by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

One recent evening my family answered some questions based upon “Who is most likely to…” It was fun to see how we viewed one another and possessed similarities and differences. The exercise also highlighted certain characteristics demonstrated by both child and parent. While sometimes less positive traits can be passed down from parent to child, parents are generally  proud of children who take after them. I feel good when someone notices that my child takes after myself or my wife in appearance. And I am ecstatic when others notice a positive character quality in one of my children that my wife and/or I often demonstrate. Whether the positive virtue was a result of parenting or not, we’ll certainly take the credit!

Moses had perhaps the most privileged relationship any human has had with God. We read, “The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11). Moses spent considerable time directly in God’s presence, and much like a parent, God’s character rubbed off on Moses. In fact, we read that after meeting with God, Moses’ face would shine and would cover it up with a veil. Without any effort on his own, Moses’ face reflected God’s glory simply by spending time with Him.

God’s purpose in creation and redemption is to have a family of children conformed to the image of His son. God wants us to be aware of this purpose and to be a willing partner in the process. He expects each one of us to spend time with Him on a regular basis, modeling and teaching the practice to our children. Just as Moses reflected God’s glory, we want our lives and the lives of our children to reflect God’s glory. Paul encourages us to follow Moses’ lead when he writes, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Paul describes this partnership as a process, not just a one-time event. Through the Holy Spirit, we are each being transformed more into Christ’s image. Whether working on your yard, watching an HGTV house makeover, or attempting to adjust the shape of your body, all transformation takes intentional and strategic commitment over a sustained period of time. The amount of hours that K-12 schooling represents is staggering... close to 15,000 hours! Children behave like their parents because they share their parents’ DNA on the inside and repeat behavior they have seen on the outside.

In order for our children to reflect God’s glory, surrounding them with those who share the same “DNA” as God has much value. The growing CCS community of teachers, staff, parents, and grandparents is designed to maintain and continue this process of transformation in the lives of students. It is not a perfect community made of perfect people. But it is a community that knows the true source of light and seeks to embrace its warmth and to share it with others.
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– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

While this is my 9th year serving the Crosshill Christian community, my connection to this campus started much earlier. In the summer of 2000, I had a seemingly random phone conversation with the school’s founder Pastor Jerry Huhn. At that time, Pastor Jerry was pioneering another Christian school in the Beaverton area. I had called to inquire about a job, and one of the most important friendships in my life had begun. Pastor Jerry and I worked together on that campus for three years and he mentored me as I entered the world of Christian schooling. In 2009 our professional paths crossed again as he had returned to CCS (then Willamette Christian) and recruited me to help pioneer the high school. During these seven years of professional relationship, and many more of enduring friendship, Pastor Jerry had an impact on my life beyond measure.

Our relationship has always been a unique one. Pastor Jerry is 36 years older than me, but has always treated me more like a brother. Though we share many of the same interests, he was my employer and always my elder and deserved a degree of respect and honor not reserved for a simple peer.  

In the same way, God’s design for our relationship with Him is a unique one. In John 15:15 Jesus declares, “No longer do I call your servants... but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from the Father I have made known to you.” God sent His son to die on the cross for our sins. That is how much He loves us. And through Jesus’ life and resurrection He has revealed to us His good plans for us. When we look up the word “friend” in the dictionary we should see a picture of Jesus.

Yet at another time, Jesus illustrates our complete role in this relationship. In Luke 17:10 Jesus encourages us to have an attitude of “...We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.” Pastor Jerry treated me like a friend by making known to me all of God’s plans for His schools, and was vulnerable with me removing any distance between us. Despite his affection toward me, he still remained my boss and always my elder. Treating him as a peer on the same level would be both arrogant and dishonorable. In the same way, God’s extension of friendship to us should not be met with an attempt to play God ourselves. God’s friendship should grow inside of us a gratefulness that reveals itself in an attitude of a willing servant.  

Crosshill Christian School, which Pastor Jerry helped pioneer in 1992 under God’s direction is daily consumed with many things including academics, athletics, and a variety of activities. But at the heart of its mission of discipleship is guiding students to experience God’s friendship through every area of His creation. As a result of this friendship, students growth as humble servants lead them down a path that leads to what Jesus came to the earth for: an abundant life! 
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– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal

The concept of scripture being a living and active part of experiencing God in our everyday lives has captivated me lately. It began with a quick prayer to cover and equip me for the known and the inevitable unknown battles I would be facing throughout my day. In an immediate response, the Holy Spirit whispered: “you have not been putting on your armor”. Without hesitation, I retrieved some old, tattered papers, where every space in the margins and on the back was completely filled with notes, scriptures, and quotes. It was my well-worn copy of Charles Stanley’s, “The Whole Armor of God Prayer” based on Ephesians 6:10-18. 

During a significant season of spiritual growth, this phenomenal daily prayer taught me to identify areas of weakness and the means by which to change my ineffective, defensive stance, into a confident and godly offensive perspective. It intertwines old and new testament scriptures and promises that inspire believers to engage in “God’s battle plan” activating the power that is available every moment of every day. It also seeks to guide us fearlessly into our purpose of defending, caring for, and serving others.

As I shared my renewed determination to go into every day fiercely armor-clad, I discover that the 2nd-grade class was studying that same passage of scripture (coincidence, I think not). They worked to secure those verses firmly in their hearts, discussing the power and purpose each piece of armor possessed. They grew in their understanding of the battle they face, the enemy’s tactics, and God’s provision. They created life-sized, and very interesting paper versions of themselves as armor-bearers; visual reminders of the unseen, ever-present protection of God.   

At our Grandparent and Special Friends’ Day celebration, the second graders proclaimed and preached Ephesians 6:10-18 boldly, and with great faith. In that moment I believe every guest in the room experienced the Word of God come alive in the hearts of these mighty warriors! It was such an overwhelming blessing to heartily agree that these grandparents indeed have the most amazing grandchildren, and share how our mission of discipleship is raising up a generation who are “strong in the Lord and his mighty power” Eph. 6:10.
 
– Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal

by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

Like many parents, I spend time regularly praying for my children. About twice a week my morning intercessory prayer list lands back on my two children. I ask God to be developing and confirming a clear calling on their life regarding their future vocation  and how they will use it to serve Him. I pray that God will be preparing a Godly spouse for each of them to be their perfect helpmate, and that my child in turn will be prepared to love and commit unconditionally. I pray for their health, safety, and specific character transformation for each one according to their particular stage of development. While the discipline of prayer is daily or weekly, it always seems that the answers to these prayers are way out in the distant future.

Yet I am reminded that God is providing the answer to these prayers every day in the present.  Phillip Brooks, an American Episcopal clergyman once wrote, “Someday in the years to come, you [our children] will be wrestling with the great temptation, or trembling under the great sorrow of your life. But the real struggle is here, now... Now it is being decided whether, in the day of your supreme sorrow or temptation, you shall miserably fail or gloriously conquer.”

Without a doubt, our children in the future (and even present) will face great temptation or great sorrow or some form of great struggle.  Will they “miserably fail or gloriously conquer?” As I prayer for my own children, I am asking God to help my children to become glorious conquerors as their life inevitably becomes more complicated and challenging. And not just conquerors for the sake of victory or being comfortable, but truly completing the “good works, which God prepared beforehand…” (Eph. 2:10).  

Therein lies the value of Christian schooling. Good works are byproducts of being a good person. But people are not naturally good. One can simply reference the Bible or visit my home for verification. Yet that is the reason for and the power of Jesus. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand…” (Eph. 2:10).  

In the here and now, each day at Crosshill Christian Schools, students discover that they are indeed God’s workmanship. Students are trained for good works through the power of Jesus Christ in their lives for the purposes of loving God and loving others. This transformation requires time, commitment, vision, and partnership. While the fruit of the transformation may be revealed through good works, the heart of the transformation begins and is completed in student’s hearts. As I intercede with God on behalf of my children, He reminds me each day that He is working on the answers. When I witness the love, care, and training that the CCS faculty and staff provide to my children, I am grateful to personally be a part of a community where the real struggle of training in the here and now is being met head on. 
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– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent