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Jacob Gaines
The Way of Compassion

Note: Jacob Gaines has been teaching junior high for 10 years. He is a graduate of Taylor University in Upland, Indiana and has a graduate degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. He is most well known as the husband of Abigail and the father of a 2 year old named Grace.

Wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger was a baby boy who, unbeknown to the world at the time, embodied compassion, hope, love, and peace on Earth. As this baby became a man, he would prove to be the ultimate example of living a life devoted to the needs of the poor, oppressed, and disenfranchised. It seems only fitting that the holiday season has become a time when our nation turns to those in need and attempts to bring what Jesus modeled to the rest of the world 2,000 years ago.

At Foothill Christian School, the example of Jesus’ life serves as a year-round inspiration to be like him. This is why we have committed that from Kindergarten-8th grade, our students will have active opportunities to serve the poor of our community and abroad through, what we call, our Faith in Action initiatives. These initiatives include anything from five-year-old children collecting pennies to help build wells for clean water in Ecuador, to 13-14 year-old teens serving hot lunches at the Union Rescue Mission on Skid Row. This year alone, our 5th graders recently raised over $400 to help HIV/AIDS victims in Africa and to provide mosquito nets to help fight the spread of malaria amongst other things. At the same time, our 8th graders have already raised over $6,000 to provide resources and support to a school in the war torn region of Northern Uganda.

The students of Foothill Christian School live in the reality of Jesus everyday as they come face to face with the ministry of compassion that He embodied. As we celebrate this Christmas season, we remember that this baby came to “preach good news to the poor” and to “bind up the brokenhearted.” So as we press on into the New Year we resolve that 2009 would be a year where the students at Foothill Christian School who enter our doors every day would have opportunity upon opportunity to join this baby and carry His compassion to a world in need!

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