by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

Over a decade ago I joined the Crosshill family as a parent when my wife and I enrolled our daughter in 1st Grade. A few years later we added our son into the Preschool program. Since then, we have been blessed to grow as a family within a community of like-minded parents and believers attending over 80 churches in the valley. In a couple of weeks, many new families will enter into this unique community for the first time. Around 125 new students will be joining our Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Junior High, and High School classes. Our Leadership Team has been blessed to be the first in our community to welcome these families, though most of them are already known by many of you! 

I look back with gratefulness and joy when God confirmed our own decision to join the Crosshill community. It was certainly a unique time in our family’s life, and God showed up and led the way. For these new Crosshill families, this transition certainly comes at a unique time for them and our country. Yet this Jesus we serve is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  While we know that the enemy is up to no good, we can rest assured that God is always up to everything that is good. 

At the moment, the school’s attention is largely consumed with digesting the latest changing requirements regarding our operations and constantly adjusting our plans to fulfill our mission within these guidelines. Though certainly frustrating, the practice of simple daily obedience and surrender to God can and will bear much fruit. While typical back-to-school activities are missing or modified, we press on for the hope of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Seasons come and go, but His Kingdom stands firm. In the midst of these trials, rejoice with us in the anticipation of the diverse and deliberate body of believers God has formed for the 20-21 school year. 

by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

One of my favorite episodes of "The Chosen" is Jesus' healing of the paralytic described in 3 of the 4 gospels. Apparently, the friends of the paralytic believed Jesus was more than a preacher and thought He had a divine nature. Unfortunately, the path to Him was blocked by crowds surrounding the house He was teaching from. Despite this unforeseen challenge, they knew this was their one opportunity to help their friend. After climbing on the roof, they made a hole and lowered him down into the presence of Jesus. The result was a miraculous healing, the forgiveness of sins, and another revelation of Jesus' deity. The people rejoiced with gratefulness as God was glorified in the midst of their circumstances. 

It is no secret that our current season is filled with many challenges, frustrations, and disappointments. Recently, the CCS staff gathered together for planning, prayer, and fellowship.The mood was one of gratefulness and opportunity. Throughout the spring, families welcomed us into their homes (virtually) and their driveways (literally) to continue the mission of our school. We are grateful for the partnership and sacrifice of our families, and the ongoing generosity and provision God has and continues to provide. We also look forward to the new opportunities God has prepared for us. We believe the 20-21 school year will be full of growth and blessing in the lives of our students and families. While we may find the typical path blocked at times, what we are striving for is the daily divine appointment with Jesus. He is our Savior and the Savior of the world. God is sovereign and we can place our trust in Him.

As of July 3rd, our plans for the fall continue to include:

1. A primary commitment to the mission of discipleship training through relationship. learning, and activities.
2. On-campus classes for all students every day all day.
3. Maximizing our facilities to meet current State of Oregon requirements and guidelines.
4. Hiring additional staff to support the learning and classroom needs of our students.

We are grateful to have the facilities to creatively provide the space needed to maintain schooling for our students. Just about every room on our campuses will be utilized for learning, with all students experiencing phenomenal student to teacher ratios. Enrollment remains strong with many class sections at capacity.

As we plan for the fall, let us all be prepared to show charity to one another.  As with the mission of the school, our community chooses unity in the essentials and charity to one another over any disagreement of the non-essentials. In the same way, there may be disagreement over the strictness or looseness of particular policies. We choose to demonstrate charity in those areas with the knowledge that we agree on the essential mission of the school and the welfare of its students. If you have any specific questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at akronberger@crosshillchristian.com. 
 
On a final note, I want to express my gratitude to the team of CCS teachers who tirelessly went above and beyond this past spring to learn and teach under challenging circumstances. I want to express my amazement and awe of Crosshill parents who in a new way partnered with the school as "teachers" in their own home. Looking forward, may an attitude of gratefulness and opportunity drive us into the presence of Jesus each day. 

by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

I suppose many Oregonians have begun to consider what outdoor plans they may be able to execute this summer. Living in such a seasonal climate, there is a limited window to enjoy activities in nature. My son and I are looking forward to hikes to the summits of South Sister and Mt. St. Helens. The experience of completing these fairly grueling hikes can be quite rewarding. At the end of each of our previous hikes, there is a satisfaction that comes from enduring the task. Oftentimes we remark, “The amount of water we took was just right!” or “Our new hiking poles really helped out!” or “I need to get into better shape!” Regardless of the degree of success, the bond of going through the challenging experience together deepens the bond of friendship and character in both of us.

As we near the end of the 2019-2020 school year with this season of distance learning, there is a similar sense of accomplishment. While none of us signed up for this mountainous schooling adventure, the forced experience is coming to completion. I’m sure there are plenty of comments being made in each of our households, “I’m so glad that it’s over!” or “I can’t believe what I”m saying, but I really miss school!” or “I never want to look at a screen again!” But on a more positive note, take the time to consider what has been gained through this experience. What new family routines were developed that deepened bonds of friendship? What innovation was developed that can be applied to other situations? What spiritual or character muscles were exposed to be out of shape?

There are many historical illustrations in Scripture that parallel our current circumstances. In most cases, words of encouragement and/or clear warnings were provided to simply not forget. Don’t forget what the Lord brought you through. Don’t forget what you have learned. Don’t forget that circumstances should not drive your character. Don’t forget that God is sovereign.

Still, I admit that a big part of me is eager to forget much of this season and move on. So I gladly accept the words of Paul who wrote, “one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).  How exciting! What does the next season look like for each one of us as we fully engage in this upward call to walk with God? 

Each time that I hike with my son, I always surprise him with some specially packed treats to enjoy when we reach the summit. To a much more significant extent, God always has a prize for us as we walk out the plans that He has for us. We will continue to communicate regularly with our CCS community as we make plans for the fall and the Lord establishes our steps. 

by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

I began my humble painting career on the bottom rung of the ladder...literally. As a young green college student, I was entrusted with the most simple and menial tasks on our painting projects. Scraping paint, carrying ladders, and cleaning brushes was the extent of my abilities. Perhaps my least favorite chore was cleaning the airless sprayer at the end of each day. While the rest of the crew was heading home for dinner, I was stuck with the messy laborious job of cleaning the sprayer pump and feet of hose that had funneled paint onto the house during the day. 

Eventually, I transitioned from being a painting apprentice with low wages to a small businessman with reliable extra income. But as my startup resources were limited, my jobs were completed by brush and roller as I could not afford an airless sprayer.  Oh had I changed my tune! Instead of complaining about the messy cleanup of an airless sprayer, I was complaining about the lack of productivity that such a machine would have provided. On those early jobs, I would have gladly taken responsibility for the daily cleaning of the airless sprayer if I could have only utilized its benefits. 

In chapel this week, we considered the Proverb “Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest” (14:4).  For those of you with pets or especially livestock, you understand that a degree of “mess” accompanies animals. But to say goodbye to the routine mess, you must also say goodbye to the joy or usefulness that the animal provides. The mess that is created is a minor inconvenience compared to the welcome presence of a friend.

During this season of quarantine, I assume that many of our homes have become much messier! With the kids home from school, the stable is no longer empty. Their presence has required more supervision, more support, more food, and more cleanup.  But just as crops cannot be sowed and harvested without an ox, strong relationships cannot be built in isolation. And while relationships between teachers and students have taken a virtual context for a season, relationships among families have never been more available. 

While some things will never be the same, other things will never change. At some point, your children will once again spend hundreds of hours a year out of your house and in the presence of others. While your stable may become a bit cleaner, you will miss the strength that this current situation provides to your family relationships. When I started my own painting business, I looked fondly on the past experience I had with the airless sprayer and longed for those days. May each of us not make the same mistake in our current circumstance. In spite of the minor messes, may we embrace, cherish, and celebrate any opportunities we have right now in our own stables for a large harvest of family discipleship.