regard behaviors like tweeting and texting, along with websites like Facebook, YouTube, Google and Wikipedia, not as astonishing innovations of the digital era, but as everyday parts of their social lives and their search for understanding.  It also is not surprising that they are the most ethnically and racially diverse cohort of youth in the nation’s history, or that they are starting out as the most politically progressive age group in modern history.

But perhaps the most affecting statistic I saw in the overview of the study, is that they are the least religiously observant youths since survey research began charting religious behavior.

I am not a statistician, and I’m not inclined to draw conclusions from this brief analysis.  However, this information does support my existing believe that the Christ-centered, biblically-based education we provide here at Mandarin Christian School is as much of a necessity in our lives as food and water.  The worship opportunities we provide our children are creating in this future generation a practice of religious observation that I don’t want to imagine a world without.  Daily prayer, weekly chapel services, and events like “See You At The Pole” are weaving into their lives a discipline of bible study and prayer that MOST of their peer group will grow up without.

The politics and cultural shifts that have brought about this situation are beyond my comprehension and understanding.  I trust that God has a plan here and that He is in complete control.  He is a magnificent and awesome God - and Jesus is our Lord and Savior.  The appeals we make to help our school thrive and grow are by no means a reflection of lack of faith in His ability to make it happen.  I also believe we are His hands and feet, and He wants US to take action.

If you’ve been thinking about giving to Prepare4Rain, please act.  If you have questions, concerns or ideas, please contact us at 904-268-8667.  We are at war for our children’s future - we are God’s soldiers - and we have to equip our kids with the skills to worship, learn about, love and share God with the world. 

Let’s Prepare together.  God Bless you!

after our estimated expenses (which were VERY minimal due to all our fabulous sponsors) this event has raised just over $130,000!!!  Additionally and excitedly, we were awarded $75,000 in matching funds for any donation or pledge made that night.  We have used up $16,000 of it from pledges made that night, and our wonderful donor has agreed to extend their offer.  This means we still have almost $60,000 in matching funds available to us!!  It isn’t too late to make a HUGE impact with your dollars.  Even if you only have $10 to donate - do it today and it becomes $20 INSTANTLY!!  You can use our new “Donate Online” feature on the Giving section of http://www.mandarinchristianschool.com, (heart2heart), or write a check to MCS - memo Heart2Heart or H2H.  Your donation will continue to be matched until we hit our goal.

#2 - Outreach into our community.  Over 400 people enjoyed the stories and words of the Former First Lady that night, and over 30% of them came from outside the MCS “family”.  That means over 100 people who did not know anything about our school prior to Tuesday were able to see, first hand, the fruits of our work.  From Kaitlyn Kambiss and her absolutely STUNNING introduction of Mrs. Bush, to the wonderful children who conducted the Q&A session via videotape, to the stars of our new Prepare4Rain video ... our MCS students, staff and alumni made a “First Family” impression on both Mrs. Bush and our Jacksonville Community Guests.

#3 - Impact on our school.  Our entire Senior Class was sponsored to attend Heart2Heart, and over 75% of them took advantage of this offer.  What an honor for them to meet someone so iconic and historic to our country.  They were able to experience how humble and gracious she is …from shaking her hand, to the one armed hug, to the appreciation she had for them praying for her.  In addition to our Seniors, over 1/2 of our own staff were able to hear that, even though Mrs. Bush has experienced a life that is absolutely extraordinary, she still tells stories of being in her fuzzy slippers and walking her dogs.  She lovingly recalls parties thrown for her best friends from elementary school, and then she shakes your hand she looks you right in the eye as if it was “nice to meet you too.”  If you get a chance, ask someone who was there that night about her answer to Paul Porter’s question about “something interesting about (her) husband not everyone knows about” ... it brought tears to my eyes, and I think it will yours, too.

Madison Nichols 
Julie Tinsley and Dana Palmer
Adair Hoffman
Lesa Creech
Laura Wright 
Dede Riley
Anita Peoples
Frances Pickard

Additional and WONDERFUL new Promise Tree members below in bold!

Green Leaves:
The Carithers
The Stipplers
The Driskells
The Jewells
The Sabakas
The Derrs
The LaRocca Family
The Rogers Family
The Cordes Family
The Wurdeman Family
Sharon Houlihan
Momentum Transportation
Patricia Pons and Village Pediatrics
The Boggs Family
The Walker Family
The Pack Family
Team Otto
Coach Arnold, Camp and Cole

Bronze Leaves:
The Hanson Family- Mrs Herring’s parents
The Herring Family
The Craig Family
Mark and Jeannette Dearing
The Potter Family
The Kammerdiener Family
1st Place Fundraising
The Abstein Family

Gold Leaf:
The Ade Family

Medium Acorn:
Malorie and Rebecca Carter
The Metz Family
The Hiller Family

Large Acorn:
The Mathis Family
The MCS 2010 PTP

PLEASE let us know if we have left anyone off this list ... as it would be a completely accidental oversight and we want to correct it immediately - God Bless!!

our very own, amazing group of dedicated volunteers, our PTP.  This fabulous team not only sponsored our first Large Acorn, but have also made a Legacy donation of $7,000.  We do not have words to express our appreciation for our PTP and the the entire group of “founding” Prepare4Rain Promise Makers, listed below (with new additions in bold), so we are going to let scripture say it for us ...

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. - Ephesians 1:15-16 NIV

Green Leaves:
The LaRocca Family
The Rogers Family
The Cordes Family
The Wurdeman Family
Sharon Houlihan
Momentum Transportation
Patricia Pons and Village Pediatrics
The Boggs Family
The Walker Family
The Pack Family
Team Otto
Coach Arnold, Camp and Cole

Bronze Leaves:
Mark and Jeannette Dearing
The Potter Family
The Kammerdiener Family
1st Place Fundraising
The Abstein Family

Gold Leaf:
The Ade Family

Medium Acorn:
Malorie and Rebecca Carter
The Metz Family
The Hiller Family

Large Acorn:
The MCS 2010 PTP

PLEASE let us know if we have left anyone off this list ... as it would be a completely accidental oversight and we want to correct it immediately - God Bless!!

Green Leaves:
The Cordes Family
The Wurdeman Family
Sharon Houlihan
Momentum Transportation
Patricia Pons and Village Pediatrics
The Boggs Family
The Walker Family
The Pack Family
Team Otto
Coach Arnold, Camp and Cole

Bronze Leaves:
The Potter Family
The Kammerdiener Family
1st Place Fundraising
The Abstein Family

Gold Leaf:
The Ade Family

Medium Acorn:
Malorie and Rebecca Carter
The Metz Family (2)

wonderful mom to 2nd grader Tyler, and her husband Gordon have sponsored TWO Medium Acorn’s with the help of their parents.  We asked her how she convinced them to help with this cause, and she shared, “I didn’t even have to ask them.  I was telling them about the expansion plans and they said they wanted to help us do more.”  God is so good and we are so grateful for the resources he is blessing us with through this campaign.

We want to specially recognize the following for making these first few weeks of our campaign so special:

Green Leaves:
Sharon Houlihan
Momentum Transportation
Patricia Pons and Village Pediatrics
The Boggs Family
The Walker Family
The Pack Family
Team Otto
Coach Arnold, Camp and Cole

Bronze Leaves:
The Kammerdiener Family
1st Place Fundraising
The Abstein Family

Medium Acorn:
Malorie and Rebecca Carter
The Metz Family (2)

If you committed to a “Make a Promise” during the campaign kick-off at the 15 Year Anniversary Celebration, but you have not yet completed your request form, we still need you!  You can call Carman Kasper or Dawn Lemasters in the Development Office, or drop your information off to Karla Dyer to take care of it.  God will send rain, thank you for helping us make sure we are prepared to receive it!

We will hold a special “tree trimming” ceremony to unveil these new messages once they are in and fastened on the wall.  If you did not make it into this round of messages, don’t despair - PREPARE!! There are still 379 spaces left for you to send your message to your child, the community and our God.  Please see Carman Kasper or Dawn Lemasters in the Development office if you have any questions - and keep Praying, Promising, Producing and Planting as we Prepare4Rain!