I Chronicles 17:27
“Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Lord, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.”

WMC is creating the future today, by establishing program-specific endowment funds to ensure sustainable Christian education. Supported by your gifts, these Now and Forever Endowment funds will have a lasting impact on future generations.

Now

Our mission is to educate with excellence, integrate faith with knowledge, and equip students to work and serve Christ in their communities. This is achieved at WMC through a nurturing spiritual development, excellent academic programs and a durable, efficient facility. If we want future students to experience this same education, we need to build our future today.

Forever

Now and Forever Endowment funds will have the principal intact in perpetuity, allowing for a lasting impact. Mission-minded funds will be established for Spiritual Development, Scholarship, Math and Science, the Arts, Facilities, Technology, and Industrial Arts. Core programs at WMC will be maintained and improved each year with the income generated from the endowment funds, helping us to continue our mission.

Scholarship

Proceeds from your Now and Forever Endowment for Scholarship will be awarded each year to students who meet specific criteria. The education WMC students receive truly does prepare them, and access to Christian education is important.

“The years I spent studying at WMC gave me much more than a solid high school education,” says Nicole (Workman) Mekkes, Valedictorian ’01. “It is true that the classes I was required to take, and the level of effort required to do well in them, prepared me for the rigors of college courses and their endless term papers. More important, however, the teachers I had at WMC modeled such faith in Christ, love of scholarship in their fields, and encouragement of their students that my own faith and even self esteem grew along with academic ability.”

We want to reward scholarship while making Christian education accessible to students who may not be able to afford it.

Math and Science

WMC has a rich history of excellence in math and science. In fact, 75% of our alumni have careers in the medical or educational field. Your Now and Forever Endowment for Math and Science will allow for sabbatical research and the review of best practices for classroom implementation. It is our goal to establish WMC as the regional leader in high school math and science education.

It may start for a student at WMC, but it certainly doesn’t stop there. Dr. Bruce Hyma, ’74, director for the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner Department, reflects on his education at Western Michigan Christian and says, “A strong foundation in math and science is a key component of critical thinking; building this foundation began for me at WMCHS with the quality math and science instruction I received.”

Your gift will build a lasting foundation for students to experience God’s wonders through these disciplines.

The Arts

God is revealed in very special ways. “Being a part of the fine arts at a Christian school I can freely express my love for God and can discover more of His creation through photography,” says Summer Lile, ‘12. “When you’re looking through the lens you see things in ways that you never would have noticed if you wouldn’t have looked for them. When you look at a flower more closely you can see that almost every petal is symmetrical—and those little dots that make up the center in a Cosmo flower are actually stars. It really makes you think that if God put that much love and detail into a tiny flower how much He must love us.”

Your Now and Forever Endowment for the Arts will allow for a review of best practices and access to exclusive resources to assure our students an excellent experience. WMC will also be a leader in the arts for our greater community.

Facilities

Bricks and mortar provide a space for learning. Each year there are specific needs for improvements at our school. These can include desks, classroom equipment, infrastructure changes or maintenance. God has blessed us with a building.

“Ultimately the school environment matters,” says Joan VanderBand, director for Educational Support Services at WMC. “We need to have an educational environment that allows students to do their best, and that may not include a traditional desk in a traditional classroom. Each student’s mind is different, and we need to not only embrace that, we need to celebrate it and find solutions for learning.”

Your gifts will ensure that future students continue to have updated equipment; thus your Now and Forever Endowment for Facilities will build lives for the future.

Spiritual Development

Equipping students to serve Christ in their communities is at the core of our mission. Your Now and Forever Endowment for Spiritual Development will be used to fund mission trips and local service projects to bring the Gospel to life for others. Each student will be trained at a higher level.

Rev. Robert Johnson, ’72, is thankful for a Christ-centered education: “When young people are surrounded by Christ’s love it makes a difference. It made a difference for me. My Christian education from WMC is a part of me. It’s there every time I have the privilege of leading someone to Christ. I was recently a part of Spiritual Emphasis Week and saw first-hand the impact of Christ at WMC. Lives are changing, and students are lifting each other up. Students are able to be stronger, more confident Christians in their communities.”  Spiritual development goes beyond Bible classes; our program will solidify students’ Christian worldview as they prepare to live and work for Christ.

Technology

As we look to the future, one thing is certain: change. Your Now and Forever Endowment for Technology will be used to bring cutting-edge software and hardware to WMC, ensuring an educational experience that keeps pace with change.

“Moore’s Law states that technology doubles every two years; this rapid growth has a profound impact on our world,” notes Marc Van Houwelingen, ’87. “An education from WMC gave me a Christian worldview grounded in faith, which has influenced every area of my life. As I confront new technology and look at new ways to succeed in an ever-changing economy, I know that God is right here, guiding me in everything I do.”

We don’t know what the future holds, but it won’t look like the present; help us embrace change and prepare our students in the best possible way.

Industrial Arts

WMC has been recognized locally, regionally and nationally for our Industrial Arts program. Your Now and Forever Endowment for Industrial Arts will be used to continue that excellence. Students like Ryan Hoffer, ’10, will be using state of the art equipment and see first-hand the work it takes to produce high-quality projects ranging from handcrafted wood pieces to CAD-designed layouts.  Ryan shares his experience at WMC this way: “Western Michigan Christian woodworking has benefited my life significantly. I am constantly amazed by my experiences in this class. There are countless types of wood, and they all come in a variety of colors, grain patterns, and textures. As I see the complexity of wood, I stand in awe of God’s amazing creation. To think that he created me with even more care and detail astonishes me!” Your gift will allow our students to make a difference in communities beyond the classroom. The endowment will help us to work with local and regional employers and train students with the experience needed for job placement

2 Peter 3:18
“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!”

Thank you for your prayers and for enabling Western Michigan Christian High School to sustain its core values. Each one of these endowment funds allows us to maintain our mission and vision for generations to come. We appreciate your willingness to invest in the future of your community and your world … for Christ.