I will warn you in advance that the title of this article is somewhat deceiving. Its contents do not take a stand for or against global warming. Neither does it take great pains to enlighten you about discovering your "carbon footprint" or how reducing it may or may not affect global warming. So, if I'm not even going to have the intestinal fortitude to take a stand on this often debated subject, why did I bother to mess with such a title?

While recently searching the Internet, I came across a site that was totally dedicated to the cause of decreasing global warming. An entire page on the site was devoted to helping readers determine their "carbon footprint." Within minutes, readers easily could fill in a few blanks and immediately receive an evaluation of their carbon imprint.

However, my eyes were immediately drawn to two words in large letters at the top of the page that read, "Take Action." Looming immediately beneath these words in equally large letters was the following challenge: "Calculate Your Impact." A brief four sentence paragraph followed these headings and concluded by challenging me to calculate my personal impact and learn how I could take action to lower or even eliminate my emissions of carbon dioxide. I proceeded to take the test and was told in bold, red letters that my personal impact was "much larger than average."

How I wish it was just as easy to gauge every believer's "Christian footprint" on the world! If such a test was available, I wonder how your staff would score. I am confident that the majority of those laboring in Christian schools would be told their impact was also "much larger than average." While they might not feel like their daily efforts accomplish great things, I am convinced the test results would unequivocally indicate a significant impact.

One example of teachers who are making this kind of difference is the staff at Griffin Christian School in East Dundee, Illinois. Though their student body is considered relatively small, God has clearly blessed their efforts. This issue of the "School Messenger" presents their testimony of changed lives that may never have come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ if they had not enrolled at Griffin Christian.

Whether your school has a thousand such stories to tell or none at all, be assured that you are making an impact if you are laboring for the glory of God. If there was ever a time our nation needed your efforts, it is now, as we face uncertain times both economically and morally. Never before has our nation faced such trying times, and never before has the need for Christian education been more evident.

Continue to take action in your school by laboring faithfully and "heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:23-24). In doing this, someday you will hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Your impact on Earth was much larger than average!"

Roy Faletti
Vice President of Educational Services