“A.L.I.C.E. Training,” 19 September 2022

High School Assembly

Summary of and Editorializing by Dr. Bob Stouffer, High School Principal (All mistakes are mine alone.)

By Russ Bryan, Director of Operations

Southside Christian School

Simpsonville, South Carolina

Monday, September 19, 2022

Good morning!

My name is Russ Bryan. [We are fortunate that such a skilled and well-trained overseer of safety and security at Southside Christian School.]

This is the yearly A.L.I.C.E. training.

On the way in, someone asked, “What’s the point?”  Here’s the point.  All of us have time to do something when reacting to an active shooting situation.  We need to be prepared.

I have this hard hat for the time I am outside at the construction site.  You don’t know when accidents are going to happen.  You have to be prepared.

God forbid that you have to use this information here.  You might be in a restaurant or shopping and need to be prepared. 

Active shooters want to harm people.  These incidents are on the increase.  This information may save your life. 

We teach the program entitled A.L.I.C.E.

• Awareness
• Lockdown
• Inform
• Counter
• Evacuate

I want to show you a 5-minute video made by Kansas State University.  [An active shooter shot a couple people in the commons of a school and was making his way to various locations until students swarmed and neutralized him in a classroom.]

The average incident lasts 5-12 minutes.  In approximately 50% of the incidents, the violence is still being perpetrated when police arrive.

Be aware of the situation.  Listen carefully.  Listen for announcements.  In a restaurant, sit facing the door. 

There will not be unannounced active shooter drills at Southside Christian.  If you hear the announcement, it’s real.  You may be aware of the emergency before we are aware. 

How you respond depends on the unique circumstances of each incident.

We will use no code words.  We will use actual names.  We will say, “There’s a shooter in the building.” 

If you are aware of the situation, you need to share the information. 

Evacuation is what you want to do, if you can.  Don’t be near danger. 

Given the narrow hallways and students/staff emptying into those spaces, you will need to evacuate quickly, BUT in as orderly a manner as possible. 

You evacuate in a hurry.  You’re not waiting for a teacher.

Think “we” are evacuating, not “I” am evacuating.  Help others.  Be calm.

To where do you evacuate?  Get out.  Get away.  Get out of harm’s way.  You might have to go out a second floor window; you might hurt an ankle or leg, but that’s better than losing your life. 

If you’re cornered in a room or office, lock the door from the inside.  Do not stand in front of doors.  These school doors do not stop bullets.

You barricade to buy time to eventually get out or to counter.  If the barricade is compromised, have something in your hands to counter.  Block the door.  Wedge the door.  Grab a cord or belt to wrap the door mechanism.  Spread out, but not within plain sight. 

If the shooter enters your space, distract the shooter.  Disrupt the “OODA Loop.” (Observe-Orient-Decide-Act)  Toss objects at the shooter.  The shooter will flinch.  It’s human nature.  That flinch disrupts the OODA Loop.  Overwhelm the decision-making process of the attacker.  Buy time with distraction with anything you can get into your hands, i.e., staplers, books, pens, pencils, etc.  Loud noises also distract. 

I’ve got a drill for you.  [He played a video.]  Count the blue dots on the screen.  It’s not so easy to count the blue and yellow dots at once. 

If someone gets into your space, and you don’t have time to evacuate, what will you do?  You could save your life or the lives of others.  This happened at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.  A student tackled the shooter and saved the life of everyone in that room.  God forbid, but you may have no other choice than to attack the shooter. 

Look at this scene of President Ronald Reagan’s assassination attempt.  I show that video every year.  All of the Secret Service were armed. Reagan was shot.  James Brady was shot.  In that situation, they swarmed the shooter.  That would be the quickest counter strategy, if you are in a similar situation.

You could die.  But you might save the lives of 50 people around you.  Or you have a new chance to escape. 

Grab a limb of the shooter, and go to the ground.  If more than one person swarmed the shooter, the threat could be neutralized.  That’s what the teachers and staff members have been taught.

YOU make the choice as to what you should do. 

You get word.  You see it happening.  A shooter is in the school. If you can evacuate, DO THAT.  Get to the neighborhood.  Stay there until we call you “home-free.”  If you can’t evacuate, buy yourself time to barricade your space.  If the shooter enters your space, make your choice, if you throw objects and/or swarm. 

If you get the gun from the shooter, secure it in a trash can.  Don’t pick up the weapon, because the police might mistake you for the shooter and shoot you.  If you’re holding the gun, you’re the suspect. 

The police don’t know what they’re getting themselves into.  Greenville County Deputies are trained to take the threat out.  They are not going to perform first aid on the wounded as they are seeking-out the shooter; they are going to the shooter.  The police are not going to be polite.  They don’t have time for niceties.  They are fueled by adrenaline.  They are focused on the threat. 

This slide may be the most important in the presentation.  The shooter could be an angry student, staff member, or parent.  Typically, shooters are male and alone.  The shooters have plans.  Shooters will give evidence of their anger in advance of the shooter; if you see it or hear it, say something to adult in this school you can trust.  54% of the time, people who hear something DO NOTHING. 

We have a few minutes for questions.

Why are school people not carrying guns?  I’m a pretty good shooter.  I’ve been 50 of 50 on the conceal training.  A study in New York City indicated that law enforcement discharging weapons against shooters had less than a 30% accuracy rate.  Do you think I can do better than trained law enforcement personnel?  I could shoot bullets at a 70% failure rate, but walls don’t stop people.  The people armed on this campus are trained law enforcement personnel.  I might cause more danger.

We’re working on equipping all of the offices and classrooms with “emergency buckets,” if you have to barricade in space for long periods of time. 

In summary, you may see or hear the emergency.  Get out.  If you can’t evacuate, barricade, and be ready to counter.  Countering is the act of last resort.  Disrupt.  Distract. 

Serious subject.  God forbid we ever have to use it.  I’ll pray for protection. . . .

Thank you for your time. 

“What Is the Worst Parenting Style?”

According to an accomplished parent, here, is the “worst” parenting style:

“I Raised 2 Successful CEOs and a Doctor–Here’s the Parenting Style I Never Used on My Kids”

By Esther Wojcicki

NBC News

Saturday, September 17, 2022

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2022/09/17/i-raised-2-successful-ceos-and-a-doctor-here-is-the-worst-parenting-style-that-harms-kids.html

“Spotting the Signs of Mental Health Crises”

“Spotting the Signs”

“What it is: 

Mashable has published some tips for how to spot a teen who may be headed for a mental health crisis.

“Why it might be helpful: 

“It can be hard for parents and caring adults to distinguish between normal teen behaviors and the signs of a serious mental health issue. A community resource with six screening questionsfor adults to ask teens is a tool that might be useful. You may also want to be on the lookout if your teen is overtly identifying with people in their lives or even with fictional characters who have depression or suicidal tendencies. It may seem scary to bring up suicidal ideation. But with suicide as the third leading cause of deathfor 15- to 24-year-olds, staying silent is not an acceptable risk. Conversations about suicide should be cushioned in language about how much an individual teen is beloved, wanted, and welcomed in your life. It can be a bit jarring to introduce the subject, so consider starting with gentler questions about what teens are dealing with and what feels heavy in their life instead of starting with a question that might seem too blunt.”

“The Mashable articlelinked above discusses a suicide risk screening that begins with this question: “Have you wished you were dead or wished you could go to sleep and not wake up?”

“The question is significant because it addresses a common feeling in many suicidal people—the desire for escape. The National Institute of Mental Health gives a list of reasonswhy someone might be thinking of ending their life. The reasons include feeling hopeless about life events, feeling trapped, or feeling lost. The thread that ties these feelings together is the idea that there is only one way out.

“We have all felt that desire to get out of deeply painful situations; it’s natural, it’s human. But for a young person who’s experiencing that feeling of being trapped, it may be the most intense thing they’ve ever gone through in their relatively short lives. Any caring adult knows that these times come and go, but for a teen, the feeling seems total and endless.

“No one should have to go through that experience alone, which is why it’s essential that parents and caring adults talk to their teens about what they’re feeling. John 10:10 tells us that Jesus came so that we “may have life, and have it to the full.” He is the way out that suicidal teens are really searching for. And though a teen struggling with hopelessness may not be ready to hear that, parents and caring adults can embody that truth by believing it fully for their teen as they sincerely and lovingly reach out to them.

“We can’t save people suffering from mental health crises, much as we may wish to. But we can be there for them, steadied by the grace of God and encouraged by His love. In the words of Reinhold Neibuhr’s “Serenity Prayer,” we can remind them to live “one day at a time, one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace.” God is powerful enough to reach even and especially those who most need Him. We can trust that for our own lives and the lives of those we love the words of Psalm 31 ring true: “I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, ‘You are my God!’ My future is in your hands.”

“Here are a few questions to spark conversation with your teen:  

• What’s one thing you really enjoy about life? 
• Do you believe Jesus offers hope to people who are suffering? Why or why not?
• If you were feeling hopeless, how would you want people to reach out to you?”

(The AXIS Premium Culture Translator, 16 September 2022)

“Your Value, Worth, and Purpose Are Determined by God”

“Your Value, Worth, and Purpose Are Determined by God”

By Drew Reynolds, Kingdom Life Church

Chapel for Ninth and Tenth Graders

Southside Christian School

Simpsonville, South Carolina

Thursday, September 15, 2022

Summary by and Editorializing by Dr. Bob Stouffer, High School Principal (All mistakes are mine alone.)

Lila Evans, Sophomore Chaplain, introduced the speaker, Drew Reynolds.

What I am going to say today is applicable to your lives.  Please lean into the message.

I’m Drew.  I work at Kingdom Life, a super church.  My shameless plug is for you to check out our church on a Sunday morning if you don’t already have a church home.

I’m here to talk about worth, value, and purpose.

Worth means “the cost” of something. 

Value is different.  Value addresses “significance or importance.”  My mom got me this chain.  It’s probably worth $3.  But it’s super-important to me, because it’s valuable to me.

Purpose is “the reason for which something is created.”  The car was created to help us get from Point A to Point B faster.  The purpose of a basketball is dribbling and shooting.  I can’t use a basketball to play tennis; I’d break my racket.  We need to understand purpose.

What is something valuable to you? 

Something can be more valuable than what it’s actually worth.  You are determining value.  The world is trying to tell us what we should value and what our purpose is.  Streaks on Snapchat?  Followers on Instagram?  How many sports you play?  First chair in the band? Grades?  Number of times we go to church? The number of friends? It’s not bad to have these things, but you’ll come up empty if you determine your worth or value from these things.

So here’s the question of the day, the year, the century, or humanity: 

“What or who determines your worth, value, and purpose?

My parents? My sports? Friends? Followers? TikTok dances?

Let’s look at Genesis 1:26-28 —

²⁶Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

²⁷ So God created man in his own image,
    in the image of God he created him;
    male and female he created them.

²⁸And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Let’s pray.  [Drew prayed to prepare our hearts and minds for his message.]

What happened in Genesis 1:1?

God created the heavens and the earth.  Most importantly, He created humans.  His creation was “good.”  On the sixth day, His creation was “very good.”  On Day 7, He rested.  He created the Sabbath.

In Chapter 2, there is a more detailed depiction of God creating humanity.  They were placed in the Garden of Eden.  They could eat from all of the trees, except the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  Man and woman were to be united together in marriage.

Here’s our main point of today:

God determines your worth, your value, and your purpose.

Why is it God who determines worth, value, and purpose?  He created us.  We were created by God.  God — one essence — three persons — Father, Son, and Spirit.  The Trinity.  God said, “Let US make God in OUR image.”

Humans had dominion over everything on earth.  God placed humans as managers over the earth.  That gives us worth.  We have important and worthwhile roles in overseeing God’s creation. 

You may not feel like you are made by a great Creator?  Your own brain, boyfriend, girlfriend, or social media might be telling you what to believe about you.

You were knit together in your mother’s womb.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made.  He gave you worth because He made you.  You can’t earn this worth. 

You are worth the price of God’s Son, Jesus.  The Father sent the Son to die FOR YOU!

Value.  God determines your value, because He made you in His image.  We are separated from animals.  We can engage in deep relationships with others.  We enjoy resemblances with God.  We are in relationships with God, others, and Creation.  We are valuable to God because we bear His image.

What happened in Genesis 3?

The Fall of humanity.  God gave humanity the ability to make choices.  Adam and Eve made the wrong choices.  They sinned.  They went against God’s way.  Because of their sin, the image of human beings became corrupted. 

Does sin mean that we are no longer valuable?  No.  But our image has become corrupted.  We express our selfishness and sinfulness.  It’s a messed-up story.  The story has been corrupted by sin.

How can the image be restored?

The Gospel.  I don’t assume everyone in the room understands the Gospel.  Perhaps the Holy Spirit will work in you on this day.  The just and gracious Father sent the Son to bear His wrath on the cross, so Jesus could show His power over sin and death to be restored to the original image of Creation.

Turn from sin, and trust in God as your Savior.  Teachers are willing to talk to you about that.  I went to church all of the time, but I didn’t put my trust in Jesus until I was a senior in high school.

We also have purpose.  God determines your purpose, because He gave you purpose.

We are to be fruitful and multiply and to subdue the earth.  God is mandating that humans create children, culture, families, networks of human beings, art, language, philosophy, and theology. 

We are to contribute to society and enjoy this world.  Sin has marred the image of the world, but people who don’t even know God create super-beautiful art and architecture.

What’s your purpose?  Work, contribute, think, create, and love.

Our most important purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

Use Creation for the original purpose.  We need to live according to God’s original purpose: to glorify and enjoy God. 

The world cannot give you value, worth, or purpose. God determines your value.  God determines your worth.  God determines your purpose.  He created you.  He made you in His image.  And He sends you on mission to love God and others — and to lead others to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Let’s pray. 

Summary of Senior Class Retreat Activities, Friday-Sunday, September 9-11, 2022

I was privileged to accompany the Southside Christian School Class of 2023 for their Senior Class Retreat on Friday through Sunday, September 9-11, 2022. If you would like to read my summary of the main retreat activities, please read on. . .

Senior Class Retreat

Southside Christian School Class of 2023

Summary of and Editorializing by Dr. Bob Stouffer, High School Principal (All mistakes are mine alone.)

St. Christopher’s Retreat Center

Seabrook Island, South Carolina

Friday-Sunday, September 9-11, 2022

Friday, September 9, 2022

Chaperones: Erin Bowers, Carla Evans, Pastor Nathan Forrest, Bob Jones, Jason Kaiser, Dr. Bob Stouffer, and Lisa Workman

46 seniors attended the retreat.

We departed SCS promptly at 8:30 a.m., according to our itinerary.

We stopped at a rest area about 2 hours into our journey.

In Charleston, everyone had 3 hours to eat lunch and to explore the market shops (in groups of 3 or more).

We drove a little less than an hour to St. Christopher’s, checking into the cabins (which included full bedding and bathroom accommodations).

We were welcomed and oriented by retreat center personnel, heading to dinner immediately thereafter.

Ashton Becks, SCS ‘21, a sophomore at Charleston Southern, shared stories of situations in which he was utterly dependent upon God and during which time he felt inadequate to serve God, integrating Scripture that focuses on God’s strength being made perfect in our weakness.

We headed to the beach for all of the following activities:

Bonfire (The rain had abated for this activity.)

S’mores

Worship of God through singing (Led by Ashton Becks and Menzi Hlophe, SCS ‘23)

Rain forced senior “storytelling” inside at the Meeting Room.

The seniors played the “Never Have I Ever Game,” racing from seat to seat after applicable comments were made about them.

We moved to our rooms at 10:30, with a request for lights-out at 11:30.

Seniors and chaperones were in their rooms at 11:30.

At 11:40, tornado sirens sounded, and everyone hustled to interior first floor rooms until an all-clear was given. 38 people were in Assistant Principal Bob Jones’ room!

The weather was unusual for us at St. Christopher’s. The retreat center people could not recall EVER experiencing a tornado alert, and it rained nearly all Friday afternoon and night, sometimes pouring.

Saturday, September 10, 2022

After breakfast at 8:00 a.m., Pastor Nathan set up the following Time Alone With God (TAWG):

“Justifying my own existence. . .

We all have our things. That said, as you think back across your story, what goals, accomplishments, achievements, or relationships have you looked back on as needing to check off in order to feel peace and meaning?

1.

2.

3.

“. . .falling short. . .

“What are the areas in your life where your weakness and failures feel most apparent?

“Feeling like a failure is my default state. . . .

“Take some time to meditate on Romans 7:17-24. Use a pen. Circle, underline, highlight the parts that resonate with your soul. . . .

“. . .and maybe, just maybe, hope remains. Take some time to meditate on Romans 8:17-24. Use a pen. Circle, underline, highlight the parts that resonate with your soul. . . .

“P. Forrest’s thoughts. . .

“We all have felt pressure to be, look, achieve, impress — all with the threat of rejection, humiliation, and loss. In light of this reality of human existence, this is why Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection truly is good news. It’s not the bottom-shelf cliche of ‘If we trust in Jesus we go to heaven when we die,’ but rather, in the heart of Romans 8, ‘As I trust in Jesus, the weight of this world is carried by him. I have nothing to prove, earn, or accomplish to be secure in his steadfast, sacrificial affection for me.’

“What are the biggest challenges for you believing this to be true?

1.

2.

3.

“Ray Ortlund’s Thoughts. . .

“‘Every one of knows the shame of guilty self-awareness and the fear of exposure. But we don’t want to live in the isolation of that darkness. We long for the freeing relationships with others, especially God. But without the Gospel, we hide, conceal, falsify ourselves, in order to appear better than we are. Or, conversely, we may trot out our failings with assertive self-display, demanding acceptance — a more modern response.

“‘The Gospel says, ‘Your shame is real, even more real than you know. But this is what God has done. He put it all onto Jesus at the cross, where your Substitute was utterly shamed and exposed and condemned for you. Now your shame no longer defines you. What defines you, what reveals your future forever, is the word, ‘adorned. . . .’ Not shamed. Adorned. Lovely. Attractive. And the moment is coming when he will look into your eyes with glad adoration, and you will look into his eyes with confident surrender. And nothing will ever, ever spoil it again.’

“. . .and so. . .

“Take some time. Write. Talk aloud (quietly as needed 🙂 with Jesus about where you’re at and what you need from him.

“In order to continue growing in my faith. . .

“In the first 48 hours of arrival at school, I need to. . .

“In the first week back to school, I need to. . .

“In the first month of school, I need to. . .

“By January, 2023, here are some of my spiritual goals. . .

“By this time next year, here are some of my spiritual goals. . .

“Spiritually Speaking. . .what do I want to be able to say happened by the end of my Senior year?”

We reconvened as a full group on the beach.

The 6 student teams competed in an ocean egg toss contest.

The teams then had over an hour to create sand castles judged by the following criteria:

Size

Theme (related to SCS)

Intricacy of design

Following lunch, we convened in the meeting room for break-out sessions:

Mrs. Workman on “confidence” and what confidence should be based on

Ashton Becks on how to be prepared for college

Pastor Nathan on trauma, based on his experiences as a foster parent

Ashton Becks

College

Learn to manage your time.

Get your proper sleep.

Build good habits.

Keep your faith a priority.

Pray all of the time.

Plug into a church community.

Reach out to friends for accountability.

Keep your priorities straight.

Make and keep a schedule.

Prepare for a bigger student body.

Get involved in student activities, i.e., intramurals, clubs, fraternities or sororities, ministries, sports, small groups, etc.

Fulfill your responsibilities.

Keep your options open for vocational ministry and church ministries after college.

Know your strengths and weaknesses.

Be self-aware.

Work with your professors.

Take ownership of your work.

Find your passions.

Ask questions of professors.

Do your homework.

Study every day. Don’t cram.

Keep your mind open to different points of view.

Don’t be lazy.

Resist negative peer pressure.

Enjoy college.

Stay in touch with your parents.

Enjoy a new kind of relationship with your parents.

Be yourself.

Make the faith your own.

Keep following Jesus.

Be intentional about maintaining your good SCS friendships.

Choose friends who build you up in your faith.

Take advantage of your college advisors.

Use the food service and try to avoid eating out; you will be pinching pennies.

Definitely, save money from summer jobs.

Get to know your professors, who can open doors for you.

Internships also open doors.

Try not to have a job as a first-year college student, so you can enjoy the full college experience.

If you are undecided about your major, take your general requirements first.

If you know your major, take 1 or 2 general education classes and major classes early in your college career.

Free time included time in the ocean, a spike ball tournament, basketball, silence, solitude, and walks on the beach.

A highly competitive dodge ball tournament followed.

After an amazing dinner of lasagna, garlic braids, hot broccoli, salad bar, and tiramisu, we convened for a final general session.

Pastor Nathan recognized Mrs. Evans and the SGA officers for their organization and delivery of this retreat.

Pastor Nathan thanked the seniors for their flexibility and good attitudes during the retreat.

Pastor Nathan prayed for Ashton Becks’ final session.

Ashton

Let me share what I am learning about personally.

I want to talk about repentance.

What does the Bible say about repentance?

Repentance is the first thing you do as a Christian. We say, “I am a sinner in need of a Savior.”

Let’s looks at Psalm 51:1-12.

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

² Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

⁴ Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

⁵ Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

⁶ Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

⁷ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

⁸ Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

⁹ Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

¹¹ Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

¹² Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

David had sinned. He had committed adultery with Bathsheba. He had Uriah, her husband, murdered.

David initially tried to take himself off the hook for his sin. But Uriah was honorable, messing up David’s plan.

Nathan told a story about a rich man who took a poor man’s beloved lamb. Nathan said to David, “You are the man!”

David had blown his life up.

Psalm 51:15 includes David’s singing in the midst of his horrible sin.

He responded with repentance.

David was a man after God’s own heart. He was iconic. Here, he needed to repent.

From Psalm 51:4 and Pastor Tim Keller —

Point #1

Educate your conscience with truth.

Know what the Lord finds to be evil. Please the Lord. Have high standards for yourself. The standards come from God, not others or yourself. Receive truth from the Bible.

Point #2

Confess and take responsibility.

David took responsibility for his evil. He acknowledged what he had done. He had sinned. He chose to sin. We all make excuses for our sin. He owned his sin. A couple weeks ago, I was lazy, watching TikTok when I should have been studying.

Point #3

Cover your heart with God’s unfailing love.

We are made in the image of God. We have God’s standard in our heart. David was concerned about messing up his relationship with God by sinning against Bathsheba and Uriah. God loves us unconditionally. Our value comes from God.

Point #4

When you sin, do not fixate on the rules or about the consequences.

Know that God loves you unconditionally. Accept the consequences. David grieved the loss of the son born to him and Bathsheba, but he accepted the consequences of his sin.

The list of our sins goes on and on. But God loves you. He sent Jesus to pay the penalty of our sin.

For the Christians in this room, despise your sin, and don’t despise yourself.

If you are a Christian and in a rut with sin, repent, and turn back to God. Admit that you messed up. Surrender to God. Be in His Word. Don’t do whatever you want.

I won’t assume everyone here is a Christian. See what David has done in this situation. Guilt and shame are only temporary. God loves you.

For the next 5-10 minutes, talk to someone you trust to share your burdens.

I will play a couple songs which encapsulate the idea of repentance.

The second bonfire of the weekend included praise songs led again by Ashton and Menzi — and a time of sharing with the focus on the future of this class, including heartfelt “shout-outs about each other.

Fire ordinances on the Island require extinguishing of fires no later than 10:00 p.m., so, even though we all would have stayed at the fire pit for much longer, we moved to the last activity of the evening — a crab hunt.

This was the final team activity, and I am told that one group captured 51 scurrying crabs in their 5-gallon bucket! (Of course, all of the captured crabs from the 6 groups were released at the end of the competition.

Sunday, September 11, 2022

After breakfast, Pastor Nathan prepped the seniors for their second Time Alone With God (TWAG), and the seniors spent TAWG:

“Justifying my own existence. . .pt. 2

“We have all our things to do and stresses of all that lay ahead in the coming weeks and months leading up to graduation. What are the three greatest sources of stress as you contemplate the return to Greenville?

1.

2.

3.

“. . .and the heart of Jesus. . .

“Read the following with a pen. Circle, underline, highlight the things that stand out to you in this text.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28)

“P. Forrest’s thoughts. . .

“Work is good. Responsibility is a weight that gives life significance and meaning as we labor in our gifting and wiring to participate in the right work that is to be done in this world. AND. What God intended to be good the Enemy seeks to use for evil. For me personally, the greatest lie I struggle with is that my value and approval is contingent upon me not failing. Even as I am preparing for this retreat, my stress stems from failing you. . .of getting an angry email. . .failing one of my co-workers. . .of disappointing Jesus who is sitting on the sidelines just waiting to lost off all the ways I didn’t measure up to His standard.

“And to this, we have the single passage where Jesus discloses the nature of his heart. If Jesus is not lying, and he truly is gentle and and lowly in heart, how ought this shape how we process our responsibilities and expectations we feel?

“What are the biggest challenges for you believing this to be true?

1.

2.

3.

“Dane Ortlund’s Thoughts. . .

“The minimum bar to be enfolded into the embrace of Jesus is simply: open yourself up to him. It is all he needs. Indeed, it is the only thing he works works with. Verse 28 of our passage in Matthew 11 tells us explicitly who qualifies for fellowship with Jesus: ‘all who labor and are heavy laden.’ You don’t need to unburden or collect yourself and then come to Jesus. Your very burden is what qualifies you to come. No payment is required; he says, ‘I will give you rest.’ His rest is gift, not transaction. Whether you are actively working hard to crowbar your life into smoothness (‘labor’) or passively finding yourself weighed down by something outside your control (‘heavy laden’), Jesus Christ’s desire that you find rest, that you come in out of the storm, outstrips even your own. [Gentle and Lowly 21]

“. . .the crowbar or weight you bear. . .

“What is your reaction to the stress of what lay ahead? Is rest found at the end of labor, in the achievement, in fixing all of the things? Or is rest found at the cost of burying, numbing, compartmentalizing, mocking, or distancing ourselves from the pain?

“Based on those who have gone before you who cope in the same way, how does that pattern impact the rest of life as you enter adulthood?

“Take some time. Write. Talk aloud (quietly as needed 🙂 with Jesus about where you’re at and what you need from him.

“. . .how this changes everything. . .

“If this is Jesus’ posture towards the broken, weary, and fallen, how does this form how we respond to one another in our weakness? Specifically. . .

“Who are those the Spirit is calling you to move towards in a manner that mirrors his heart and invitation to you?

1.

2.

3.”

Students returned to the Meeting Room, Pastor Nathan debriefed the weekend activities, and he reminded students to meet the camp’s expectations for room clean-up.

The students and chaperones cleaned their rooms, packed their belongings, and loaded the bus for our return to Greenville.

We stopped for lunch along the way back home and arrived at school by early-afternoon.

Personally, I believe the Senior Class Retreats was a major success. Why do I offer this conclusion?

The seniors planned and “owned” the retreat.

There was a great variety of activities for everyone’s likes.

Students were able to have fun and be silly with everyone.

There were times of seriousness.

Hearts were knit closer together.

The camp food was decent.

The room accommodations were very nice.

The weather was memorable (a gully washer and tornado alert on Friday and near-perfect conditions on Saturday).

There were no major injuries.

The chaperones were fully engaged.

We praise God for the SCS Class of 2023!!

“Living in Fear of Teenagers”

Paul David Tripp is a great biblical thinker and communicator. Parents and grandparents: I think you will find some good resources in this article:

“Living in Fear of Teenagers”

By Paul David Tripp

Wednesday’s Word

August 31, 2022

https://www.paultripp.com/wednesdays-word/posts/living-in-fear-of-teenagers

Summary of HS Assembly, 01 September 2022

Summary of High School Assembly

Southside Christian School

By Dr. Bob Stouffer, High School Principal (All mistakes are mine alone.)

Thursday, September 1, 2022

9:40-10:20 a.m.

Fine Arts Center

Welcome / Overview of New Structure for Chapel / Small Groups Update — Pastor Nathan Forrest, Campus Pastor/Director of Discipleship

• Week 1 of a month: Forum in the Fine Arts Center and small groups throughout the building next week
• Week 2: Split of 9-10 in small groups and 11-12 in the Forum
• Week 3: Flipped 11-12 in small groups and 9-10 in the Forum
• Week 4: Assembly to celebrate individual and team student accomplishments

D.R. Mission Trip Testimonies — Pastor Colin Urbanick, Bible Teacher, and students Isaac Masone, Kyle Schutt, Morgan Grom

• Sister school in D.R.
• Incredible trips to pour into the Freedom International School ministry
• “Best trip ever,” said Isaac
• Working with students is very satisfying.
• The students have an effect on you, said Morgan.
• Pushing yourself is scary, but what you put in is what you get out.
• We shared our testimonies in the villages (batays).
• Kyle experienced an overwhelming peace when he shared his testimony, even though he had previously been nervous about sharing his story. 

Red Bird Mission Trip — Dr. Stouffer, Chaperone; Varsity Football Coach Allen Lowy, Chaperone, with 9 team members

• Beverly, Kentucky
• Impoverished area of Appalachia
• Built a 50-foot ramp for a disabled man
• Hard, rocky ground — numerous postholes — hot temperatures
• Hoping to build a long-term relationship with Red Bird Mission

Introduction to JTerm Trips for 2023 — Carla Evans, Director of Student Life and International Relations

• Unique opportunities through a variety of travel experiences for cultural awareness and service
• We will highlight the January, 2023 trips today.

Honduras Mission Trip — Mrs. Evans

• January 1-7, 2022
• White Horse Mission
• Sponsor Carla Evans
• Advancing the Gospel in Honduras
• Sports and kids
• VBS
• Door-to-door evangelism
• Just a few spots left!

Cozumel Scuba Trip — Chris McCameron, Chaperone (in place of Lead Sponsor Bob Jones, Assistant Principal, who was ill on this day)

• SCUBA Club at SCS (to help get certified and take enjoyable trips)
• Bob Jones and Chris McCameron the Sponsors
• The first week of January, 2023
• 10 dives (a great variety)
• Allegro resort
• “Dance battles” in the evening!
• Evening Bible studies

STEM Houston Trip — Fred Barrett, Vocal Music Director

• NASA, Johnson Space Center
• 4-day trip
• Off-short drilling platform
• An “aeronautical experience” (indoor sky diving)
• Tour of the original airport
• Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets in the Toyota Center
• Joshua Expeditions mission component to assist people in an impoverished area
• No passport necessary

Other JTerm Information — Mrs. Evans

• See trip sponsors as soon as possible; registration closes soon.
• Classes (some led by SCS teachers, others offered at Bob Jones University); registration beginning at the beginning of October
• Internships allow students to get hands-on, practical experiences.
• Dr. Stouffer oversees the Internship process.
• At the beginning of October, internship paperwork will be available to students.
• We are very excited about JTerm 2023!

Student Life Activities — Pastor Nathan, Mrs. Evans, and the SGA Executives

Homecoming Spirit Week: 

• Monday is Pajama Day
• Tuesday is Soccer Mom vs Grill Day.
• Wednesday is Pirates vs. Palace Day.
• Thursday is Baby vs. Boomer Day.
• Friday is Classic Blue and White Day!

Evening Homecoming Week Activities — Trey Dowling, SGA Executive Board President:

• Monday: Men’s Volleyball Tournament
• Wednesday: Powderpuff Football
• Thursday: Sock, Chalk, and Sundaes (white shirts with colored chalk, with ice cream sundaes to follow)
• Friday: Parade, Pep Rally, Homecoming Booths, Varsity Football vs. Dixie High School, and more!
• Saturday: Homecoming Dance (Josh Amos the D.J.)

Additional Student Life Activities — Trey

• Student Prayer Time on Tuesdays at 7:30-7:55 a.m. in the Fine Arts Center

• Senior Retreat next weekend

• Club meetings starting next week

• Honor club inductions coming soon

• Fine Arts Dinner Show

• Fall Benevolence Project

• Holiday Inn

• Spiritual Life Conference on November 15-17, 2022

• Christmas Spirit Week

• Concerts in December

• Athletic events throughout the year

GO, SABRES!

Closing Prayer — Kaitlyn Moll, SGA Executive Board Chaplain

Closing — Pastor Nathan

• A round of applause for the student council!
• A lot of preparation for good times in the fall
• You are SCS.  We love you.  We are for you.  We want you to have a flourishing year.
• Talk quietly with your friend about you’re most excited about.