The Foolishness of God
When God finally moved my heart to start a school for my neighbors, I had no idea what he had in store.
I thought maybe we’d try it for a year or two. Or if God really blessed us, we’d grow from 35 students to 180 urban youth. I got used to hearing, “Russ, you’re an idiot!”
And, in a sense, I was. I moved my family to “Murderapolis.” I quit my job, with a wife and three children to feed. My friend Jeff and I started a school, with no formal education training.
But 18 years and hundreds of faithful helpers later, look what God has done. Our latest Annual Report is a true testament that, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26):
- 474 urban youth receiving a remarkable, God-centered education (p. 4).
- $1 million dollars in college scholarships for our 2017 graduates–some the first in their family to graduate from high school (p. 15).
- Students who face adversity grasping “what true love really looks like” (p. 5).
- God transforming families, through Hope (p. 9).
During the last 18 years, I’ve grown especially fond of 1 Corinthians 1:25 & 27 which say, “the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom,” and that “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.” In a world that says, “God is foolish,” we say the “foolishness” of God is exactly what we need.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned on this journey, it’s that faith may not always make sense–but obedience to God is always worth it. May you be encouraged to follow God’s promptings today.
With joy,
Russ Gregg
Co-Founder & Head of School
