I’d like to tell you my story..
Dean of Academics
My name is Kelly Guenther and I’d like to tell you my story.
Twelve years ago, our family was called to Legacy. It wasn’t the path we had planned—not for me and not for my children. I often say that God hijacked my plans. But when we step out in obedience, we are able to see how The Lord shows up—faithfully and abundantly.
As it says in Ephesians 3:20:
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”
God has truly done immeasurably more than we imagined in our lives through our time at Legacy.
My eighteen year old son and I share the same first day at Legacy. He started first grade and I stepped into a classroom full of third graders as their teacher …and our first year was wonderful. And it was also really really hard.
Before that year started, we had discovered we were expecting our fourth child… which was unexpected and not in my plans.
We found ourselves not just at a new school, but in a completely different type of schoolingl—with a new job and an unexpected baby on the way. Yet after that first year, the Lord made it clear that this was exactly where our family was supposed to be.
After prayer and confirmation….the next year we brought our oldest son to Legacy, who was in 7th grade at the time. And it was wonderful. And it was also very hard. We had a middle schooler who suddenly had a mom for his teacher, a new baby, and we had discovered that perhaps our children didn’t learn quite the way I thought most children learned. Although I had been an educator most of my life, I felt ill equipped to teach my own children. And yet each year when I sought and prayed on plans for my children’s education, each year it was clear. And each year we re-enrolled our students at Legacy Christian Academy. Until eventually there was 1 year where all 4 of my children were at the same school, the oldest son was a senior and the youngest was a kindergartner. God graciously allowed me that year when our youngest was just beginning and our oldest was nearing the finish line—both attending the same school. Having taught my children at every stage and with one almost ready to graduate, I began to think maybe I finally knew what I was doing. But the Lord had more for me to learn. Because the year I thought I knew what I was doing was the year of 2020—the year I truly became my children’s primary teacher in some of their most meaningful years.
Along the way, I learned that most of my children learned differently than me. Their strengths were not my strengths. And our home days OFTEN bring to light my own weaknesses.
Although this journey has been challenging, I knew if the Lord called me then he would equip me. When I didn’t feel equipped, I had a Christ centered community that encouraged me to press on, to not give up, and to most importantly rely on the Lord.
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The Lord continues to teach me perseverance. The definition of perseverance is persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.The ability to keep going, even when things are hard.
During our time at Legacy, my kids have also been learning what it means to persevere. One evening, I asked one of my boys if he thought he was perseverant. He said, not in school. Yet, he has taught himself how to build computers from scratch, speaks in a coding language we do not understand, runs a business, works a job teaching kids to swim, earns good grades, and is working on his fifth college class as a high school sophomore. I would say he displays perseverance.
Last year we had the joy of having a high school senior in our home for the second time. He has developed a strong sense of perseverance. More perseverance than some adults I know. In the past 12 years, Legacy teachers & administration focused on effort, not just on results or grades, they have discipled, mentored, & celebrated small steps with as much enthusiasm as big victories. And most importantly they prayed. And prayed some more. I can not tell you how many times I have sat with people in the Legacy community and listened to them pray over my children.
My heart is full of gratitude. Grateful for a school that teaches perseverance, walks with families, and reminds us to rely on the Lord for each and every step.