Give Change 2 Make Change

Debt Free!

johngrys — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:26:50 +0000

As I sit in our board meeting tonight, it was just shared that at this time due to everyone’s great sacrifice and contribution, our school is debt free! Everything has been paid off! By God’s amazing grace, we have completed what we set out to do and the funds have been passed along. We are at the black! Praise God! This may be my last entry. Probably most no longer check this site. But now, you have heard the latest. KOKO!

Following

johngrys — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:52:16 +0000

Hey everyone. I’ve had such a good response from people surrounding our blogsite that I will try to keep it going for a little longer. I just got off the phone with a friend of mine in DC and he rec’d one of our son’s campaign letters. He had not yet contributed but was still planning on sending a check in a few weeks. Believe me, he’s good for it!

I just wanted to thank everyone for coming to our stakeholder’s meeting last night. It was so great to see so many people able to give their perspectives and insights in much smaller groups, giving valuable feedback and possible direction for the future. The facilitators spent two hours going over the top items and discussing (through bleary, tired eyes!) our impressions of our experience. It was highly positive. Now what? The facilitators will work hand in hand with the Future’s Committee to see this gets followed up in a timely fashion. At this point, the data is being entered word for word into a database. Once that info is entered, the Facilitator’s will reconvene to begin the process of categorizing and arranging the priority list, probably sometime early next week. Following that, we will meet with our Future’s Committee to provide a wider report and possibly give a response to be presented at our June 26 Board Meeting.

Just wanted to pass along that update. Please don’t forget–pre-register your children!

Tuesday, Stream Still Flows

johngrys — Wed, 14 May 2008 01:51:45 +0000

Yea, believe it or not! There are some remarkable stories coming in from this past weekend. I will share these over the coming days. We will all be even more shocked at what God is doing. I will say this: The school office, while opening the mail today, rec’d a check in the amount of $2200! That is only one story. The slow flow from our students letter writing campaign continues to make a difference. This is why I will continue to update over the next two weeks. Normally, we have an update today but we have decided not to update today because we are seeking to make sure all our ducks are in a row and there are some other things we know that will be coming in toward the end of the week. Again, we have attempted to give you very accurate and firm figures. So, until we have what we hear we have, we will hold off. But believe me…it will be worth the wait! Again, come join us this Saturday evening on the school back area at 6pm for our school community of celebration. Believe me, this has been a community accomplishment. So, because of this, we KOKO!

0 Days, Monday

johngrys — Wed, 14 May 2008 01:44:23 +0000

Well, this is it. Our official time is now at an end. Yet, the stream continues to flow–beyond expectations. Yes, we are planning our school community celebration for this coming Saturday evening, May 17, beginning at 6pm. The food (hot dogs and all the fixins along with strawberry shortcake) is provided. IOW, FREE! Our community has poured its heart out during these 60 days. This is an opportunity to come without “fear” of having to give any more. This is a time of celebration! Soak in God’s grace. Enjoy this as a community who has come together to experience His power in a markable way! So, come with your appetite, bring a blanket or lawn chair, as well as table games for our time following our feed, both physical and spiritual. I anticipate during these next two weeks there will be frequent (but not as frequent) updates. Until then…KOKO!

1 Day, Sunday

johngrys — Mon, 12 May 2008 03:31:10 +0000

Okay, I am not sure what I will do now that I will not have this blog to write. Perhaps I can finally keep my personal blog active and updated. Lord knows I’ve done a terrible job keeping it active. Mother’s Day has been a real slow, recovery day. Had to lick my wounds from those high school guys beating us in overtime last night at our gym night. We had a strong group, considering all the other things going on last night. I will be anxious to hear from the various places how this final week has gone and where we will be on the thermometer when it is all said and done. Again, our community has demonstrated great determination and stamina to pursue what we did. God has blown the doors off! Until tomorrow…KOKO!

2 Days, Saturday

johngrys — Sat, 10 May 2008 13:08:53 +0000

Well, this is it. We are reaching the end of our journey together. Just a little note on the plan for this blog. Usually the figures from the various parts of our community come to me either Monday night or early Tuesday. Our final update will come out Tuesday. So, when you check back on Tuesday, it will be the final daily record. I say “daily” because I am sure funds will still trickle in, especially from the letter writing campaign. So, next Friday will be my last day writing, keeping us all updated. I will include specifics related to our school community-wide celebration we are hoping to hold next Saturday, May 17, beginning around 6pm. Today, as many of you head to your churches, give a special (and loud!) praise to God for the miracle He has created in our midst! KOKO!

3 Days, Friday

johngrys — Sat, 10 May 2008 13:02:39 +0000

Can you believe where our thermometer is? Only the activity of God and a community of people committed to the pursuit of this goal could ever see this occur. This is our final weekend. A few final activities. One final push in our local churches. I know some are still planning to give. What an amazing experience! What I will be positively anxious to see is the ripple effect this will have on everyone over time. For all who have been a part of this journey, let me ask, “What will this do for the way you live life, see and experience ministry, and/or prepare you for the next part of your own personal journey?” There are many more riches to be reaped that go beyond the rising thermometer. Perhaps the rest of our life can be spent mining and reaping those ripple effects. What happens with the future of the school is up to us as a community in relationship with God. What happens with you as a person as a result of this experience is up to you–and your relationship with God. The work of this blog will go silent in a week. The question may be, “How will the work of God continue?” Let it not grow silent or cold. Until tomorrow…KOKO!

4 Days, Thursday

johngrys — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:18:54 +0000

It is difficult to believe that there are four days left! Time has flown, in some ways. Don’t forget our game night this Saturday night at 8pm. Whereas last time our emphasis was on the elementary school, this time it shifts to the high school. However, fear not elementary school–we will have a couple games of dodgeball! Our high school girls basketball game will play against parents/teachers/alumni (okay, any “old” person that can lace ‘em up). The guys basketball team will play against a guys parents/teachers/alumni basketball team as well. Yes, we are still hoping to have a celebration at the school next weekend, Saturday, May 17, at 6pm. Details for this will follow later. Meanwhile, heading into this weekend…KOKO!

5 Days, Wednesday, Let’s Not Forget

johngrys — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:50:23 +0000

Still more reports are coming in regarding giving that is strong. The power of one, a community of people putting forth a prayerful effort in joining what God is doing, has been revealed throughout these days. And yes, it is a bittersweet time. Teachers we have grown to love and appreciate engaging throughout this process in helping us knowing the possibility they may be retained are pretty non-existent. Please remember them in your prayers. If you see them today, give them an extra hug. Yes, our community can triumph but we must not forget these dear people. They have demonstrated their quality of character all the while holding in their souls a deep sorrow. We can triumph over the activity and the filled thermometer but let’s not forget these dear teachers who, perhaps, carry with them a deep, sorrowful void. Yes, these are the moments, honestly, I would love to escape, to run from, in the hopes they will disappear. But, for these people, it will not disappear. They awake and wonder, “Will the cloud lift? What does tomorrow bring?” Please, amidst all our celebration, let’s not forget these dear teachers! I do pray, “Maranatha.” Yes…KOKO!

6 Days, Tuesday

johngrys — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:11:38 +0000

Yep, look at the thermometer! Unbelievable! We keep going strong. Again, Yountville, thanks much for what you did over the weekend. I am sure we have funds still trickling in from our letter writing campaign. There are a few events still left. Where we end up, nobody knows. The continued response beyond the tape is just another testimony to our community. I know many of you are probably dropping off checking back, etc. Let’s just see where we end up. There are many figures floating out there but we do not know. Until we explode through the tape, let’s just press forward. KOKO!