Editorial/Op
Why We Do What We Do
By |
For me, Sunday evening was a powerful reminder of why we in the Central community have spent so much time and energy investing in our City and our Schools. “The Stand Prayer Rally – Praying for Central Schools & Students” was held in the CHS theater, sponsored by Central area churches, and attended by hundreds of students, parents, teachers and community members. The message is clear. Central’s students, churches and community members are passionate about preserving and promoting the values established by the generations who came before us that defined this Central community long before it was a city. Why do we do what we do? For our children, our faith, and our community.
If anyone had any question about the quality of Central’s next generation of leaders, that question was answered Sunday evening. Students of this community stood together and prayed for their friends, their peers in positions of leadership, their teachers, their parents, their city and schools. They shared from the heart their concern for the direction of their lives, the lives of their friends, and for those among them who are struggling. If these students are the future of Central, this community is in good hands.
“The Stand Prayer Rally” was sponsored by Central’s Churches. If the faith life of a community can be measured by the unfailing support of its churches, Central is on the right path. The mere presence of forty, yes 40, churches in the City of Central, is testimony to the still strong influence of Faith in Central. Not only are there forty churches, but through events like this and through CAPA, the Central Area Pastor’s Association, these churches are intentional about going beyond their four walls and making a difference in this community. They support Central not to gain members, but to support the faith base that has been foundational to Central for generations.
As I looked around the crowded theater I saw one more group, the generations that had the vision and tenacity to fight for better schools for our children, giving birth to the City of Central and our school system. Parents, teachers, administrators, community leaders, friends and neighbors took the time to join with our churches to support our students. Family, friends and neighbors stood and expressed their love, concern and support for our children and the Central community.
At the end of the evening, as a praise band of Central students led in closing music, our students gathered in the front of the Theater. The entire community that had come out were given the opportunity to just stand behind them in a show of support, demonstrating that that the Central community is standing ready to support them. Standing there, every fund-raiser, every practice, every ball game, every dance recital, every late night study session and every hour we worried about our children made perfect sense. THEY are Why We Do What We Do. This is Central, the greatest place on earth to live and raise a family.
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