Weekly Parent Letter
Good Afternoon, Warrior Nation!
One of our oldest son’s favorite Bible stories from his first Rhyme Bible was the story of Jonah. Throughout the story, he loved repeating the line, “Uh-oh, Jonah! You should have gone to Nineveh!” That pretty well sums up the beginning of Jonah’s story! Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, a great city with more than 120,000 people. God gave Jonah a clear command: Go to Nineveh and preach a message of repentance because of the people’s wickedness. Instead, Jonah ran in the opposite direction and boarded a ship headed for Tarshish. But God had other plans. A violent storm arose, Jonah was thrown overboard, and he was swallowed by a great fish.
Have you ever found yourself in an extremely difficult situation—maybe even wondering how you got there? Sometimes God allows us to walk through challenges that teach us to trust in His faithfulness. Other times, our own stubbornness, pride, or poor choices lead us into difficult circumstances. Either way, we can follow Jonah’s example from inside the fish: seek the Lord, examine our hearts, and, when necessary, repent and ask for forgiveness.
After Jonah prayed, God commanded the fish to spit him onto dry land. This time, Jonah went to Nineveh and delivered God’s message. But there was still a problem with Jonah’s heart. Although Jonah obeyed outwardly, he didn’t share God’s compassion for the people of Nineveh. He wanted to see them judged for their wickedness. Yet when Jonah preached, something remarkable happened—the people of Nineveh, from the king down, repented and turned from their evil ways. God showed them mercy, and instead of rejoicing, Jonah became angry.
So, what does Jonah’s story teach us about thankfulness? It reminds us that no matter what challenge or circumstance we face, God is still in control. Even when we walk through difficult seasons, we can thank Him for His faithfulness and trust that He will walk with us every step of the way. Nothing is too difficult for God, and nothing ever catches Him by surprise. So whatever you are facing today, lean on Him. Trust Him with your heart, your circumstances, and the outcome. He’s got this!
Spiritual Emphasis Week
Please join us in praying for our students, faculty, and staff as we prepare for Spiritual Emphasis Week, October 12–16. This special week will provide opportunities for our students to grow in their relationship with Christ and for our teachers and staff to intentionally pour into them spiritually and relationally. Please pray that God will work powerfully throughout our school and that hearts and minds will be transformed during this week!
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24–26 (ESV)
Have a blessed weekend!
All For Him,
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Bill Sharp
Head of School
Weekly Parent Letter
Good Afternoon, Warrior Nation!
Our next stop on our “Thankful” road trip takes us to Bethsaida, where we find Jesus and His disciples in a solitary place. Jesus had just learned that His cousin, John the Baptist, had been killed. He went away seeking a quiet place, but the crowds followed Him. Even in His grief, Jesus was moved with compassion and began healing them.
As evening approached, the disciples realized there was a problem: thousands of people were hungry, and all they had were five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat” (Matthew 14:16).
Think about that for a moment. The disciples knew what they had wasn’t nearly enough, yet they brought it to Jesus anyway. Sometimes obedience and faith are the first steps toward seeing God work. We bring Him what we have, even when it doesn’t seem like enough, and trust Him with the rest.
But notice what Jesus did next:
“Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.” — Matthew 14:19
He gave thanks first.
Not after everyone had eaten. Not after the miracle. Not after He knew there would be enough. Jesus gave thanks before the food was distributed.
There’s a great lesson for us in that. It’s easy to thank God after He answers our prayers or brings us through a difficult season. But faith gives thanks while we’re still standing at the beginning of the journey.
When you face a challenge, thank God before you take that first step. Trust that He is already at work and that He will walk with you every step of the way.
See You at the Pole
Despite the weather, See You at the Pole was a great success! It was wonderful to see our school community come together in prayer, followed by a cafeteria full of hungry families enjoying food and fellowship.
Thank you to our SGA for all their hard work planning and organizing the event, and a huge thank-you to the staff members who arrived extra early to prepare the food. We appreciate you!
Envelope Challenge
We still have several envelopes available for anyone who would like to participate in our Envelope Challenge. You can give the amount all at once or spread it out over the coming weeks or months.
Envelopes will be available again during the morning car line next week. Just let one of our carline staff members know that you’d like one, and we’ll be happy to get it for you.
Donations can be made through FACTS Giving, dropped off at the front office, or returned during the carline. Thank you for partnering with us!
Help Us Expand Our Reach
You can also help by connecting us with potential community partners. If you know a local business—large or small—that you believe would be a great financial partner for RCS, please share their contact information with me, and we’ll be happy to reach out.
Remember, donations to Richmond Christian School are tax-deductible.
Thank you for continuing this journey with us as we seek to Educate Hearts and Minds for Christ!
All For Him,
Bill Sharp
Head of School
