Cumberlite 2021 Winter

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
You know the story. Jesus was
teaching thousands of people on a
hillside near the Sea of Galilee and
the people were getting hungrier and
hungrier. The only possible solution was
the loaves and fish lunch offered by one
little boy. There was a massive gap, but
in the hands of Jesus, this gift from one
person filled it. Because one person said
“yes” to sharing what he had, thousands
were fed.
You may not know this, but the
Continuing the Mission initiative was
launched by a “loaves and fish” donation,
made by one donor couple.
One December day in 2012, I came
back after lunch to find a check on my
desk. It was of significant size. A local
couple, Pete and Karen Weber, sold some
land and wanted to share this blessing
with Georgia-Cumberland Academy.
When I saw the check I thought, “Maybe
it’s time for us to hire an architect and get
some plans on the table for the facilities
we have talked about for so long.”
That’s how the Continuing the Mission
story began. One donor couple. One
check. It was one donation, but it was
the one donation that gave inspiration,
hope and confidence for us to move
ahead with a vision for change.
There is power in one! One donor
couple and their one gift inspired
one leader at one school to make a
bold decision. Eight years later, that
one gift has transformed this campus
and inspired a new level of excellence at
Georgia-Cumberland Academy!
The Continuing the Mission story ends
on December 31, 2020. God has been
in this effort from the first chapter to
the last as He has moved on hearts to
generously give to fulfill the vision. As
we sprint toward the finish line, God will
help us finish strong. We are confident
that the power of one will bring in the
GREGORY A. GERARD, ED.D. PRINCIPAL
last gifts we need to close the $1 million
gap on our facilities goal.
In the hands of Jesus, one small lunch
from one small boy nourished a crowd
of 5,000 people. In the hands of Jesus,
your gifts, large and small, are helping us
nourish the bodies, minds and spirits of
Georgia-Cumberland Academy students
now and for years to come. Thank you
for allowing God to use you!
FROM THE BUSINESS MANAGER
Eight months ago, I sat in my office
writing a letter to parents about the
upcoming financial challenges we faced.
We returned from Spring Break to an
empty campus and an uncertain path
in front of us. As the parent of a Class
of 2020 senior, I was devastated at how
the crisis was unfolding. As Business
Manager, I was desperately concerned
about our students and their families,
along with the finances of GCA. You
don’t need me to tell you that the past
eight months have been challenging,
unsettling, and unprecedented. So,
what I will tell you is this. Praise be to
God, Georgia-Cumberland Academy
remains strong! I will tell you that our
enrollment is up and our students are
here on campus (yes, in masks, but here).
Our programming continues. Spiritual
connections and friendships are still
being made. Creativity is thriving in
response to new challenges. I won’t
tell you that these challenges and the
ever-present uncertainty aren’t at times
exhausting, but our commitment to our
mission and our students is unwavering.
The fiscal year ending 6/30/2020
verified the solid financial foundation
of Georgia-Cumberland Academy.
Despite absorbing a loss from the
temporary closure of our dorms, we
continue to operate with adequate
funds and no debt. With cautious but
optimistic planning, we have re-opened
with all of our bills paid and our faculty
(including a new full-time nurse) and
programming intact. Our expanded
facilities have allowed us to return to
in-person learning with the needed
spacing for operating in a pandemic.
We have been able to purchase the
necessary health, safety, and disinfecting
supplies in the quantities needed to
mitigate the coronavirus. And thanks to
the substantial support of the Georgia-
Cumberland Conference and the Bainum
Family Foundation, we are about to
complete a much-needed overhaul of
our sewer system. Most importantly,
generous donors stepped up to provide
worthy student assistance that allowed
SUSAN JENKINS, BUSINESS MANAGER
us to provide a lifeline to our families
facing the daunting prospect of
paying for their child’s education in
financial distress.
I feel honored to be a part of the
vast GCA family! As Business Manager,
I want to thank you for partnering with
us in our mission. In all the ways you
have supported GCA this past year,
financial or otherwise, you have made
a difference. We could not, would not,
be successful without each one of you.
Thank you for every act of provision and
care you have shown for our students.
Your support is immeasurable and
changes lives every day.
2 CUMBERLITE WINTER 2021