The theme verse for the 2010-2011 school year was from 1 Timothy 4:12 which says:  "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity."  Throughout the school year and particularly the 2011 spring events offered significant opportunity for the students at Shiloh to "walk the talk" of Christ's example of Servant Leadership in the school, homes and Bismarck-Mandan communities. 

 

The concept of servant leadership was never more evident than the efforts of Shiloh students, parents, and staff, that were personally witnessed during the unprecedented flooding along the Missouri River Basin.  An extremely wet winter and spring in western North Dakota as well as record snowfall in the Montana mountains set the course for more water than the Missouri River banks could contain.  Lake Sacajawea and the Garrison Dam were filled beyond capacity and extreme water flows had to be released downstream causing many homes and communities to be adversely impacted.

     

The extreme crisis in the region, the fact that so many Shiloh families were affected and the demand for 5 million sandbags, placed a need for an action plan at Shiloh.  Students and staff were called upon to meet the needs and demands of the current community crisis.  Class schedules were adjusted, alterations and accommodations were made in the final test scheduling, and student teams were coordinated to best meet the needs of the community.  Shiloh also partnered with the United Way of North Dakota to support those that lacked financial resources, manpower, and general "know how" of building an effective sandbag dike system.

 

There were many times the flood efforts would continue into the evening hours or into the night.  Young men and women endured long hours and demanding work to offer their physical support as well as a shoulder to lean on or cry on.  Most importantly, those from the Shiloh community offered support through the difficult times with prayer and the vital faith support when the demand was the greatest.  The efforts of the Shiloh community were effective on many different levels.  Many homes were protected from significant water damage and  most have successfully withstood the long summer of water strain.  There have been lasting and deep relationships established in the community as people witnessed the commitment of students to a cause.

 

The Shiloh student body and staff demonstrated that servant leadership and the call to young people to exemplify the witness of Christ are more than mere words in print on a page; those words are a call to live a life set apart for the glory of God and the support and care for one another.  Those words are also a "living, breathing commission" to "set an example" regardless of your age.  We have witnessed the truth that..... "you're never too young to make a difference".  

 

A sincere "thank you" to those who helped on a job well done, faithful servants.

 

Morgan Forness