IT'S TIME TO CHANGE

For several years now, I have been thinking, praying, and dreaming about how to help the children who grow up in homes where there appears to be little hope for success, even in the United States of America. For too long, I have watched millions of dollars spent on programs to help the nation's high school students emerge from the cycle of poverty and lack of education. Some have been helped, but for the most part the money has not been well-spent.

We have been watching the decline of public education, especially in the large cities of America. St. Louis, for example, had at one time one of the best public school systems in America. In fact, the first kindergarten in America was in the St. Louis Public Schools. We have seen learned educatiors come and go in their vain attempts to correct the many problems that are now associated with city schools. Part of the problem stems from the fact that the average tenure of a school superintendent is three years. In those three years, there cannot be long-range planning and our problems cannot be fixed in three years.

It is my conviction that we need to take the following steps to fix schools and in the process fix what is wrong with America.

1. Every parent of every newborn child must enroll in the Parents As Teacher Program. This program was the brain-child of Dr. Arthur L. Mallory when he was Commissioner of Education in the state of Missouri. PAT is now in every state of the union and in many foreign countries. PAT has a proven track record of success. Dr. Mallory is on board with what we are endeavoring to accomplish.

2. Parents and children need to be told and shown that there is no financial reason for the child not to have a post-secondary education. This needs to be continuously underscored in the kindergarten. Scholarships must be waiting for the children when they go through these programs and graduate of a secondary institution.

3. There must be after school financial literacy for the children beginning in kindergarten. Local churches can be the home for this activity. Through the third grade, various leaning and fun activities must be a vital part of this program. There will be field trips to various colleges and universities.

4. We must have dinners, think-tanks, and direction for parents which will be lead by Christian educators who have a track record for knowing what they are doing.

5. Colleges and universities must be visited and come on board with scholarships and other means of financial assistance.

We have begun the America's Scholarship Program where money will be placed in interest earning accounts for the kindergartner who goes through this program and graduates for high school. This is where the reader of this blog comes into play. I am asking interested people who feel this program makes sense to help us financially. Nine out of every ten dollars will go for scholarships. The other dollar is for administrative costs. I would ask you to pray about this and then give as the Lord leads. Make your check out to "One Accord-K." Your gift is tax deductible as One Accord is a 501-c-3 Not for profit corporation. Send your check to P. O. Box 1364, St. Charles, MO 63302. Understand that the results from this program will take place 13 years from next year's beginning of kindergarten.

Our children need your help and so does America.

A SPECIAL KIND OF SERVANT

Hal Herweck, Jr. is my brother-in-law. That makes him the brother of my wife, Sue. Hal is a very interesting person who possesses energy "far above those of mortal men." He seems to never need sleep. He travels the world over in his job with Phoenix Textiles. He drinks Dr. Pepper. He has two children, Wendy and Trey. He has six grandchildren, who are so often the object of his affection. Hal's wife, Nancy, was the long-time organist at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in St. Charles.

In the early 1980's, Hal, along with Reverend Jay Piper began a gospel music program on KCLC-FM, a station located on the campus of Lindenwood University in St. Charles. The name of the Program is "Hooked on Gospel." Every Sunday morning at 5 am,"Hooked on Gospel" hits the airways on 89.1 on the FM Dial. Reverend Piper died shortly after the program began and Hal has been carrying on since. With music ranging from Contemporary to Southern Gospel to the old hymns, Hal goes into countless homes each week endeavoring to uplift the Christian and share Jesus with those who are unsaved. While on the staff of First Baptist Church of St. Charles, along with his radio program, Hal began reaching young people at St. Charles High School. He has a keen interest in sports, especially high school wrestling and football. In 1982, St. Charles won the state championship in football and Hal developed and published all kinds of spirit items for fans to take to the final game in Kansas City. Until Steve Jacob retired as Athletic Director at SCHS, there was a poster that Hal printed that was hanging in the window of Jacob's office at SCHS.

Hal is a life-time St. Louis Cardinals' fan. Still, he often goes to games and lives and dies with the Cardinals. He is a season ticket holder. His entire family joins him in their support of the Redbirds. In fact, Cardinals' baseball is almost religion to all of the Herwecks.' Hal played church softball into his 60's when he suffered a leg injury that forces him to not only limp, but walk with a cane. In spite of this handicap, he continues his trips abroad even though it is extremely difficult for him to get around. An interesting thing about Hal is he never complains. Not one complaint have I ever heard come from his lips.

Now in the latter part of 2009, Hal continues to arise early on Sunday mornings, make his way to KCLC and continue his ministry. He is the personification of continuing to do what he has always done when everything says "STOP!" Hal is a true servant and is doing everything he can to help son Trey with his young church The Refuge.

Hal is a huge supporter of sister Sue and her writing Christian music. He often has her on his program as she shares her talent with the audience that continues to grow. The world says: "Stop Serving!" Hal continues to ignore this and probably will until the Lord calls him homes and says "Well done, good and faithful servant."