Let us not be the Generation

I am grateful for the hard work of our dedicated teachers, school administrators, the constituents that donate money, and to the many volunteers with good intentions. However since 1989 the Central California Conference has lost 30 percent of its school population. This year alone, our conference has lost 158 children. One of our academies is currently selling a portion of their property to a developer. And even with Fresno Adventist Academy (FAA) being located in the same community as the conference office, the campus is in the sixth year of substantial enrollment deterioration while being in a region of increasing population. Locally we are the only campus (private or public) in decline.

Unfortunately our local situation is a mere reflection of the national trend. In North American, Adventist school enrollment has been declining since the 1980's. And the reality is, Adventist education is on the verge of becoming a catastrophic failure.

Our educational system has become far too small, our conviction far too limited, our time far too short to waste anymore energy on fleeting one-sided victories and minor adjustments at the expense of our children. Let us not be the generation that allowed the irreversible demise of Adventist education as we know it.

There is a need for major reform with prayerful thought. We must pray for wisdom and ask for God's help. We must ask him for the passion to move our dialog to a new level, the level of action. We need to find a way to triumph together as laymen and pastors in honor of our faith to God. We must show our respect to our Lord by raising all children in the best Christian environment possible. Our campuses should be stellar evangelistic centers for Christ and safe community havens for all families interested in Christian education.

We do not need more meetings to study the problem or meetings to present pious oratories; we need sincerity to do the Lord's work with commitment and impact from all Adventists. There needs to be a movement of grand scale where every word, every partnership, and every promise brings another child in contact with our Savior.

We must have the resolve to collectively correct the existing system with the same determination as our founding brothers and sisters. Their efforts and the grace of God began the Seventh-day Adventist movement. It was not without hardship or toil. It was based on a dedication to make things better for humanity in light of our faith and beliefs. It included love and kindness to all regardless of their attitude towards us. We must rekindle that evangelistic mission.

It is my dream that every child will grow into adulthood with the love of Christ, a willingness to share their faith and to have wonderful stories of youthful days of Christian education at an Adventist academy.