On November 17th, I was blessed with the privilege of preaching at Rio Vista Community Church, and I wanted to share this message with our Bethany family.
To listen, click the sermon title below.
Jesus' Triumph Over Satan's Temptations
Just as the sheep are called to know the voice of our Shepherd, so too are the sheep expected to recognize the whispers of our great adversary. As we read about Jesus' triumph over the devil’s greatest temptations, we discover that our Savior is the only unfailing hero in this world. Our God willingly embraced a life of suffering, so that he could sympathize with our tears and secure our fate in heaven. Incredibly, Jesus loved us too much to accept a kingdom without the Cross. And he did all of this for us! So when the familiar whisper of Satan comes to you in the midst of your greatest moments of suffering (“If God really loved you, he would never allow you to suffer"), let us remember the faithful example of our Savior who persevered through suffering and refused to let go of the faithful promises of God.
I pray that this message richly blesses and encourages your heart!
In Christ,
Sam Kastensmidt
Headmaster
Bethany Christian School
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Letter to BCS Middle School Parents...
Hello BCS parents,
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank each of you
for the privilege of teaching your sons and daughters. As you know, I have
taken on the role of teaching Bible this year, and it has been such a great joy
for me. I have been so impressed by the maturity and wisdom expressed by your
kids. As a teacher, I have always had very high expectations for my students, but
I confess that their ability (and eagerness) to grasp the most important concepts
of life has been quite impressive — especially considering that they are in the
middle-school stage of life. They are an awesome bunch of kids, and they have absolutely
dominated my high-school level Bible curriculum. Our textbook is being used in
three private, Christian high schools in Broward County, and I’d put my students
up against any of their students!
In each of my classes, we have had so many great
conversations about life, the grace of God, Christian ethics, philosophy, and
the most important priorities in life. From my perspective, the students seem
genuinely excited to learn about the Scriptures, which has really blessed my
heart. Along with you, I am hopeful that their deepening relationship with God is
giving them a solid foundation for the rest of life.
The Middle School years can be among the most challenging
developmental years in all of life. As I mentioned during the Open House, each
of the teachers in the BCS Middle School considers ourselves to be partners in
shepherding your child’s heart. If you ever notice an area where your child needs
encouragement or discipleship, please let us know. While we are absolutely
committed to providing the best academic environment possible, each of us
serves at Bethany Christian School because we feel called to help shepherd and
shape the hearts of our students for a lifetime to come.
Again, thanks for the opportunity and privilege that we
have in loving and teaching your kids!
Blessings in Christ,
Sam Kastensmidt
Headmaster
Bethany Christian School
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Calling All Bethany Dads...
Last year, we launched the DADS' ministry of Bethany Christian School. Each month, Bethany's dads gathered in the Attic once each month to enjoy an impressive breakfast spread, to build friendships, and to share in a brief devotional message on biblical fatherhood. Ask around. It was always a great time filled with really fruitful discussions.
This year, we will be holding the DADS' Breakfasts on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30am in the Attic. There is no charge, and childcare is available. Our first breakfast of the year is scheduled for September 10th. Our goal is to cultivate a healthy and vibrant community of dads who are engaged and growing closer together in friendship.
The Bible tells us, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." As dads, it is extremely important that we are fed spiritually and encouraged in the difficult task of fatherhood.
I look forward to seeing you on September 10th when we will be discussing the impact of fathers as "role models." Please feel free to invite other dads!
Blessings in Christ,
Sam
This year, we will be holding the DADS' Breakfasts on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30am in the Attic. There is no charge, and childcare is available. Our first breakfast of the year is scheduled for September 10th. Our goal is to cultivate a healthy and vibrant community of dads who are engaged and growing closer together in friendship.
The Bible tells us, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." As dads, it is extremely important that we are fed spiritually and encouraged in the difficult task of fatherhood.
I look forward to seeing you on September 10th when we will be discussing the impact of fathers as "role models." Please feel free to invite other dads!
Blessings in Christ,
Sam
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Thanks for Your Generosity!
Hello Bethany families!
We have officially launched the 2013-2014 school year, and things are off to a great start! You can sense the incredible level of enthusiasm and positive energy among our students, parents, faculty, and staff. This atmosphere makes it a lot of fun to be part of the Bethany family!
During the past two summers at Bethany, our team has worked very hard to ensure that our school's facilities and resources are top-notch. Thanks to the generosity of our school families and church community during our two major annual fundraisers -- Boosterthon and the Auction, we have been able to make a number of significant upgrades to our campus. It's always good to know the impact of your generosity, so I wanted to take a brief moment to highlight thirty upgrades made to Bethany's campus during the past fourteen months.
With an incredible faculty, an impressive academic profile (top 4% in the nation), and upgraded facilities, Bethany is a top-tier private school in Broward County. And word is now getting out. Last year, Bethany set an opening day enrollment record with 265 students. This year, we set yet another enrollment record -- opening our doors with 291 students (305 students, if you count the nursery).
Along with the blessing of growing enrollment numbers comes the challenge of spatial needs on our existing campus. Last year, we added a second Kindergarten class. This year, we added a second first-grade class. Our team has already drawn up plans to ensure that our facilities can accommodate two classes for each elementary grade going forward. We are planning an expansion campaign for Bethany! This year's fundraising goals will be devoted to short-term expansion needs as well as the development of exciting new academic programs.
It is a great time to be a Bethany Bobcat! Thank you so much for your past support, and we hope that you will partner with us for the exciting days ahead!
Sincerely,
Sam Kastensmidt
Headmaster
Bethany Christian School
We have officially launched the 2013-2014 school year, and things are off to a great start! You can sense the incredible level of enthusiasm and positive energy among our students, parents, faculty, and staff. This atmosphere makes it a lot of fun to be part of the Bethany family!
During the past two summers at Bethany, our team has worked very hard to ensure that our school's facilities and resources are top-notch. Thanks to the generosity of our school families and church community during our two major annual fundraisers -- Boosterthon and the Auction, we have been able to make a number of significant upgrades to our campus. It's always good to know the impact of your generosity, so I wanted to take a brief moment to highlight thirty upgrades made to Bethany's campus during the past fourteen months.
- 30 iPads for classroom use
- A Mobile iPad Cart (36-Unit)
- Wireless Access Points Blanketing the Campus
- A Guest Network for Wireless Access
- Overhead Mounted Projectors & Screens in Each Classroom
- Apple TV connections (enabling interactive iPad instruction)
- Security Surveillance System Covering the Entire Campus
- New Graphic Arts Program & Software for MS Students
- New Online Reading Comprehension Program
- New Signage around the Campus
- Newly Renovated Art Room
- Newly Renovated Music Room
- Newly Renovated 2nd Grade Classroom
- Newly Created Media Center (22 Laptops)
- Newly Renovated Teacher Workroom
- New MacBook Pros for Our Teachers
- Upgraded PCs for Administrative Personnel
- Office Renovation for our New Director of Academics
- Biblical-Themed Murals on Campus Walls
- Integrated VOIP Phone System for Entire Campus
- Updated Wiring in the Preschool Building
- Fiber-Optic Cable (beneath 9th Street)
- Integrated Networks to Allow for File-Sharing
- A Ministry Outreach Coordinator
- A New Nursery ("The Creation Station")
- Drywall over Cinder-Blocks in Downstairs Classrooms
- Newly Painted "Green-Top" Courtyard (reducing heat)
- New In-House Digital Camera to Record BCS Events
- A Contract for Hardcover Yearbooks (coming this year)
- New Online Platforms for Grades & Communication
With an incredible faculty, an impressive academic profile (top 4% in the nation), and upgraded facilities, Bethany is a top-tier private school in Broward County. And word is now getting out. Last year, Bethany set an opening day enrollment record with 265 students. This year, we set yet another enrollment record -- opening our doors with 291 students (305 students, if you count the nursery).
Along with the blessing of growing enrollment numbers comes the challenge of spatial needs on our existing campus. Last year, we added a second Kindergarten class. This year, we added a second first-grade class. Our team has already drawn up plans to ensure that our facilities can accommodate two classes for each elementary grade going forward. We are planning an expansion campaign for Bethany! This year's fundraising goals will be devoted to short-term expansion needs as well as the development of exciting new academic programs.
It is a great time to be a Bethany Bobcat! Thank you so much for your past support, and we hope that you will partner with us for the exciting days ahead!
Sincerely,
Sam Kastensmidt
Headmaster
Bethany Christian School
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