This letter is from a grateful father that appreciates the staff, board and students at East Linn Christian

Academy. This letter has not been requested by ELCA staff or board of directors, but reflects my personal opinions and the statements made are all true to the best of my knowledge.

1. Have you or someone you know been positively impacted by East Linn Christian Academy? 2. If you knew ELCA had a major financial need, would you help?
Over the last month I have learned that East Linn Christian Academy has a major imminent financial need (perhaps a crisis). I have shared what I learned with several parents of students and alumni. Those that I shared with did not know that the school was in a financial bind, but after being told there was a need, asked how they could help. This letter is intended to spread the word to those supportive of ELCAs mission, To provide an education of excellence, rooted in Biblical truth, to impact the world for Christ. The purpose of this letter is to explain the current need and request your help -- (to Pray, Give and pass the word to others).

History:

In 2007, ELCA sought and obtained a construction loan of $2,000,000 from Key Bank to build

the ARC building. Many ELCA supporters made pledges to cover the loan payments. Many of those pledges have not materialized. By Gods grace, careful spending and painful salary cuts, the school has been able to meet its ongoing obligations as well as make progress on the construction loan. The current loan balance is $1,675,000. The current loan carries an interest rate of 6.67%. Key Banks lending decisions are no longer made locally, but nationally. They are now calling the loan due. The school has received a 60 day extension to repay the total loan. The board has been negotiating with the bank for a longer term repayment plan, so far without success. The board has also explored refinancing with other institutions. Because the schools budget is partially funded by donations and because the property is restricted to being used as a Christian school, new funding from commercial sources does not appear to be an option.

Where do we go from here?

Some have expressed the thought that it was unwise to borrow

building funds, especially from a secular bank. This letter is not focused on that issue. This letter is intended to seek a solution. I believe ELCA supporters including alumni, families and friends would come to the aid of the school, if they were asked. I also believe that there may be enough motivated people that would click on East Linns website with a $100 or $1000 donation to pay off this debt. Lifting this burden should enable recent salary cuts to be rolled back and possibly reduce tuition rates to make the school more accessible to serve more young people.

Update: Good News!!

If you have read this far, I would like to share some good news that I

recently heard about. Progress is being made on the new elementary building. One of the major donors recently sent a $50,000 gift and has promised an additional $300,000 gift to finish that building. This will enable the elementary building to be finished, without borrowing. The generosity of this gift is appreciated by all. The large donors however have been asked many times for their help. This letter is focused on the rest of us (though I think large donations are also needed).

How to Help
Pray. Pray for wisdom for the ELCA board of directors and staff. Pray that God through
his people will meet all of the needs of the school, including the financial needs. Donate. After prayerful consideration, please give what you can to support the ministry at ELCA. You can make a tax deductable donation To ELCA via PayPal or credit card from their website. www.eastlinnchristian.org/giving/donate Please add a note: Principal payment to Key Bank You can also make a donation in person or by mail to: East Linn Christian Academy at: 36883 Victory Drive, Lebanon, OR 97355

Invest. Research is currently being done to possibly form a private lending group of
experienced investors to replace the bank. In order to comply with securities regulations, any information regarding such a venture would need to be provided in person (not advertised). This letter is NOT an offer or advertisement for such an investment. Harold Grove has been meeting with potential private investors who would receive interest from their investments, but at a lower rate than the school is currently paying the bank. Share. Gods people are not likely to help if they dont know there is a need. Please pass this letter on to those that have a heart for the mission at ELCA. Please forward this letter and if you have the expertise to share with your friends on Facebook please do! Prepare to celebrate a mortgage burning celebration. (Pray and spread the sailssee attached Hudson Taylor testimony) My children benefited greatly from the schools ministry. It is my great desire that the school continue to thrive and be available for generations to come. If you share this vision, please take action and ask others to do the same. I have enclosed a brief biography introduction of Hudson Taylor and close with one of his famous quotes; Gods work, done Gods way, will never lack Gods supply. This message has found its way to you; please pray how God would have you respond to it. Thank you, Charlie Grove

Reminder of the Power of Prayer:

J. Hudson Taylor: God's Mighty Man of Prayer

by Eugene Myers Harrison

In the year 1854 a sailing vessel was becalmed in the vicinity of New Guinea. Seeing the distressed look on the captain's face as he peered intently into the sea, a young Englishman inquired as to the cause of his anxiety. This was the reply: "A four-knot current is carrying us swiftly toward some sunken reefs over there. Our fate seems to be sealed." On the shores of the island, cannibals were rushing about and lighting fires in great glee. Presently the captain spoke again: "We have done everything that can be done." "No," responded the young man, "there is one thing we haven't done. Four of us on board are Christians. Let each of us retire to his cabin and in agreed prayer ask the Lord to give us a breeze immediately." This was agreed upon and done. After a few minutes of earnest intercession, the young man came up on deck confident that the petition had been granted. Finding the first officer, a godless man, in charge, he requested him to let down the corners of the mainsail. "What would be the good of that?" he asked. The young man told him that he and three others had been asking God to send a wind, that it was coming immediately and that there was not a minute to lose, since they were so near the reefs. With a look of contempt, the officer replied with an oath: "Nonsense! You can't pray up a wind." Noticing a few moments later that the topmost sail was beginning to tremble, he said: "That is only a cat's-paw a mere puff of wind." "Never mind what you think," cried the young man. "Let down the mainsail quickly." This he was not slow to do. Hearing the heavy tread of the men on deck, the captain came up from his cabin and saw that the breeze had indeed come. In a few minutes they were sailing away from the dangerous reefs, much to the disappointment of the native cannibals on the beach. Writing of this and similar experiences, the young man said: "Thus God encouraged me, ere landing on China's shores, to bring every variety of need to Him in prayer, and to expect that He would honor the name of the Lord Jesus and give the help which each emergency required." So we have been introduced to a remarkable man, J. Hudson Taylor, and to the text, John 14:13, which was woven into the fabric of his life and into the texture of his stupendous achievements: "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

Excerpted from www.wholesomeword.org