A Word from Dr. Jeff Mattner, Regional Director
2012…. Really? It seems like just yesterday the world was bracing for Y2K.
The beginning of every new year is a strange phenomenon. People greet one another, even strangers with the greeting, "Happy New Year!" There is a sense of excitement and anticipation in the air. People are upbeat, and yet this first of January is like most other Sundays. I think the difference is because of that three-letter word smack in the middle of the greeting, "Happy New Year." The word "new" conjures up all kinds of thoughts as we look forward to new events and new things yet to be experienced. It is forgetting the old and fostering the excitement that new situations bring.
As Christians, we understand the concept of new beginnings. The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that when we belong to Christ as our Savior, we are a "new creation"; the old is gone, the new has come. When that happens, Christ puts in our hearts a joy so that that we proclaim with David of old, "He has put a new song in my mouth." This fresh outlook on life should be our everyday experience, even for those of us who have been in the Lord for a long time.
The Lord tells us in Isaiah 40:31 that He will "renew their strength," so that their youth is "renewed as eagles" (Psalm 103:5). Certainly, there are days when we are discouraged and the days drag on, but the Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 "that we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day."
It is my prayer that during 2012, our (your's and mine) outlook will proclaim to the people around us, "happy New day; I am the Lord's."
Jeffrey Mattner, EdD
Regional Director
Student Leadership Conference
If you heard of an exciting event which was described as “convicting… captivating… engaging… stimulating… entertaining…” you might want to check it out, right? That’s how people described last year’s Student Leadership Conference with the group AXIS. We’re again bringing this group back to our Student Leadership Conference this year for one reason: to reach young people to make an impact on their schools. This year, AXIS will continue Part II of their series “The Threads” to help young people view their world from a Christ-centered lens.
We are calling on all of our schools to consider sending some or all of their middle school or high school students to this dynamic event on February 23–24, 2012 at Camp Timber-lee in East Troy, Wisconsin. Register now at Student Leadership Conference.
Legal/Legislative News
In order to keep our school leaders informed of pending legislation, please refer to the most current Mid-America Legal/Legislative News.
Serving Together,
Jeffrey Mattner, EdD
Regional Director