International Christian Educators Conference

During our Spring Break the Black Forest Academy hosted the I.C.E. Conference. It was attended by 200 delegates from 25 international Christian schools (plus BFA's staff) from countries like: Russia, Madrid, Prague, Kazakhstan, Albania, Niger, Mali, Turkey, Tanzania... We had great speakers, training workshops, testimonies, and teaching materials made available to us. It was so exciting to hear how God has been working through the ministry of education around the world and it was such a privilege to be amongst such an elite and humble group of God's servants. As a new teacher I attended workshops that gave me creative teaching tips and some how-to's on class discipline. As a result of the conference I gained an even greater appreciation of the value of Christian education particularly as a means of discipling young people for Christ. We are training young people to think Biblically in every area of study, on every issue that we are confronted with, and in whatever culture we find ourselves in.






Three work teams from churches in the USA came to serve at this conference. They did an enormous amount of cleaning, set-up and take-down, waiting on tables, and running a childrens' program. They came at their own expense so that most of us on staff at BFA could attend this conference.



Marshall had the privilege of playing his drums with the team that led worship for the conference.

The Middle School Play, "Get Smart!"

"Hey Baby Boomers, do you remember when... there was real TV?" Do you remember Maxwell Smart and Agent 99? Well our Middle-Schoolers had a lot of fun acting out the play, "Get Smart".

Getting dressed up and fussed over.


Winning the hearts of young admirers.


Here we are at Control Headquarters with Smart on the left and "The Chief" on the right. Do you recognize anyone else in the picture?

Marshall as "Garth", a Kaos agent, eaves-dropping on Smart (Agent 86) and agent 99.

Agent 13 getting orders to club the Kaos agent Garth.

The wicked Kaos plot thickens.

More trouble from Kaos for Max and 99!

A possible turn of events!

Making a call on the "shoe phone".

Agent 46?

Crime does not pay!

Middle School Play Preparations!

Sue organized the building and gathering of the many props for the play as well as how they needed to be moved around on the stage during the various scenes of the play. I helped out too as her chief construction aid and stage hand! We also recruited Mr. Powers, the HS principal, and some of the other middle-schoolers to help out.





And the directors, Heather and Bonnie, spent many hours working with the players practicing and acting out their lines! There were also many other moms and BFA staff who helped with costumes and make-up, selling tickets, and with organizing food for the rehearsals and play.

High School Retreat

At the High School retreat the speaker challenged the students about the difference between hoping in something and things that we hope for. That which we hope in identifies who we are. Things that we hope for on the other hand do not identify us but identify goals that we seek to achieve. The message was very well received by the students, who appreciated the straight talk and truth from the word of God, as well as the personal stories shared by the speaker. He also spoke to them about letting things go from the past which have been holding them back from following Christ. Thank you for praying for our students and staff who attended.

Sue enjoyed hanging out with the girls from her small group on the retreat and together they had some special times discussing the truths which were presented to them from God's word by the speaker.

Winter Sports at BFA

BFA's interscholastic team sports include volleyball, tennis, basketball, soccer, track & field and wrestling. Our teams compete against schools on American military bases in Europe. Sports are yet another way our students are mentored in building godly character and in acknowledging the Lord in all that they do. Coaches, officials, and parents of the the teams they play often comment on the good sportsmanship and difference they observe in our kids. Our coaches even organize times when our students can share about their lives and their faith in Christ.

This year wrestling was introduced to BFA students and the beginnings of a team was formed. Although the boys did not compete interscholastically they did well in learning some of the basic defensive and offensive moves and had plenty of mat time wrestling one another. Next school year we will be an official team and wrestling will be a new BFA sport!


Basketball players from the senior class are honored every year at the last home game of the season. Parents will often make the trip from afar to stand by their child and to watch them play one last time.






Close games at the finish made for great excitement during this season's competition.

"At one time , many considered a Christian education a withdrawal from the prevailing culture. Now, however, it is becoming increasingly evident that Christian education is providing the most vigorous and complete instruction for our children. The results are evident: young men and women who know how to think deeply and broadly; graduates who are energized about the future, who have a desire to make a positive difference in the world." (Dr. William E. Brown, president of Cedarville University)