Christ Kona?

World News & Perspectives
SEASONED CITIZENS: Members of the Allen Street Gang, named for the address of the
first Adventist church and school, spend time celebrating with friends. Pictured left to
right are: Harold Rowe, George Juler, John Robison, and Leta Jane and Ken Juler. The oldest
one in the group is 91. “We had such a great time,” said John Robison. “We look forward
to the next one.”
renovate the 80-year-old building. The
benefactors’ children attend VVJA
because their parents believe the education
is superior. Phillip Ermshar, school
principal, described the task of repairing
the facility as an enormous challenge:
“Fix one problem and something
else happens. Because of termites, new
doors are impossible to hang.”
The $150,000 was given on one condition:
“You need to do something about
this [facility]. You need to get a fundraising
person.”
The school board agreed. Tony Reyes
was hired in September 2011 as the
school’s director of
development, to organize
and lead a $1.3 million
fund-raising
campaign.
Peter Nelson, a dentist
and member of the San
Luis Obispo constituent
church, agreed to chair
the Capital Campaign
committee. “I love this
school,” Nelson said.
“My kids got a great
education here. I feel like
I can contribute to
Central California Conference photo
upholding and sustaining Christian
education for our church and
community.”
Reyes thought the campaign was off
to a good start until he discovered the
school’s 100-year anniversary was during
the 2011-2012 school year—his first
year on the job. Planning a centennial
event was overwhelming, he said.
Reyes called Cheryl Vines. She grew
up in the area, had attended the church
school, and knew a lot of people. She
agreed to serve as secretary of the Centennial
Committee and spearhead the
100-year celebration.
There was no budget; 100 years of
alumni records to locate, setting a date,
YOUNG SCHOLARS: Kindergartners and first graders are in
training to be God’s champions in this world. Friends and nice
teachers are their favorite things at school. The school’s current
enrollment is 70 students.
Central California Conference photo
MEMORY LANE: Alumni take time to enjoy a wall of pictures from the past 100 years.
More than 600 people, including 300 alumni, attended the centennial celebration weekend
on April 5-7, 2013, in Arroyo Grande, California.
and choosing a venue were urgent
tasks.
As the database began to fill with
alumni, former staff, church members,
and names by word of mouth, the numbers
were amazing. “You usually don’t
see this kind of turnout for elementary
schools,” Reyes said. The response from
former and current students, staff, pastors,
parents, and church members is
evidence of their passion for Christian
education.
“It [Adventist education] really gives
us a good foundation for life,” Vines
added. “It plants those seeds very early,
how you should live your life; and God
is the center—Someone who walks with
you anywhere.” n
10 (426) | www.AdventistReview.org | May 16, 2013