| November 2024 - Update from Mr. Good |
Dirk Willems As the mornings grow colder, the leaves change and fall, and the holidays approach, I find myself embracing a spirit of gratitude. God’s faithfulness is evident as the seasons turn and the years pass. I often remind students that each day of life is a gift worthy of thanks. Though life can be unimaginably difficult at times and tragedy may strike, we can always turn to God—the One who watches over us, preserves our comings and goings, walks with us through life’s darkest valleys, and comforts us with His Spirit. Some in our EMS community have felt these truths deeply in recent weeks.
This year, as we near the 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement (in 2025), I feel especially grateful for the legacy of the early Anabaptists. In recent months, we’ve revisited the inspiring stories of Grebel, Manz, Blaurock, and Sattler. Here, I’d like to recount the story of Dirk Willems, whose witness for Jesus Christ continues to echo through history as a profound call to live in the way of Jesus, the way of the cross, overcoming evil not through violence but with courageous, suffering love.
Dirk Willems was born in the Netherlands and, sometime before 1569, was rebaptized as an adult in Rotterdam. As an Anabaptist, he began meeting with others in his home to study the Bible, eventually baptizing several of them himself. This act led to his condemnation by the Catholic Church. In 1569, Dirk was arrested and imprisoned in a castle. Given only bread and water, he lost significant weight. Desperate, he fashioned a rope from rags, lowered himself out of the window, and escaped.
When his escape was discovered, Dirk was pursued across a frozen pond. Being much lighter due to his prison rations, he crossed the ice safely, but one of his pursuers, a heavier man, fell through the ice, calling for help. Dirk could have taken this as God’s deliverance or justice and kept running, but instead, he turned back and saved the man—doing what even the other pursuers would not.
The guard he rescued wanted to let Dirk go, but the burgomaster (chief magistrate) reminded him of his oath, insisting Dirk be brought back. Imprisoned again, this time in a more secure location, Dirk was placed in stocks. Not long after, on May 16, 1569, he was burned at the stake. In a cruel twist, the wind blew the flames away from his upper body, prolonging his suffering. His cries, reportedly heard as far as the town of Leerdam, bore witness to his steadfast faith, as he repeated “O Lord, my God” over 70 times.
Dirk’s testimony has endured for 500 years, remembered by Mennonites, Amish, and others. Even in his hometown of Asperen, a street bears his name. His act of “enemy love” is immortalized in a famous etching in the Martyrs Mirror, which you can see below. At Ephrata Mennonite School, we are honored to carry forward this legacy of faith.
This Thanksgiving, consider sharing these stories with your family. Let’s give thanks for those who came before us, whose faithful witness demonstrated the way of the cross and the gospel of Jesus Christ. May we, too, be inspired to walk in the way of suffering love.
Mr. Joshua Good Administrator |
| October 2024 - Update from Mr. Good |
500 Years: Michael & Margaretha Sattler As we continue to reflect at Ephrata Mennonite School on the 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement, we are sharing the stories of our historical heroes with our students. This fall, while many celebrate figures like Columbus—who, despite his bravery, was also violent and brutal—we, as ambassadors of another kingdom, honor our own heroes. These are individuals who, like Jesus, took up their crosses and laid down their lives in acts of suffering love and forgiveness. Last month, we revisited the stories of Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, and George Blaurock.
This month, I want to focus on the Anabaptist hero, Michael Sattler. Born in 1490 in southern Germany, Michael sought God from an early age. After becoming a Benedictine monk, he grew disenchanted with Catholicism and studied the reformers like Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli. Eventually, he left the monastery and married Margaretha. In March 1525, they moved to Zurich, where they embraced the Anabaptist movement initiated by Grebel, Manz, and Blaurock. Michael, a learned former monk, quickly emerged as a leader within the Anabaptist circles.
Initially, the Swiss Brethren were somewhat disorganized, with shared beliefs but varying interpretations. The movement needed structure and definition. With Manz executed, Grebel deceased, and Blaurock on the run, Michael stepped up to organize a meeting of Anabaptists in Schleitheim, Switzerland, in February 1527. There they drafted the Schleitheim Confession, the first formal Anabaptist confession of faith. This document articulated fundamental beliefs such as adult baptism, nonviolence, the separation of church and state, and the refusal to swear oaths, all rooted in the teachings of Jesus.
Shortly after this milestone, Michael and Margaretha were arrested. Michael was charged with being an Anabaptist and with being a traitor for opposing the European war against the “infidel” Islamic Turks. When confronted, he boldly acknowledged his faith and challenged the magistrates on scriptural grounds. Further, he declared that not only did he oppose war with the invading Turks, but even if he believed it was right to fight, he would rather fight against the Europeans and with the Turks who he said at least made no pretense of knowing and following Jesus, the Prince of Peace, while simultaneously killing other pious Christians. Needless to say, this infuriated the magistrates. They yelled at him that he could contend with the sword and the hangman’s noose.
Michael was sentenced to torture and death. His tongue was cut out, red-hot tongs were used several times to tear out pieces of his flesh, and he was ultimately burned alive at the stake. In his agony, he prayed, “Almighty Eternal God, You are the way and the truth. Because I have not been shown to be in error, I will, with Your help, testify to the truth and seal it with my blood.” A few days later, Margaretha was drowned. She refused a pardon, stating she would rather have joined her husband in death.
The Sattler’s left behind an extraordinary testimony, counted worthy to suffer for Christ. May we be inspired by their example to live lives fully surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Mr. Joshua Good Administrator |
| September 2024 - Update from Mr. Good |
500 Years: A Legacy Of Faith & Courage
In 2025, we as a Mennonite school have the opportunity to commemorate a pivotal moment in our history. Five hundred years ago, on January 21, 1525, three students—Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, and George Blaurock—gathered in Zurich, Switzerland, to take a bold stand for living out the teachings of Jesus Christ. This meeting, where Grebel re-baptized Blaurock, sparked the Anabaptist movement, a movement that has shaped our identity and mission as a school.
At the time, Europe was in religious upheaval. Martin Luther, a Catholic monk, was challenging the practices of the Catholic Church, and Grebel, Manz, and Blaurock, who had studied under Ulrich Zwingli at the Grossmünster church, began to question several key teachings. They opposed:
Initially, Zwingli supported these views, but he later reversed his stance. The three students, however, remained steadfast, advocating for adult baptism, church discipline, and radical discipleship. Their commitment came at a high cost—Felix Manz was arrested, tried, and drowned for his beliefs, becoming an early Anabaptist martyr. Over the next century, many more Anabaptists were persecuted for their faith, suffering torture, exile, and death. The Swiss Reformed Church, in alliance with the state, led this persecution. However, in recent years, the Reformed Church has repented, and relationships have been restored with Anabaptist communities.
As we mark this 500th anniversary, we will reflect on and teach these stories within our school community. Let us remember the courage of these early Anabaptists, who, like Jesus, many laid down their lives for their beliefs. Take this opportunity to explore our history with your family. In 2025, Anabaptists will gather in Zurich to visit historic sites and participate in services, including those at the Grossmünster church on Ascension Day, as we continue to remember and heal.
This year as a school community we will be teaching and reflecting on these stories. We must not lose sight of our own identity and the original Anabaptist vision that birthed our movement. The Anabaptist heroes of faith, who like Jesus, took up their crosses and laid down their lives in acts of suffering love, are tales worth telling. Let us honor this inspiring 500-year legacy with the same radical commitment to living out the teachings of Jesus. Like Dean Taylor, Anabaptist author and speaker, often asks, “What if Jesus really meant every word He said?”
Mr. Joshua Good Administrator |
| August 2024 - Update from Mr. Good |
From Summer To School By August, we are well into the so-called “dog days” of summer. The hot, sultry weather has been around for a while, and our minds start to turn toward fall and the “back to school” season. Here at Ephrata Mennonite School, anticipation builds as we look forward to the quiet hallways becoming filled with the noise and life of students. Laughter and talking fill the air, creating the hum of school life. For those of us who have always loved school, we feel our excitement build with the coming of lesson plans, student chapels, recess, hot lunches, athletic events, quizzing practice, and much more. Being part of a Christian school is a privilege. The work of discipleship and teaching the next generation is holy, sacred work that is rewarding, yet not always easy. It is an honor to partner with you, our parents, who entrust us with your most valuable possessions—your children.
This year, we look forward to our “7-year visit” from our accrediting agency, the Middle States Association, widely regarded as the gold standard of accreditation for all public and religious schools (grade schools, high schools, and colleges). Our vision for accreditation is to hold ourselves accountable, promote a culture of learning and continual improvement across our school, and model what we desire to see from our students. We believe excellence in all things, including academics, brings God glory. Our 4-day accreditation visit is scheduled for the last week of February 2025.
Our focus this year is our slogan, “Learning to Serve.” As our school prayer posted on the front pillar notes, we desire to be a community that is, like Jesus, dedicated not to being served but to serving. We aim to disciple and teach our students to serve their classmates, teachers, and parents in both small and large ways. As school staff, we will strive to model this culture of service well, serving as an inspiration to live like Jesus. Join us in discussing this focus with your children and how this can be incorporated into your family life.
Pray for us this year. We know that invariably there are times and spaces in a school year that are difficult and challenging. Pray that we would be guided with wisdom and love from God as we face these challenges. We are ever aware of our personal insufficiency and inadequacy. We desire to lean not on our own understanding but to be led by our forerunner, Jesus Christ. This summer has felt more relaxing, and for that, we are grateful. With the building completed, most of our new processes created, and no “special events” (ribbon cuttings, etc.) to facilitate, it is hard to imagine how we managed last summer. But God was faithful, and here we are. Looking forward to seeing students on Tuesday, August 20th!
Mr. Joshua Good Administrator |
| July 2024 - Update from Mr. Good |
Learning To Serve July 1 marks the official financial beginning of our new school year and we “close the books” on last school year. Even in the midst of summer, this newsletter introduces the upcoming school year. We are pleased to be where we are this year, with a completed building, a successful move, and a first year filled with many new developments behind us. Last year at this time, our gym floor wasn’t finished, the bleachers weren’t installed, and our move was incomplete. We had a "blank slate" regarding the creation of new systems. However, through it all, God provided us with the energy, wisdom, and tenacity to forge a path forward. We are grateful for a more relaxed summer this year.
We feel blessed to have once again been fully staffed for the coming year before the previous year ended. High-quality, professional teachers are the backbone of Ephrata Mennonite School, and we trust in God to provide them. Seeing this trust fulfilled each year strengthens our faith. Additionally, we are thankful for another "full rack" of students, having been completely filled and overflowing months ago. A school isn’t a school without children, and our community’s trust in us to partner with them in discipling their children is both humbling and inspiring. We are anticipating about 385 students this year!
Each year, we highlight one of our five core values, and every sixth year, we focus on our “hashtag.” This year is the sixth year, and as a community, we will be exploring what it means to “Learn to Serve.” This expression is a noble and aspirational tagline that embodies the essence of being a follower of Jesus. As our school dedicatory prayer, posted on the column out front, states, may we faithfully learn to serve, following in the footsteps of Jesus, who came to serve. How can we epitomize service? How can we take joy in learning to serve others? How can we foster a worldview that aspires to using our gifts to serve our communities and churches?
As we finalize our planning and programming for next year, please pray for us. Let’s cover the upcoming year in prayer: that God would move among us, that we would be inspired to learn to serve, that His wisdom would guide our every thought, word, and deed, and that the Kingdom of God would come more fully on earth, as it is in heaven, at Ephrata Mennonite School this year.
Have a great summer!
Mr. Joshua Good Administrator |