A Worthy Investment
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to HIM be the glory!” Ephesians 3:20
Laura and Jon Jenz moved to Tyler almost twelve years ago from Michigan for Jon to join the staff at Grace Community Church as the worship pastor. At that time, they had two small children: three-year-old Luke, and one-year-old Maggie.
After living in Tyler two years, their son Sam was born. Just before Sam’s second birthday, they began their journey into foster care, through which God graciously allowed them to adopt Josie and Eli. Now a family of seven, they have been at Grace Community School for ten years, experienced all three campuses, and this year, have all five children enrolled at Grace spanning junior kindergarten to tenth grade.
Looking back on why they chose Grace, Laura recalled that “even though Jon and I had attended and taught in public schools, it seemed like such a privilege and a gift that our kids might be able to attend a school that was all about ‘teaching Jesus first.’” They also remembered being blown away as they began to experience the love and nurturing of the teachers, the focus on godly character, and the development of their children into the image of Jesus.
“It gets better every year,” they added. “We love who our children are becoming as a result of this godly influence in their lives.”
The Jenz family can continue choosing Grace because of individuals in our community who have given to support financial aid and Christ-centered education.
“Each spring, we wait and pray in faith that God would make a way for us to stay at Grace,” said Jon and Laura, “and He comes through in the form of generous Grace donors. We can hardly express the gratitude we feel. It is an unbelievable blessing.”
Grace raises funds for need-based financial aid during the current school year to be distributed to students and families for the next school year.
“A small (or large) act of giving has such a ripple effect! It is changing the spiritual formation of a child’s life,” said Laura. “God is, without a doubt, using Grace to point kids toward Jesus. And that is such a worthy investment.”