 The Plumbline represents our adherence to the plumb line of Truth found in God's Word The Plumbline newsletter is published four times per year to share good news about the activities and people connected to Des Moines Christian School. An outreach of DMCS, the Plumbline is sent to you as a friend of Christian education. | |
Please send address corrections and correspondence to
newsletter@dmcs.org.
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Plumb Line Sponsors | |
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Des Moines Christian School Foundation | |
Do you love Christian education, but are unable to give now? Leave your legacy for future generations by placing Des Moines Christian School Foundation in your will/estate plan.
Consult your financial planner or call DMCS Foundation Representative Jim Miller at (515) 440-7661 or Development Director Samona Yentes at (515) 252-2497. | |
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Contact Us
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Administration
(515) 252-2480
Business Office
(515) 252-2494
Development Office
(515) 252-2496
Early Education
(515) 252-2482
Elementary Office
(515) 252-2485
Secondary Office
(515) 252-2490
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Plumb Line is a publication of Des Moines Christian School.
Editorial content provided by:
Derek Flack
Baseball Coach
Howard Harris
Softball Coach
Miss Hannah Heilskov DMCS Alum ('10)
Dr. Bob Stouffer Superintendent
Kristen Webb
DMCS Alum ('02)
Samona Joy Yentes
Development Director
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Calendar of Events
November 2
Teacher Inservice
No School
November 21 - 23
Thanksgiving Break
December 6
Early Education Christmas Program
December 7
Grandparents Day,
Elementary Christmas Program, K-12 Early Dismissal at 2:00 p.m.
December 13
Secondary Christmas Concert
December 21
K-12 Early Dismissal at 1:30 p.m.
December 24
No School - Christmas Break Begins January 3School Resumes January 4 Alumni Night at the Ballgame January 21 No School - Teacher Inservice February 5 - 7 K-12 Early Dismissal at 1:30 p.m.
February 8No School - Preschool through 12th grade February 23Big Blue Bash March 18Spring Break Begins March 26School Resumes April 5 Annual Benefit & Auction
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In Loving Memory  | |
Cyril W. Barnes
Interim Superintendent during a critical time in the school's history.
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 | Thai Leng
Father of
Torrance ('17)
and Linette ('18) |
 | Aaron Michael Lowe
Son of Mike and Suzy Lowe, DMCS Parents |
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Spotlight On... Kristen Webb ('02)
 Life was good for Kristen and Donny Webb. They enjoyed their jobs and had just purchased a home. "I felt normal," said Kristen. The bubbly, energetic, 28-year-old young woman was employed part-time and pursuing her Masters of Science as a Physician's Assistant. "Normal." Until her regular annual female exam on August 20 revealed "not-normal," setting a medical team into motion. A myriad of tests led up to the August 28th oncologist appointment when Kristen heard the dreaded words, "You have stage 4 breast cancer, and it is 'treatable, but not curable.'" Soon thereafter, Kristen's family began a Caring Bridge site to communicate with family and friends. Kristen and Donny, along with her parents, Roger and Karen Blake (retired DMCS science teacher), and sister Trisha (2004) Gross, author the posts. Kristen's September 17 powerfully moving journal entry was included in a Development report to the DMCS Board of Directors, with the message: "If ever you wonder if what you do is worth it...read this message from our alum." Following are excerpts of Kristen's post
I have more than 10,000 reasons to be thankful and praise the Lord. Even if.....
Do we realize that we judge God? We pray for blessings, for healing, for success, and for so many other things. We trust by faith that our prayers will be answered...given our direct access to God because of Jesus Christ, but... We don't know what is best for us. We have expectations that God will answer us in our time. We forget that only His timing is perfect. When we pray, we have to have faith that He will hear our prayer... But we also have to have faith that He will provide for us even if His will and answer to our prayer is not what we want to hear.... Sometimes, He says No. Sometimes, He says Yes...or wait...or be patient...or not yet. Do we trust Him during the "Even if" times?
We have learned... that my cancer came from a genetic mutation... there are no signs of any of this type of cancer in my family on either sides. We didn't understand why this cancer happened to me at such a young age with no warning... I have a mutation of the BRCA2 gene. This means I am at greater risk for more recurrence and other types of cancer.
28 almost 29 years ago, I came out of my mother's womb as a woman, a little girl. Bright blue eyes, happy smile, and later a full head of hair. Not only am I a daughter... a granddaughter... a niece... a sister, a bride, I am the daughter of the Most High King. I am a woman...even if the chemo takes away my hair, even if the cancer takes away my breasts, even if my ovaries have to be removed and I can't have children. I am still His daughter....and that makes me a woman... I am here to do His will. If He wants me to persevere through this, He'll make a way. If He wants to bring me Home, He'll make a way. Who am I to question Him?
I will trust Him. If I am like Job right now...and God is saying to Satan..."Have you considered my servants Kristen Webb and her family?" Well then I am honored. I won't lie though...I'm reminded of [the saying] "I know God won't give me more than I can handle. I just wish He wouldn't trust me so much." Thankfully, I don't have to be strong to get through this. I have to have faith and lean on you, my friends, my family, my husband, and most of all my heavenly Father. And one day I will crawl up into His lap and say "Daddy, I love you, even if the healing doesn't come." And all I want to hear Him say is "I love you my darling daughter. Well done." |
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Where Are They Now?
by Hannah Heilskov, Class of 2010
 | | Hannah Heilskov ('10) |
After graduating from DMC I pursued my career in nursing at the college of St. Ambrose in Davenport, IA. The nursing program here requires me to work eighty hours as a CNA (certified nurse's aide) before advancing to my clinical in the spring. I chose to do my hours at Christian Opportunity Center in Indianola, IA. I continue my work there even today, helping those with disabilities acquire independence and assisting them with their activities of daily living. The experience has been an awesome blessing from God and has shown me how to have faith like a child. The people I work with have such a fervid belief in God and never complain about their situation. What an awesome thing to witness. These individuals have shown me what it means to be thankful for what you have and to grow where God has planted you. DMC gave me the tools and foundation, while college made me refine my worldview on a more mature level. It is easy, once you are away from your DMC family, to get sucked into the ways of the world. I will always be thankful for the strong Christian teaching I had at DMC before college.
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In Her Own Words
by Linnea Stephens, Class of 2013
At the first chapel of the school year, Senior Linnea Stephens encouraged her fellow students to "Look at yourself with honesty, and see where you are with the Lord!"
"I haven't been at DMC very long. I was raised in a Christian family, but was definitely just going through the motions. At church camp, I committed to Jesus; however, I still struggled with my identity. I defined myself through sports. In April of my 9th grade year, my Dad asked me, 'How would you feel about moving to Iowa?' (from Illinois) I was so angry, I turned my back on God. I chose to go to Urbandale High School, the opposite of what my parents wanted. My spiritual journey was going downhill and I didn't understand why the Lord had brought me here. The following spring, Pastor Quintin at Valley Church gave a sermon on struggles that hit me hard. He shared a story about Billy Graham - that God understands our suffering. Christ endured far more suffering that we will ever endure. The cross tells us God loves us and cares for us. The walls around my heart were breaking down, but I was still not making the daily connection with the Lord. In November, I attended my sister Lydia's DMCS volleyball banquet. It was awesome. I just sat there thinking I wanted to be a part of that so bad! I prayed constantly because I wanted to make sure it was what God wanted me to do, not what I wanted to do. Since making the decision to transfer to DMCS, I have made so many friendships. Sam Nesbit ('12) invited me to her Bible study, and I finally understood the love I must show to others. I fell in love with Des Moines Christian School!"
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DMCS Sixth Grader Wins Humanitarian Award
by Dr. Bob Stouffer, SuperintendentI am pleased to announce the 2012 Letha Weddle Humanitarian Award winner, Des Moines Christian Sixth Grader Sullivan Fitzgerald! Letha Weddle, maternal great-grandmother of Sully Fitzgerald, birthed and raised 12 children between 1920 and 1941. I am told she was an excellent wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her daughter, Carolyn Myers, said that she never once heard her mother criticize anyone. Ever. The Weddle family has a large, well-attended annual reunion with a family auction to help defray the costs of the event. The auction item that brought the largest amount of money was a 48-star United States flag which Letha flew every day while her oldest three sons were serving in World War II. The flag fetched $4,800. The reunion fund was abundant, so the Letha Weddle Humanitarian Award (LWHA) was established in 2005 by her surviving children. The winner receives a $500 award to be sent to the charity of choice. Anyone can nominate a Weddle family member to receive the award. In 2007, Sully's family began hosting missionaries for dinner during Grace Church's annual missions conference. In 2009, a beautiful relationship was formed between an eight-year-old American boy, Sully, and two Jamaican women preparing to serve the Lord in Liberia. Sully determined creative ways of raising money to fund their ministry in Africa.
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Sully displays items that he purchased for
friends serving as missionaries in Liberia
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A nominator wrote, "Sully has a passion for doing things for others. He saves his money to buy materials for children who are learning about Jesus." The missionaries whom Sully supports - Dr. Coril Warmington and Marian Stewart of Liberia, West Africa - wrote the following: "Sully decided to put on a fund-raiser, making and selling smoothies to his friends and neighbors, and the proceeds were to be used to help share the love of Jesus to the children of Liberia. When Marian saw this, she wept. . . .In 2011, several months after we relocated to Liberia, a church in the U.S.A. sent us a number of Beanie Babies, which were used to start the 'Gift and a Prayer Program' at the pediatric/obstetric wards in the nearest referral hospital where we were volunteering. This information was shared in our newsletter, and, to our surprise, we received an e-mail stating that Sully wanted to contribute his collection of Beanie Babies to the children of Liberia. When Doc saw this, she wept. . . .Dear Sully - you have no idea how many lives you touch! May God bless you and keep you in His everlasting arms." The son of Letha Weddle wrote, "I know Mom would be so proud of
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A Liberian girl treasures
her new stuffed animal.
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[Sully], and, right now, she has Jesus by the hand, saying, 'Look, Lord, that is my family down there, and Sullivan David Fitzgerald is going to get the award they named after me!" Congratulations, Sullivan David Fitzgerald, for representing your family, Grace Church, Des Moines Christian, and, most importantly, the Lord Jesus Christ so well!
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Lions Baseball Season Ties School Record
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Hunter Schmitt ('12)
and Coach Flack
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The Lions baseball team finished a very successful 2012 season with a 24-12 record, tying the school record for wins set back in 2007. They earned 2nd place in the West Central Activities Conference with a 16-4 conference record. Season highlights include going 3-1 against teams that made the State Tournament (Ogden twice and Earlham), as well as 2 big wins over powerhouse 3A programs, Knoxville and Chariton. Going into the last day of the regular season, DMCS was tied for first in conference with Van Meter before falling 10-9 in a well-played, back-and-forth contest.
Individual Lions racked up numerous awards. Named to the 1st team All-Conference: Elliott Frey (catcher), Tyler Osborn (outfield), and Joe Gates (infield); 2nd team all-conference selection: Sean Glenn (pitcher). The Lions had a program-best 5 members of the Class 2A Central All-District team: Elliott Frey (1st team-catcher), Sean Glenn (2nd team-pitcher), Hunter Schmitt (2nd team- 1st base), Tyler Osborn (2nd team-Outfield), and Joe Gates (2nd team- Utility). Elliott Frey was also named 2nd team All-State Catcher by the Iowa Sports Spotlight website. Tyler Osborn was selected to represent Des Moines Christian at the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Senior All-Star Series. Tyler was only the 2nd player in Des Moines Christian's baseball history to be chosen for the All-Star Series. The 2012 team raised the standard of excellence for DMCS baseball.
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Lions Softball 2012 State Runner-Up
Outstanding pitching, airtight defense and unprecedented power hitting
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(L-R) Nicole Huffey, Tierra Fletcher, Leah Harris and Annette Bosman
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resulted in one of the most impressive softball team performances in Lions history. The 29-7 win-loss record is the second best record in DMC softball history.
The Lions defeated conference rival Madrid 5-0 in the Regional Championship game to advance to their fourth State Tournament in the last six years. In the State Tournament semi-finals, the Lions defeated Durant 4-0 behind the 1-hit pitching of 1st team All-State player Leah Harris and a game winning home run by 1st Team All-State player Annette Bosman. Coach Harris called this game, "The finest game ever played by a Des Moines Christian softball team".
Co-Captains Nicole Huffey, Tierra Fletcher, Leah Harris and Annette Bosman (pictured) and Chaplain Olivia Rasmussen, provided the team with excellent leadership and spiritual guidance. The 2012 softball team were a truly remarkable group of players who believed nothing was impossible as they maintained their focus throughout the postseason. They played each pitch of each game to the best of their ability and with maximum effort. Congratulations to the Lions on an outstanding season! |
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