Lustre News
Local families have hosted the dorm students from before school began until dorm parents Mr. and Mrs. Jones Cumpios were able to come from the Philippines. They have their papers and have been able to make the travel arrangements now.
Principal Bob Burkhart welcomed the parents and community to the Aug. 25 opening program of Lustre Christian High School. He introduced this year’s theme “Walk Worthy,” based on Colossians 1:10. It says, “That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” He said “We all need to walk in Truth”. He encouraged the community that “you work so hard and do such a good job, and maybe I can help a little.”
He asked the people “to pray for the teachers and encourage them” and “to walk alongside students and staff, asking perceptive questions, as we all need to walk in the Truth”.
Jean Toews was asked to pray on behalf of the community. The staff chose the song I Sing the Mighty Power of God, led by Pastor Wayne Hathaway, assisted by his wife, Jeannie, on the piano.
Burkhart introduced the staff: Kendall Ross teaching American and world histories and social studies, speech, economics, world government and drama; Nicky Hilkemann teaching biology, physics, physical science, chemistry and physical education/health and is academic advisor. Michael Rickman teaches Bible, English and British literature. Nathan Lu will teach consumer math, algebra, geometry and trig/ calculus. Syril Matthyser will handle the information technology courses. He oversees the LCHS publications, including the yearbook. Pastor Wayne Hathaway will teach choir and band for the high school only.
The auxiliary staff and board members were each introduced: Tori Bell, noon cook; Randy Reddig, Lisa Neufeld and Mary Zerbe, coaches; Randy Reddig, activities director, Lynette Froilland, secretary; Eileen Traeholt, custodian; Lynn Unrau, treasurer; and Angie Smith, the international representative. Board members are Bill Reddig, chairman; Justyn Klatt, Clayton Zerbe, Jeff Damboise, Darin Pancratz, Jared Fast and Mike Hilkemann.
The dorm committee is Bob and Gretchen Schiller, chairpersons; Wes and Joy Young and Jean Toews. The foundation committee remains Keith Unger, Wilbur Unrau and Grant Zerbe.
Michael Rickman told his story, or at least a glimpse. He considers it an “honor to teach your children and grandchildren.” He grew up in a one-parent home, facing “one grief after another” and, upon graduation, joined the Navy with his mom’s permission. It was there a friend, Bob Williams, “kept after him about where he would go if he died.” He thought there was no God, and he told him “no one tells me where to go!” It was the Vietnam era. But he began to go to church because he “saw in the church family what I longed for in my growing up years.” He taught Sunday school and answered a call to preach without actually knowing the Lord. A song one Sunday hit home when it asked “I am satisfied with Jesus; is my Master satisfied with me?” It was in a personal evangelism class in Bible college that Philippians 2:9-11 confronted his attitude that no one could tell him what to do and he “trusted Jesus as his Saviour.” He has since been Pastor of four churches and spent 20 years in Thailand as a missionary with his wife and daughter, spending “20 years in prison, by filling out a job application” as he supported himself in tentmaker fashion. He has written 20 books and has three Educational degrees including a Doctorate. He lived most recently in Thailand, though he grew up in the U.S.
Nathan Lu is a graduate of the University of Delaware. He is in his first year of teaching. His parents and grandfather were chemical engineers, so he thought he would be one too, but hated classes. He shared his story that “he became depressed, felt alone on a campus surrounded by people” as he felt he was “coping with a boring life; even friendships and church were boring” to him. His misplaced goals to party through college eventually led him “to self-hatred and becoming suicidal. He simply was not coping and decided to drive three days to the Grand Canyon in Arizona with a bottle of pills and a bottle of water.” Arriving late at night, he planned to do himself in the next day. He said, “God’s servant was an old lady. She knocked on my car window and said ‘Hi, I’m Debbie. I hope you’re not here to kill yourself!’ She kept repeating that last statement. How did she know? She asked me to “Stay right here and I will meet you in the morning and show you around the village. I have lived here many years.” “I wept tears of joy. It gave me hope.”
The next morning, she knocked on my window again. “I noticed you did not bring much with you. I brought you a set of clothes, and a sleeping bag and food.” She filled my car with food! “If you have to live in your car, you will need to stay warm.”
Lu showed us the black scarf she had given him, as she invited him to bring his friends to her home to visit. In the time he was there, he was the happiest he had ever been. “I was not alone. I no longer had a desire to use drugs, and I was not depressed anymore. I began to find purpose and calmness like I see you have, and within 30 minutes of meeting with the lady, I knew I was to change my major to become a math teacher.” Nathan called his mom to tell her where he was and that God led him to be a math teacher. Her friend had just phoned her to tell her “Nathan is better suited as a math teacher than an engineer.” When he returned home, the Lord opened the way for him to be helped by a psychologist.
Lu told the students, “Kids, 2,000 years ago, Jesus died for our sins and saved my soul. Our sin separates us from God like a Grand Canyon of hell. I want to tell you that The Lord is near to the broken hearted.”
Burkhart led in The Doxology and Glorify Thy Name was played by Sarah Brown as offertory while the board members collected an offering for LCHS. Then, students were introduced by their class advisors. There are eight seniors, five juniors, six sophomores and 17 freshmen, making a total of 36 students.
Justin Klatt read Philippians 4:6-7 from the chair, Bill Reddig, who was not able to attend with taking his daughter to college. The verse talks of the peace of God guarding our hearts. Klatt read Matthew 5:16 and encouraged the people to let their lights Shine brightly and to let any good deeds bring glory to the Lord.
Pastor Frank Lenihan, the school’s chaplain, closed the program with a few comments and prayer. He said “This gym is a sanctuary. We honor the Lord here. We invite teams to compete hard here, but remember it is a sacred place.” Then, he prayed for “the Lord to surround the community with peace that passes understanding, give passion for learning, and students a willingness to work hard”.
He prayed “the students would not be overwhelmed by negative peer pressure, but be salt and light to their generation.” He prayed “the upperclassmen would be a good and godly example.” He prayed “for creativity and perseverance for teachers and dorm council co-workers, building up one another”. “Protect them from being overwhelmed.” “May they find delight in God’s presence.” He prayed “for the guardians and parents — that they would seek for understanding, patience and wisdom, joy in the journey.” He prayed “for the lonely, new friendships” and lastly “for the community, protection, good health and that God would prevent evil from entering our community, for you are sovereign and in control, good, upright and just. may you answer according to Your perfect will and timing.”
The LCHS Vvolleyball team hosts the Glasgow JV at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept 6. They host the Wolf Point JV at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept 7.
