Welcome, Eagles!  This is going to be another awesome year for our Junior High. I am excited about what you are going to learn, the fun activities we have planned, and the wonderful and caring teachers ready for the year. I hope you are excited too.  At Immanuel Schools, it is our mission to equip you to serve God and neighbor with mind, body, and soul, based on a Christ-centered foundation.

Our motto this year is Made for More. It comes from our theme verse in Ephesians 2:10 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

There are so many truths to unpack in this verse.  We are all a piece of God’s art that is being incorporated into His grand design and masterpiece.  This verse states that we were created in Christ Jesus for a purpose, for good works that He had prepared for us long before we were born.  There is a plan for our lives and Jesus desires that we walk in that plan.  You can choose, however, to walk outside of God’s intended plan.  On the one hand, we can follow an ordained plan that brings order and peace in our lives, work to spread the message of Christ, and bring God the glory that is due Him.  On the other hand, we can ignore the plan, bring chaos and strife into our lives, and follow sinful desires that lead to death.  We were created as tools, with specific gifts and talents, for Christ to use and He has a plan for how He wants to use us for His masterpiece and advancing His kingdom.  Our enemy, however,  tells us to forge our own paths, make our own way, and question what God has for us.  Do not believe the lie that we know better than God and that we should determine what piece of art should be made or how the tools should be used.  You were Made for More than yourself and your own desires.

Students, don’t miss this.  Christ has a loving plan for you that isn’t going to lead to your destruction.  It will lead to your good now and in the future.  It leads to eternal life and reigning in heaven as we bask in the glory of God.  Will you respond to the invitation, obey, and be a part of His beautiful masterpiece?  We all have a role to play.  He didn’t just create us and then wonder what to do with us.  He knew beforehand what he wanted for us and how we would fit into His plan.  We will never be more satisfied in life than when we follow God’s design and plans.  Do not let this world fool you.  You were Made for More than yourself.  You were made for Him.

Junior Higher’s, as you approach the 24-25 school year, I hope that you learn to trust that Jesus has a plan for your life and that you understand you were Made for More.  If you do not yet know, Jesus, I pray this will be a year in which you discover his steadfast pursuit and love and I pray that you will choose to respond, obey, and follow him.  For those who already know Jesus, I pray this year provides fresh opportunities for you to reflect on His plan to develop you and that you will pursue those good works he has for you to do.  Your teachers and I are looking forward to pointing you to Jesus and getting to know each of you this next school year.

You were Made for More and you can trust Him!

Sincerely,

Brad Krause
Jr. High Principal