Thank You for new teachers and staff members with whom You have blessed us—each one with a story of Your grace and divine leading. Thank You for the faithfulness, creativity, energy, love, and diligence of our faculty and staff—each with unique gifts and strengths—who daily pour their lives into our students. Our hearts ache from the loss of our dear Kim Bierman, who exemplified Christ in her service, her words, and her actions. But we know that having now walked personally with You, she has experienced the greatest joy imaginable.
Thank You for our supportive parents who want the best for their children, who have sacrificed so much in order that their children might be students at BJA, and who have volunteered in so many ways to ease the daily burden of our teachers. Thank You for prayer warriors who undergird this ministry in prayer for both the students and the teachers. Thank You for the givers who have enabled us to provide playground equipment, more classroom technology, and the Markham Center renovation.
Forgive us, Lord—for our sins, our shortcomings, our pride, and our lack of trust. I pray that we will not get in the way of Your work and that we will not hinder any student from seeing Your glory because of our words or actions.
Thank You, Lord, for what You have accomplished in our lives and in the lives of our students. It is amazing to watch You work, answer prayer, and use seemingly insignificant situations to transform lives. Thank You for the students who have trusted You as Savior this year. Thank You for the opportunities to tell of Your grace and encourage students to find joy in following You. Do a great work in our hearts! Our world is uncertain. Storm clouds are forming on the horizon. May we not be distracted with the stuff of this world. “As the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us” (Psalm 123:2).
I pray for strength, direction, courage, boldness, and faithfulness—in our lives, for our families, and for our students as we look to the future. Keep us from temptation’s snares. Raise up a generation with discernment and courage to stand for You. I pray for our nation and its leadership. May we repent and seek Your face. I pray for those who are ill among us—teachers, students, parents, and loved ones—how we desire to see them whole again! Wrap Your loving arms around them. Grant them Your grace.
Thank You most of all for Your Son, Jesus Christ—Who died that we might live, Who is coming soon to take us home, and Who will reign supreme over all the universe for all eternity. May You be glorified in our lives!