worship on Sunday morning. Don’t miss church this week. This may be the week that we add a new worship pastor.
4. Last Sunday 13 people were baptized in Hauser Lake.
   

There are other items that I could list, but you get the idea that the church has not really had a vacation this summer. I think it is a good thing. Enjoy your vacation, and then get back to your church to be a part of all that God is doing.

Dick Crosby, Senior Pastor