The Epic, Pt. 76

The constituency meeting of Takoma Park’s school, which was to be the last step in finalizing the merger with the neighboring school, was held on August 27, 2009. The initiative to merge the schools had come from the Potomac Conference. Both schools were dropping in enrollment. Money was tight and getting tighter. When the conference was contacted about possible solutions to the problem, the idea of a merger was proposed. This idea was not at all new. Merging the schools had been discussed off and on for at least 25 years. This time the conference hired a consultant for the specific task of accomplishing the merger of the two schools. This final meeting did not go as the conference expected or wanted.

It was an extremely hot summer evening and the meeting was held in the school’s gym, which is not air conditioned. The passion of the discussion rose as high as the temperature. Many parents got up and spoke of their love for the school. They said that there were valid reasons that their children were not at the other school. Some people even mentioned that they drove by the other school on their way to and from school each day. Teachers were standing in the back of the gym crying. They were so sure that their school would be closing.

The decision was finally put to a written vote. After the votes were collected several members of the audience got up and helped to tally the votes. Then the consultant got up to announce the results. He announced that the vote was 19-18 to merge the two schools. At this, one of the gentlemen who had helped count the votes got the consultant’s attention and there was a whispered conversation. The consultant turned pale and his smile disappeared. When he came back to the mic, the consultant stated that he had misunderstood the results and that the vote was 19-18 to keep the school open.

The conference was not prepared to accept this. After a few minutes of discussion among some of the top conference officials in attendance at the meeting, the consultant got up again and offered the delegates three possible next steps to choose from. They could 1) vote again, 2) take a break and pray awhile and then vote again, or 3) the original vote could stand. The delegates did not feel that another vote was necessary. They had been told that whatever they decided would be final. Neither did they feel that additional prayer was necessary. Delegates to the meeting had been praying for months about the decision that was to be made. They also did not feel that anyone was likely to change their vote. Finally, Pastor DeSilva got up and suggested to the conference officials that they accept that the plan was defeated.

When the meeting was over teachers, parents, and alumni met together in small groups at the back of the gym. Some of the teachers went to one of the classrooms so that they could cry in private. They were so amazed at the miracle God had performed for them. One person was heard to say, “The hard work has just begun.”

Supporters of the school left knowing that God had intervened. They also knew that there was a long road ahead of them. Much was left to do, but God had shown them in a mighty way that they were not alone.

Next: For Show

Justice