Progress

rjoyh2
Feb 18, 2025
3 min read

February 18th, 2025

Written by: Nathan

Have you ever heard of the saying "a little progress every day adds up to big results"?

In many regards, this has been true for Oaks of Righteousness Ministry. While there have been a handful of days where big progress was made, especially with the progress of the building and property, many of the big results have come from a little progress day after day.

Thinking of student progress and teacher progress this is especially evident.

While it's exciting to see teachers using the training, recommendations, and resources that have been given through professional development sessions, it's even more exciting seeing the teachers gain confidence in themselves as educators and in their teaching practices. It's exciting as they do their best day after day; this is progress. Seeing teachers build meaningful teacher-student relationships, demonstrating mutual respect, is also an example of progress.

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress". This quote sometimes comes to mind when I think about the progress of our students. Resiliency is one thing we are working on with our students. Another quote that I believe helps better explain this says: "Strength and growth only come through continuous effort and struggle".

While there are struggles and much effort is required for progress to occur, I still believe we have the best 36 students we could have. And while there are days where we sometimes wonder if certain students are really learning anything, in the big picture, I can honestly say, we are truly seeing progress! Both academically and spiritually, there is progress.

"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success". - Edward Everett Hale

Just over six months ago, we were at the stage of 'coming together'. This was the beginning. We had no idea what God had in store for this ministry but were excited and thankful to be able to be a part of His work. Time and again, we have seen how God has provided for this ministry, and as a result progress has occurred.

There is an attitude and saying among the board and staff of this amazing ministry:

"This Ministry is God's Ministry... The possessions of this ministry don't belong to us, they belong to God".

It is this attitude and understanding of the ministry that has brought us all together. We are merely vessels, participating in God's work out of an outpouring of love for Him and in obedience to Him. This is what has kept us to together and has led to progress. And as a result of working together we see success!

While so much progress has been made in the past six months, there is still much more progress we are hoping and praying for. Some of our greatest needs include:

Service opportunities:

Teachers for the 2025-2026 School Year
Teacher Helpers (EA's)
Bus Drivers
A Mechanic to help with bus maintenance/repair
People willing to prepare lunches for students

Financial Support:

At the moment, our operational costs for the school are just over $3,500 USD/month
A concrete pad for recess and physical education classes (approx. $5000 - $7000 USD) depending on the size of cement pad and how much is donated.
Renovation costs for an office/storage room, and potentially more classrooms.
Paying off what remains for the solar panels (approx. $2,800 USD)

Whether it has been the purchase of a property, numerous renovations, a new bus, sharing at a conference, serving at church, growing the school by adding more students, training teachers, teachers developing their skills and pedagogy, students learning, building relationships in the ministry and the community, awareness & support for the ministry, fundraising...etc. there have been so many exciting things happening! Progress is happening and we are thankful to God for that!