Christian Deeper Learning (CDL), an organization that blogs weekly, recently shared a blog post that really got me thinking. What if my definition of success was all wrong? What if success wasn’t measured by me but by God? Author of the post, Dr. Pat Kornelis, describes vivid memories of her time as a teacher early in her career, when she served as the school’s only Language Arts teacher, led several committees and a spring musical, all during the month of February; that time of year when winter seems like it will never end. The memories Kornelis writes about feel all too relatable to teachers in most settings. “How can I possibly keep up?!” Though geared towards educators, there’s something in Kornelis’ post for all of us when we feel like we are losing sight of our purpose.
As I reflect, and though I don’t always choose to believe it, it’s in faithfulness that we can find more authentic and lasting success. It’s a different definition of success, one which focuses on character and righteousness and diminishes other types of worldly success or power.
Joshua 1:8 says, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
It is good to consider how we measure success in this busy season — it’s measured by whether we trust God in days that feel totally unproductive. What would it take for you to feel successful in life? We ask our students to reflect on this question. We hope that you will take some time to think about it, too.
Stay faithful,
Brian Verwolf, Head Administrator
We celebrate with freshman student, Cheyenne DeJong, for the safe arrival of her new baby sister, Grace Korra, on December 1, 2021. Cheyenne’s parents, Grant and Sarah DeJong of Hull, IA, have been pursuing a call to adopt a baby with Down Syndrome for several months. We praise God for Grace’s life!
WESTERN CHRISTIAN
Greetings from Western Christian High School. In this season of Thanksgiving, we are so grateful for the opportunities that exist here each day. One very noticeable aspect of Western is the positive culture and climate that exists. We are building upon a culture of learning that is rooted in biblical Truth.
Hundreds of factors have an impact on school culture and climate. One of those factors is the facility that students and staff come to every day; an inviting entrance, a student lounge (Mr. Verwolf calls this space “Western’s family room”), an Event Center that is being used for meaningful chapels and so much more, improved Science, Engineering, and Agriculture facilities, and air conditioning…
Here are the reasons why we are “Celebrating Western:”
• We are close to reaching our $7,000,000 goal!
• We have borrowed $1,200,000 from the Western Christian Foundation.
• We have $125,000 in outstanding pledges.
We ask that you prayerfully consider a gift to the Building Fund as we seek to eliminate the $1,200,000 owed to the Foundation. Western has just completed a self-study with intentions to begin another five-year Strategic Plan. It is our goal to have the Building Fund debt eliminated before launching our new strategic initiatives in 2022.
Nearly two years ago, our team of school leaders set aside confidence in the current playbook and wrote a new one in response to COVID. Today, as we return to “normalcy”, the board believes it is the right time to make the most of our community’s assets as we work to define new norms. In January of 2021, the school board, along with faculty, parents, students, and supporters, began the process of establishing a new strategic roadmap that clearly communicates a vision for mission advancement over the next five years and beyond.
On behalf of everyone here, thank you for your support of Western Christian! Donations towards the Building Fund can be mailed to Western in the enclosed envelope, or you may donate electronically by following the instructions at westernchristianhs.com/support/donate
In His Service, Brad Vis - Director of Mission Advancement brad.vis@westernchristianhs.com Cell # 605-359-5704
We partnered with an outside organization, CACE (Center for the Advancement of Christian Education) to facilitate the process. In March of 2021, CACE led various focus group discussions with a diverse group of constituents to collect what they call a current reality assessment; “here’s what’s going really well, and here’s what should be addressed…” They took this data back to our Strategic Roadmapping Team and began building the plan.
Strategic Priorities
On November 15, Western’s board
approved an exciting new roadmap. There are five (5) buckets, or categories, that we will focus on over the next five years: Board Governance & Team Leadership, Mission Advancement, Partnerships, Student Experience, and Professional Engagement. Each bucket prioritized impact areas and improvement strategies, desired outcomes, and key performance indicators. Please check out the final 2021-2026 Strategic Roadmap by visiting Western’s website: www.westernchristianhs.com/about/mis ion-and-vision
Recently, I came across 2 Thessalonians 1:3 “We ought to thank God for you brothers, and rightly so because your faith is growing more and more and the love everyone has for each other is increasing.”
Christian Education is a community effort, rooted in faith and love. This was so evident as we Celebrated Western this fall. An online auction, meat sales, freezer meals, corn donations, Explore Western, a silent auction and bake sale, and Thanksgiving meal were all ways that we “Celebrated” what God is doing here at Western! We humbly report that over $125,000 was the net profit for “Celebrate Western.”
THANK YOU for all the ways you support and love Western Christian. We give God all the glory and recognize that he has called us at this time to build His Kingdom here at Western. Please continue to pray that the Holy Spirit will lead and guide all that takes place here every day.
Brad Vis Director of Mission Advancement Western Christian High School
An evening full of laughter with a few tears mixed is how the audience
described Western Christian’s drama production of Leaving Iowa. The lead character, Don Browning, takes the audience through his memories of family
The Western Christian Booster Club continues to be a tremendous blessing to our Athletic Programs. The combination of the Golf Tournament, clothing sales, and the “salt project” netted nearly $44,000 this past year. This was used for new volleyball uniforms, baseball and softball equipment, a backstop net, softball and baseball field upgrades, and refurbishing the gym floor.
A special thank you to Booster Club members Mike and Angie Broek, Dave and Jill Van Essen, Dennis and Joeli
Dokter, Dave and Amy Ver Burg, and Mike and Allissa Roetman for all the work that they put into the Booster Club.
We ask that you continue to support the Booster Club and its efforts to support our Athletic Programs. Some future needs are a track high jump system, soccer goals, and basketball backboards. You may have also learned that beginning next season, Iowa basketball games will have a shot clock. Four shot clocks will need to be purchased here at Western.
road trips as he faced finding a place to lay his father’s ashes to rest. Browning’s trip down memory lane helps him see his father in a different light. The cast will never think of the words’ fascinating’ and ‘unpredictable’ the same again. Kaitlyn Baljeu and Laurissa Boman directed the production.
Athletics at Western Christian are a wonderful opportunity to “Learn to Serve the King” through sport. Please pray for our coaches and athletes as they compete, travel to and from games, and seek to represent Western Christian well with Purpose, Passion, and Service.
Brad Vis Director of Mission Advancement Western Christian High SchoolSport’s seasons are traditionally judged successful or not by their win and loss records. The fans see this; the media reports typically only the score, and the world pushes that winning is everything. Western Christian athletics tries to be different; each coach at Western works with the athletes to define their success other than by the score at the end of the competition.
The football team faced an extremely tough schedule and learned a ton as a group on how to handle adversity which made this season a success. The theme of 2021 Wolfpack football was United as One. This theme reminded them daily that a football game cannot be won unless the team works as one group. Life lessons were learned about keeping things in perspective. Coach Kooima and Coach De Hoyas are very thankful for the ways the team wrapped themselves around their families in prayer as they both walked through tough family situations. Coach Kooima stated, “Wolfpack football truly is a family.”
Dalton Lems, head cross country coach, defined the success of the 2021 team as to how well the team members
bonded together. “It’s just different when you’re going to put your body through what XC team does versus just getting together as a group of friends for supper. You learn more about your teammates.” Each cross-country meet had its obstacles because the team was never 100% strong due to injuries or sickness. Lems remarked on how the team kept in mind how God puts us into positions to learn, capitalize and grow from these experiences. Even with their struggles, the boys’ team earned a 3rd place finish at the State Meet in Fort Dodge.
Volleyball players could be seen wearing shirts that said, ‘Do Not Fear” and ‘#365.’ This was chosen as a daily reminder that in the Bible, the phrase ‘Fear Not’ is mentioned 365 times, and each day should be lived fearlessly knowing God is in control and has a plan for our lives. The volleyball team had a successful season which included a 31 match win streak into the State
Championship Game. Coach Veerbeek mentioned, “the biggest success besides wins is easily watching these young women- grow in their walk with the Lord through the sport of Volleyball and the strong friendships that were formed!”
On November 19, six Western Christian students participated in the Northwestern College Business and Economics INNOVATE Business Solutions competition. The students were placed into teams with students from other schools, a Northwestern business student, and an Interstates employee. Each team was tasked to create a proposal for a new camp program that Interstates is interested in starting. The groups presented their 3 to 5-minute proposal to a panel of judges from Interstates and the NWC Business Department Board of Advisors. Hayden Van De Stroet was a member of the 1st place team and won $50. Winning $25 was Eli Van Essen for being a part of the 2nd place team.
Three WC students were chosen to participate in the Northwest Iowa Honor Band this year: Trista TenPas and Rianne VanMeeteren on clarinet, and Konner Struik on trombone. They will perform in the Honor Band Festival on Saturday, January 8, at Morningside College in Sioux City.
2022 Senior Julia Veldman was selected as one of four accompanists for the All-State Choir. Many pianists audition each year for this honor. Veldman’s placement means she is considered one of the top four high school accompanists in Iowa. Veldman has been an integral part of the Western Music Department throughout high school, as she is a member of not only choir, but she plays the saxophone in band and the cello for orchestra.
Eight members of the FFA chapter traveled to Indianapolis, IN at the end of October to attend the 94th National FFA Convention. Members experienced workshops, agricultural tours, Brett Young, keynote speaker Courtney DeHoff, a rodeo, and Louisville Slugger and Churchill Downs tours. After a full and busy week, the students can say that they were encouraged in their passion for agriculture.
Freshmen physical science students had an opportunity to take a step away from the usual classroom routines from November 16-24 to participate in a Crime Scene Investigation with the help of School Resource Officer Waylon Pollema. Students were guided through the investigation process and participated in collecting evidence, completing interviews, and communicating evidence to their classmates, Officer Pollema, and their science teacher. This activity provides students with a hands-on opportunity to see the importance of communicating good evidence, a cornerstone concept in science. Students also get practice communicating with others, both in and out of the classroom. This activity is always an excellent way for students to see the application of science in a real-world field, and Western Christian is grateful for Officer Pollema’s help!
Cross Country Head Coach, Dalton Lems, earned the 2A At Large Coach of the Year. Lems has been head coach since 2013. He is a 2006 graduate of Western Christian.
Faithpacks spent their November meeting time ‘Being a Blessing’ to others. After school needed to cancel the annual Stewardship Day, a suggestion was made that students think creatively about stepping up and blessing others. Each Faithpack was able to choose their project and brainstormed ways to carry out their plan. Groups put together Blessings Bags for various people such as area Police Departments, WC cooks, and healthcare workers, to name a few. Other faithpacks used their time wisely by helping clean areas of the school that needed some extra attention since janitor Tim Mulder is unable to work right now due to back issues. Some food drives also occurred, along with a drive for baby items for Alpha Center.
A recent book discussion at my church sparked a lot of thoughts for me. After reading The Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff, we discussed how the relationship between a Manhattan executive and a young beggar on the city streets turned out incredibly well. Their relationship continued and strengthened throughout the years. At her 50th birthday party, Laura was toasted by that young beggar, now an adult. He called her a gift from God who saved his life. Their relationship was not without difficult periods and challenges, but it is definitely labeled a success story by most people, so successful that a book was written about it.
But that was not the part of our discussion that gave me much to consider. It was a comment that was made as we discussed the numerous types of mentoring, foster, or even adoption stories that start with a similar goal but end in a very different place. Almost everyone in our discussion group could identify a family or a situation where things had not turned out well for the people involved. The ending wasn’t happy or even civil in some cases. Time after time, some of those situations ended with more broken relationships, broken hearts, and broken dreams. What do we say when it just doesn’t work out?
One group member challenged that conversation with this question: What definition are we using, though, when
we decide that a situation “doesn’t work out”? What exactly is our definition of “working out”? At its core, I think we were asking, what is our definition of success?
Defining success, even for many of us as Christians, often follows the world’s lead rather than God’s lead. Over and over again, God communicates in the Bible that His delight in us is found in our obedience, not in our productivity. God frequently reminds us that our accolades, our prizes, and our medals do not impress Him. A humble and completely dependent heart gives Him joy. The more we release the results to Him, the more we are able to open our hands to whatever He places in them–good or bad, easy or difficult, prosperity or poverty.
The freshmen in Foundations of Faith are studying Isaiah, and we just concluded a few chapters on King Hezekiah. Our first encounters with King Hezekiah (Isaiah 36-38) included examples of him being vulnerable and completely at risk of being overthrown by the Assyrians or dying from disease. Hezekiah’s posture in those chapters was completely humble. We noted that he didn’t complain, he didn’t panic, he didn’t even question; instead, he prayed. One time he even took the threatening letter from the Assyrian king and physically set it out in the temple. He surrendered the letter, the threats, and the decision of what to do next
completely to the hands of God. And God was pleased. God used Hezekiah to show His mighty power as well as His tender love. I believe Hezekiah’s humility and prayer made him a true success.
In a later chapter (Isaiah 39), Hezekiah had a major lapse of judgment. He lacked humility, he lacked wisdom, and he lacked prayer; in Hezekiah’s major blunder, he chose not to consult and trust God, and he instead decided on his own how to handle the situation.
So how do we handle things when they don’t look like we thought they were going to, or when the projects we pick up don’t end the way we want them to? What do we do when we work really hard, and we don’t get the results we were working for? What happens to our prayers when the messy situations we pray about stay messy? I think we remember Hezekiah and the times when he pleased God: he stayed humble, and he prayed. He didn’t pretend to have control; in fact, he admitted that only when he handed complete control over to God could he trust that he was doing the right thing. Success is not in being more, doing more, trying harder. I believe it is quite simply trusting more and praying more. That is not an easy out or autogenerated answer. In fact, it’s one of the toughest decisions for us as humans because to be this kind of successful, we must completely surrender. We must admit one Truth: God is God, and we are not. Then we can embrace, not resist, His will and His ways. That is a true success story!
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are my ways your ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55: 8-9.
Just my thoughts, KC
Three students challenged themselves to think deeper about what success really looks like to them in the world around them. Not an easy idea to contemplate as a teenager in a success-driven world where winning and prestige seem to be what people focus on. Is success earning all straight A’s? Is success having the coolest / newest release of Air Force 1 Nike shoes? Is success being a starter on a state championship team? Or is success working hard to earn the best grade you can? Is it being in a financial position to help clothe others? Or is success using your gifts and talents to glorify God?
Senior Olivia TenKley defined success as “accomplishing a desire, result, or goal.” She noted that in times of disappointment, she has developed ways to reflect on her purpose as a Christan. “I am to serve God by putting all my heart into everything I do. As long as I have done that, then I have succeeded in God’s eyes even if the result may not show that.”
Maci Kats, a junior, shared that real success at Western is seeing students show excitement to be at school, forming
January 3 Classes Resume
relationships with each other and the teachers. Kats would love to see our world succeed at what truly matters. As Christians, our communities need to share the good news and walk as living disciples. This action would help our world genuinely find success and feel the peace our Lord desires in us. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I five to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hears be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)
“Success at Western Christian is when students can complete an academic year, and there be an impact and development in the students’ spiritual lives,” stated senior Skyler Mullinix. Personally, for Mullinix,
January 12-14 Semester Exams / End of 1st Semester
February 21-25 National FFA Week
March 18 End of the 3rd quarter
March 21-25 Spring Break
March 28 Science Night
Watch Social Media for the Release of the Chamber Singers Performace Schedule.
the idea of success should be living a comfortable life without having to worry about losing a home, going hungry, or being unemployed. These material items are what people crave for a feeling of security. However, the essential security is knowing Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. If the world could all know Christ, then the world would be more successful. The bible gives the directions in how to complete that task: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)
When expectations aren’t met, and feelings of failure drift into their thoughts, each of these three students had a specific plan. They each turn to God. His strength pulls them through. Maci Kats quoted Romans 12:12. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Jesus dealt with temptations and struggles and remained faithful. “It is easy for us to get distracted by worldly things, but I know that my Lord remains faithful to me. His promises never fail. He is my rock,” said Kats.
