So Much With So Little

Story by Ashley Boggess

“And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, ‘Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had’” (Luke 21:1–4, NKJV).

In this passage, Jesus not only highlights a spirit of selfless giving, but He talks about the end of His own life and the end of time. Seventh-day Adventist education is building a plentiful harvest, and yet it is preparing to labor with two small mites.

Lake Nelson Adventist Academy (LNAA) is a mission field in its own backyard. With a small budget and faculty fulfilling multiple roles, it is not only able to provide dynamic educational experiences but also engage students in experiencing Jesus as Lord and Savior. They do so much with so little.

LNAA staff stretch their talents, space and funds that the Lord has blessed them with each year to minister to their students and families. Many teachers wear multiple hats: teaching a full load, hosting multiple extracurricular activities and performing administrative duties to support the program. They coach, instruct and minister to the 347 students day in and day out. Offices, hallways and outdoors spaces become centers of learning and growth.

LNAA provides a dynamic educational experience for its students. From offering music instruction in both voice and instruments to coding and robotics to 12 college credits and practical courses like car mechanics, LNAA is pushing the limits of what they can provide.

Students are also engaged spiritually. Through their weeks of prayer to the high school spiritual retreat to the Christmas program and other opportunities for service such as the annual mission trip, students are living out the Great Commission and taking the good news to the community in person and online. The school YouTube channel airs many of their school programs, showcasing the gifts that God has given the students and faculty.

With one-third of the students being from non-Adventist families and LNAA’s desire to impact the communities surrounding the school, the academy is doing and giving even the two little mites that they have. How do they accomplish this? By having big faith in God, say leaders.