As I walked my daughter home from her Meet the Teacher night, I told her the sad truth. “Well, looks like summer break is over, dear.” She just skipped along, without much care. I, on the other hand, did feel a little melancholy. Our kids go to nice schools. The teachers are always kind, engaged, and well equipped. I have no doubt that this will be another perfectly fine school year. But, like many parents, I’m praying extra prayers for our kids, our teachers, our administrators, and the whole school apparatus, which is sure to consume a heaping pile of our time and energy.
You know how it goes. Drop off and pick-up. Countless forms, flyers, and permission slips. Parent-teacher conferences. Sporting events and extracurriculars. The exciting (read with slight sarcasm) daddy-daughter dances. Endless homework and fights about when we do the endless homework. And, worst of all, early bedtimes that make a working family feel like they have about three good hours with their children per day. Three good hours that include dinner, baths, and the aforementioned endless homework.
Oh, but there is much good too that my melancholy shouldn’t unceremoniously shove under the bed, like my daughter does her toys. There are transformational moments. Utter surprise when they say a new word, explain a new concept, or show off a new skill. The times where we parents shake our heads and say, “my word, you’re growing up quick.” There's the special relationship that gifted teachers develop with the kids, when things just “click” for a student, and you watch them take to a new subject like they were born for it. There are moments of achievement and success, and moments of hard conversations. Time to pick them up, dust them off, and watch them show grit and determination.
And that’s all just the perspective of a parent. The kids, teachers, coaches, administrators, staff, faculty (at universities), custodians, cooks, and aids all have their own.
Of course, our churches know that the school season marks a change for them as well. It might mean both exciting annual events centered on the school year and parents battling with coaches about Sunday sport events. I hope it means that our churches are getting involved in the life of their local schools, colleges, and universities. In the past we’ve run tremendous stories of how CGGC churches are tutoring kids, providing meals and school supplies, praying for our schools, providing space off campus for events, and by working alongside schools to generally meet their needs.
One recent story comes from Wharton Church of God in Northwest Ohio. Wharton COG has been holding their Back 2 School Blitz for more than a decade, starting in 2013. The Back 2 School Blitz entails a celebration on the main street of Wharton, with inflatables, face painting, rides, and more. But the real reason for the event is because Wharton hands out free backpacks, filled with supplies. This year alone they handed out over 500 back packs.
The number of backpacks Wharton has handed out increased in the most recent years, likely due to rising costs, and families struggling to make ends meet. That means Wharton is directly addressing the needs of their local community, helping kids and parents start the year off right.
Watch Wharton COG's 2025 Back 2 School Blitz
I'd like to ask our readers to pray for our schools. For the physical, mental, and spiritual health of our students, faculty, and staff, and for new ways that churches can uplift and support our schools, which now, as ever, need the compassion and power of Christ.
Specifically, I’ll be praying for:
- The safety of our schools, that God would protect our schools from shootings, threats, and violence.
- The health and well-being of our students, who often experience hunger, loneliness, homelessness, and difficulties inside and outside of school.
- The health and well-being of our faculty and staff, who bear heavy loads, and large responsibilities, caring for our students’ needs while meeting the demands of stringent government requirements.
- For students entering school, leaving school, or moving to a new phase, that God would guide their steps and encourage them through the fear.
- That God would empower our churches to support our schools, children, and teachers, giving them the hope of Christ through the Gospel, and the compassion of Christ through their generosity and involvement.
If you have more to pray for, please feel free to comment below, and we’ll publish them.
CGGC eNews—Vol. 20, No. 33
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