Lustre News
The EMB Harvest Festival will begin Sunday, Aug. 30, at 10:30 a.m. with the morning service, followed by 12:30 lunch and an afternoon service at 1:30 pm. Speakers are Dan and Melody Nichols of Ireland. Monday evening’s service begins at 7 p.m. All are welcome!
All roads led to LCHS Sunday evening for the Opening program on Aug. 23. Our new principal, Evan Cummins, emceed the evening. Pastor Wayne Hathaway of the Lustre EMB Church opened the meeting in prayer, asking God “to give the teachers wisdom and insight as they teach,” and “that the students will learn and trust You in everything that they do.”
Principal Cummins introduced his family and empathized with those parents who were taking students to college this weekend. He said the theme verse for the school year was Exodus 17:12. “When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady till sunset.” He said 1) “We have a firm foundation because we build on the Capstone of Jesus Christ. We fix our eyes on Jesus. We are different individually but we have a common theme: the Rock upon which we stand is Jesus Christ.” 2) “There is the grace of community. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. When hands get tired, we’ve seen folks ready to prop up our hands. Through it all, we know we are not alone.” “There is a certain intimacy that comes together when we work together, shoulder to shoulder for a common goal. We build intimacy with God too.”
He explained the meaning of the word enumah as “confident, trusting, steady, faith.” He encouraged the students to ask hard questions in class, as “it’s a safe place to search together and make faith our own.” Cummins said he had heard about Lustre, but had never come until last year. He said “There is an incredible sense of kindness in Lustre. We can all be nice, but “kind” means being accepted into the group. Kind is a type, as in Genesis (two of every kind). It’s a rich heritage your community has, and a rich reputation as well. 3) As in Joshua’s time, there will be ‘Valley’ fighting. The outstretched interceding arms of Moses remind me of the outstretched arms of Calvary and being accepted in Jesus.”
He introduced music teacher Jerson Ayuno, whose choir of nine girls and 13 fellows sang “If you are for me who can be against me…the Battle belongs to the Lord.” The administrative staff and coaching staff, the dorm parents and dorm committe were introduced as well as the foundation board and LCHS boards. The teaching staff includes Evan Cummins, Jennifer Zerbe, Nicky Hilkemann, Haley Bell, Grace Anne Balagulan, Jerson Ayuno and Marshall Mullet.
Haley Bell, a graduate of Grand Canyon University, came to teach English. She also loves basketball. She told us after her diffi cult experience as a college freshman, she determined “she would never be hurt like that again.” “God had his work cut out to get me to trust Him or anyone.” “He sent an army of individuals to show love and they wouldn’t let me push them away.” “I learned that faith without works is dead. Words need actions. It means trusting God when we can’t understand”.
Grace Anne Balagulan came from the Philippines to teach math.She taught five years in the Philippines and two years in the US. She loves “to sing, listen to worship music and watching how faithful and good God is.” She told her story, of searching for God, and praying for “the God in heaven, the unseen God to lead her”. She told of “a close friend in college who shared the gospel” and a former high school principal inviting her to church where she heard joyful singing.
She told of “coming out of darkness through a personal relationship, not a denomination.” She spoke of becoming careful in decisions and of learning patience, love and humility as a youth leader. She encouraged the students to realize things here “are temporal. It’s God’s faithfulness and meditating on His Word that are not temporal.” To close she read Lamentations 3:22-23.
Cummins shared his story as well. He is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Jay Cummins and grew up in Poplar. His story deserves a time all its own.
The student worship team sang “Your Grace is Enough” while the board members took an offering for the school’s operation. Student class advisers were introduced, who in turn introduced their students.
Curt Neufeld, chairman of the LCHS board, said. “There is a lot to be thankful for. We have seen God’s hand and it’s very evident at times. God put you staff here. Keep us in your prayers to be Christ-centered. It takes an army to run a school. It is fun to see what God does. Join with us in Praising God in everything that happens here!”
The worship team asked the audience that filled the bleachers to join them in singing “You are Holy”, and Mr. Jones Cumpio, the Dorm Dad closed in prayer. Heprayed“As we close this program we place the entire school year in Your loving hands. Guide our students in their studies, decisions, friendsips, responsibilities, and daily activities, helping them grow, not only in knowledge but also in wisdom, character, and faith. Give our teachers the wisdom that comes from heaven as they teach and guide these young people. Provide them with daily strength and protect everyone from harm, temptation, and from any form of evil. Thank You, Lord, that Your care is with us every day, wherever we go, watching over our steps, our successes, and even our struggles. As Psalm 121:8 declares, preserve our going out and our coming in, from this time forth and even forevermore, so that from the first of this school year until the last, and beyond
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year will bring, but because we know the One who will faithfully keep us through it all. We ask all these things in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, and all God’s people say, Amen.”
