ACSI Western Canada

As the school year draws to a close, this verse feels like the only response that makes sense.

What a year it has been! Your teachers and staff showed up faithfully — for their students, for their families, for one another. Your leaders made hard decisions, cast vision, and kept pointing your communities toward Christ. There were moments of breakthrough and moments of exhaustion, and through all of it, God was present and at work.

He has done great things. In your schools. In your students. In you.

Now, as summer approaches, we want to encourage you to receive the gift of rest. The same God who sustained you through every demanding week of this school year is the God who designed rest as an act of trust in Him. You can step away. You can let go. He holds it all.

To every teacher, administrator, and staff member across our member schools — thank you for another year of faithful, kingdom-minded work. We are praying for a summer of genuine renewal for you and your families. We hope to see you refreshed and ready when fall arrives.

There is no one like Him.

This week, we are grateful to cross the finish line. What a year it has been. May we reflect on it with gratitude, celebration, and hearts full of hope for what's to come.

There is something uniquely formative about reading the lives of those who have gone before us in faith. This summer, Dr. Christian Klaue, whose monthly In The Know series has introduced our community to so many worthwhile titles, has chosen five biographies and biographical reflections for anyone who wants to be stirred, challenged, and encouraged by the stories of remarkable lives.

📗The Life and Diary of David Brainerd, edited by Jonathan Edwards, is a window into the soul of a man whose relentless devotion to prayer and mission has inspired generations of believers.

📘Shadow of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliot traces the short and extraordinary life of Jim Elliot through his own journals and letters, a portrait of faith that counts the cost and does not flinch.

📗Joseph by John Lennox offers a fresh and scholarly look at the biblical story of Joseph, drawing out timeless wisdom about suffering, faithfulness, and the providence of God.

📘Eternity in Their Hearts by Don Richardson uncovers the remarkable ways God has been preparing peoples and cultures around the world to receive the gospel, told through stories that will stretch your sense of what God is doing in history.

📗Out of a Far Country by Christopher Yuan is a gripping memoir of prodigal living and profound redemption, a story of a mother's persistent prayer and a son's long journey home.

These are books that will stay with you. We hope one of them finds its way into your summer.

When AJ stepped into the role of Executive Director last fall, we spoke about the passing of a baton. A new runner. A new chapter. The same faithful Author writing the same important story.

Now, as the school year draws to a close, the baton has not been set down. It has been carried faithfully, across four provinces, through classrooms and offices and hallways and board rooms, by educators and administrators and support staff and volunteers who gave this year everything they had.

The story God is writing through Christian education in Western Canada did not begin this year and it will not end this summer. The Author is still at work. The race is still being run. And the baton is in good hands.

Thank you for the privilege of running alongside you this year. We cannot wait to see what the next chapter holds.

Is your school sending students to the BC Student Leadership Conference this October?

This two-day retreat at Timberline Ranch in Maple Ridge is designed for students in Grades 8-12 who are ready to grow as servant leaders. Rooted in a Christ-centered vision of leadership, students will develop practical skills in communication, teamwork, and initiative — and put those skills to work through peer-led breakout sessions they lead themselves.

More than a conference, this is a space for spiritual formation, meaningful connection with students from other Christian schools, and a deeper sense of purpose and calling.

Join us October 26-27, 2026 at Timberline Ranch, Maple Ridge, BC.

Registration opens in September. Find details at www.acsiwc.org/student-events

As the school year winds down, we want to take a moment to honour the people who keep our schools running every single day — often behind the scenes, often unseen, and always essential.

To the EAs, office administrators, custodians, IT staff, bus drivers, kitchen workers, and every support staff member serving across our schools — thank you. The work you do matters more than words can say.

Gracious God, we thank You for the support staff who keep our schools running smoothly, especially during these demanding final weeks. Bless them with energy, encouragement, and the knowledge that their work truly matters. Amen.

If you have support staff on your team, take a moment today to tell them how much they are valued. A simple word of thanks goes a long way.

Educators, every time a you have helped a student encounter God's Word, grasp a spiritual truth, or experience His faithfulness, you have helped them find treasure—the only true and lasting wealth in this world.

As we near the end of this school year, let's celebrate the spiritual growth, the moments of grace, and the deepening faith we have witnessed. These are our greatest treasures, and they are worth more than anything the world could give us.

This week, we give thanks for administrators who lead with grace under pressure. Your calm, clarity, and care guide entire school communities. Thank you for stewarding the final weeks so well.

Parenting is one of the most demanding and most sacred callings there is. This summer, Dr. Christian Klaue, who curates our monthly In The Know book recommendations, has put together a reading list for the parents in our school communities. These five titles span faith, character, courage, and the everyday work of raising children well.

📘Hobbit Virtues by Christopher Snyder draws on the beloved world of Tolkien to explore the quiet, enduring virtues we hope to cultivate in our children and ourselves.

📗King Me by Steve Farrar is a direct and earnest call to fathers to step fully into their role and leave a legacy of faith for the next generation.

📘Unleashing Courageous Faith by Paul Coughlin challenges parents to raise children who are not just well-behaved, but genuinely brave, compassionate, and willing to stand for what is right.

📗A Parent's Guide to Powerful Teaching by Patrice Bain brings research-backed insights on how learning actually works, equipping parents to support and strengthen what happens in the classroom at home.

📘Why Men Hate Going to Church by David Murrow is a thought-provoking read for any parent navigating faith formation in their household, asking hard questions about how the church can better reach and keep the whole family.

Pass this along to a parent in your school community who would love a summer read with substance.

When AJ introduced himself to the ACSIWC family last fall, he spoke about a new chapter beginning and a story being written by the same faithful Author. Now, as the year draws to a close, it is worth pausing to look back at where it began.

The mission has not changed. The Author has not changed. And the schools, educators, and students across Western Canada who carried this chapter forward have done so with remarkable faithfulness.

Take a few minutes to revisit AJ's first message to our network. Then give thanks for all that God has written this year.

Welcome Video from New Executive Director, AJ Crocker ACSIWC CommunicatorSeptember 2025AJ Crocker, Executive DirectorA...