Inspire, Summer 2009

CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY 15 medical coverage through Tim’s new job, and JCS kept Laura’s job waiting for her by temporarily closing the development office. John spent six months in the hospital undergoing experimental treatment and, eventually, a bone marrow transplant. “Today John is a cancer survivor!” Laura said. “God moved us in our careers to protect our family. All of the pieces just fell into place.” Reselling a n Idea Once John was out of danger, Laura could once again pursue her resale store idea. It seemed perfect for Jackson, a predominantly blue-collar manufacturing city where 40 percent of the children live under the federal poverty line. Laura met with the head of the school, and they prayed together. Finally, JCS decided to invite a group of donors to the school — men and women who all operate successful small businesses in the Jackson community. “Within the first 15 minutes of the meeting,” said Laura, “the room was nearly bursting with ideas and excitement. It was obvious this was the time God had ordained for our store to begin.” God then provided a volunteer husband and wife team to be the driving force behind Encore! The Resale and More Store. Within a few months, a location had been selected and renovations started. Scores of volunteers spent the summer gathering donations and stocking the store. Encore! officially opened on August 23, 2008. Staffed with volunteers who greet patrons with encouraging words, the store offers items that are carefully sorted to ensure that customers find quality used merchandise. With its professional layout and atmosphere, the beautiful facility has received significant attention from the local media. “The store is a reflection of the excellence we are called to display for the name of Christ,” said Laura. “And it even smells great!” Not only that, the proceeds from Encore! will provide JCS with nearly $180,000 in financial aid for the 2009–10 school year. Laura feels that if they had not followed God’s leading, JCS would be in jeopardy today. “God always goes before us and prepares the way to care for our needs through times of crisis,” she said. Meanwhile, those involved are thankful that they remained patient and ready to act when God directed. With Jackson almost completely dependent on the auto industry, their community is in dire straits, and many families are losing jobs or income at an alarming rate. “But God is immune to recession,” Laura concluded. “He allows us to experience hardship, but He does not abandon us. He upholds us. God is sustaining our school through, of all things, a resale store, at a time when parents are losing their jobs and our donors do not have significant funds to give. Amazingly, despite the economic downturn, Encore! is a success.” Laura (Coffman) Pryor ’84 is the director of development for Jackson Christian Schools in Jackson, Michigan, where she lives with her husband, Tim ’84, and two of their children. Their oldest son, John ’12, is studying nursing at Cedarville. You may contact her at lpryor@jacksonchristianschool.org. Mark Kakkuri ’93, a freelance writer in Oxford, Michigan, blogs at www.markkakkuri.com. You may contact him at mark@markkakkuri.com . “When in doubt, throw it out!” is one of the sorting mottoes of the Encore! volunteers. Donated items that pass the quality inspection immediately go to the sales floor, though they don’t usually stay there very long. Sometimes items sell within an hour! “God is susta i ni ng ou r school through, of a ll thi ngs, a resa le store. ... Amazi ngly, despite the economic downtu rn, Encore! is a su ccess.” i