Cumberlite 2021 Winter

More documents

Recommendations

Info

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 <strong>2021</strong>
GARY RUSTAD, PRESIDENT, GEORGIA-CUMBERLAND CONFERENCE FROM THE BOARD CHAIRMAN Over fall break, our family spent a day at Dollywood, one of our favorite places. As we were entering the park, Heath (my son) said, “I want to go on the Fire Chaser Express!” I was rather taken aback that he wanted to try this ride out. You see, the last time we were at Dollywood, we “strongly encouraged” him to try the ride out. Then we took him on the ride against his will. Needless to say, it didn’t end with him declaring it was his favorite ride. When he said that he now wanted to ride it, I asked him why. I found out that he had been talking with his sister, Elayna. Evidently during this discussion, she encouraged him by saying, “Heath, you can do Fire Chaser Express. You are a big boy now.” With that statement, Heath decided that he was going to ride it, so the whole family stood in line and had a great time. The power of one encouraging statement changed the way a boy looked at the ride. You and I have the opportunity to be the one that empowers a young person to attend GCA. Through your continued financial support, encouraging word, or intentional recruitment of a young person, you not only positively influence them, but also influence their family, their churches, and the future of the Adventist church as a whole. It is all about the power of one. Elayna empowered Heath! Who will you empower? Together we will make a difference for a whole generation of young people. TO OUR GCA BOARD MEMBERS FOR THEIR CONTINUED, ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT OF GCA! Kurt Allen – Vice President for Finance/Treasurer, Georgia- Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Merlyn Balboa – Community Member Brent Baldwin – Principal and Head of School, Collegedale Academy Chester Clark – Vice President for Administration/Secretariat, Georgia-Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Wayne Darville – Alumni Parent Toni Einhellig – Current GCA Parent Gregory Gerard – Principal, GCA Kirk Haley – Principal, Atlanta Adventist Academy Keith Hallam – Education Department, Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Jaclynn Huse – Alumni Parent Jeni Ingersoll – AdventHealth Gordon Susan Jenkins – Business Manager, GCA Don Keele – Young Adult Ministries, Georgia-Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Kevin Kossick – Senior Vice President for Education, Georgia-Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Gerald Kovalski – Retired Vice President for Education, North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists Jonathan Montes – Youth Ministries, Georgia-Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Larry Payne – Alumni Parent Cheryl Rogers – Alumni President Gary Rustad – President, Georgia-Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists; GCA Board Chairman David Smith – Senior Pastor, GCA Seventh-day Adventist Church Dennis Starkey – Alumni Parent Marsharee Wilkens – Alumni Parent Jeff and Shawna Wood – Co-chairs, Parents in Support of GCA CUMBERLITE WINTER <strong>2021</strong> 3
Page 4: CAUCASIAN HISPANIC/LATINO BLACK/AFR
Page 7 and 8: SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS We are grateful t
Page 9 and 10: YOUR SUPPORT IMPACTS OUR STUDENTS F
Page 11 and 12: The Cumberlite Club $500 - $999 Ano
Page 13 and 14: Carla Monday George and Alice Motle
Page 15 and 16: Thank you to our alumni who are rem
Page 17 and 18: MEET GCA’S NEW ALUMNI PRESIDENT C
Page 19 and 20: oz., Dalia is the delight of her mo

Cumberlite 2021 Winter

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?