As the 2022-2023 first day of school loomed, Tulsa Adventist Academy staff were excitedly preparing their classrooms and beaming about the increase in enrollment and new teachers. Over the summer, the school transitioned to online registration and financial aid applications so there was a slight learning curve that revealed not everyone who had requested aid would receive any. As families were notified of the lack of funds and/or late application status, the staff realized that several families’ children would be unable to return to school without additional funding from donors. Parents met with the treasurer and principal to work out finances, but to no avail: 17 students would have to be turned away. The tears started flowing on both sides of the table.
Meanwhile, a local church member had received $1,000.00 in cash and although he does not normally carry that amount of cash in his wallet, he left it there all week until Sabbath. He didn’t know why he needed to do that, but he did it. That particular Sabbath, Mrs. Vargas, teacher for grades 7-8, stood in the pulpit and pleaded with her church members to give what God moved them to give to help the 17 students return to school. As she left the stage, a man motioned to her and gave her 10 $100 bills. He told her, “Now I know why I was carrying this cash around all week!” The following week the same man told Mrs. Vargas that when he went to work the following Monday, he received an unexpected bonus of—you guessed it—$1,000.00. Elated, he shared that he was blessed by his giving.
Other teachers and staff also raised more than $15,000.00 in gifts and pledges in about two weeks’ time, enabling all 17 students to return to or begin their education at TAA. The families of these students are also contributing to their children’s tuition so the blessings continue to rain down on our growing school! TAA teachers and staff are truly thankful for every donation, from alumni, current families, church members, and others with a heart for Christian education. Thank you for helping us fulfill our mission to prepare students for heaven and earth!