On Sunday, March 25th, twenty-nine former students, teachers, parents and administrators of Dayton Christian School, gathered at 325 Homewood Avenue to say goodbye to the place that served as their school home from 1974 – 2004. The grand old Julienne building is slated for demolition this spring after a judge in Columbus denied an injunction on March 28th to save the structure.
Mr. Schindler started by declaring Psalm 103 : 1-2 “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits”. Then he shared from Joshua chapter 4 : 1 -9, where the Lord had commanded Joshua to, “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan… to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’… Tell them that… these stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” He went on to say that we were not there to worship a building – but to gather together as believers to remember Gods’ faithfulness through the years, and to humbly thank Him for the heavenly work that was accomplished during our thirty year stay.
We proceeded to share memories, joined together in prayer several times and sang three hymns – led by 2002 graduate Isaac Pittman – “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and “How Great Is Our God”… It was truly a blessed time! After more than an hour of “prayer and share” several alumni walked the perimeter of the property, continuing to reminisce and recall stories from “back in the day…”
Karla Putnam Enix ’82 related, “I really enjoyed the Prayer and Share service at the Homewood campus last Sunday. I thought many times about going back to that place that was filled with so many wonderful memories for me. But time got away and I didn't get to visit. I guess I thought that it would always be there. Once I heard it was going to be demolished, I really didn't think I wanted to go at all. It made me very sad to think of such a beautiful building coming down. Somehow I thought that if I went, all those wonderful memories would be overtaken with grief. I almost had to force myself to attend, but I knew it would be my last chance to see the school and I might regret not going one last time.
I am so glad that I went! Hearing everyone share what an amazing impact the school had on them was so refreshing. Hearing Mr. Schindler read scripture and pray over the lives that were touched there and the many more that would be touched in the future through the ministry was very healing for me. Healing in a way that I did not expect! I realized that instead of grieving, I was feeling blessed for being a part of something so wonderful. I felt a closure when I left that I no longer had to be sad for that old building - but felt more like rejoicing for the ministry that was, and still is, such an important part of my life. Thank you to all who made this service happen! It was definitely important for many. Even those who couldn't attend have expressed their deep gratitude." 
I graduated from DCHS in 2000, and was sad to hear about the demolition. I drove by the site to take one last look. I have trouble remembering exactly how the school was laid out, and wish I could have walked through one last time. Can anyone tell me what was the newer addition behind the high school chapel? I can't remember if that was part of the chapel, or something else.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that was newer at the Homewood campus would have been the theatre addition which included a backstage, "fly space" and scene shop? That's the very tall concrete-looking structure on the backside of the building...?
ReplyDeleteYes, that is what I am thinking of. I always thought all the chapel was old and could not remember it being new on the inside.
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