Lifeblood of the Church

October 30, 2025

From Jeff Freeman

I am preparing for the worship to kick off the MAC/Carman Fall Festival on November 1 (it all kicks off at 6:30 in the church sanctuary, don’t miss it), and I read an interesting statement in “Our History” that was written up for MAC’s 70 Year anniversary celebration.

The statement reads, “The school (now called Carman) had always been the life-blood of the church”.  What does that phrase mean to you?  This is what I understand that statement to mean.

Carman was the “life-blood of the church in Marietta” because…

1. …if there was a student of school age connected to the church, the church family would always make sure that that student attended Carman.  There were no other options!  The idea of sending a student to a public school or a different private school was not an option.  That was partly because there weren’t other private schools available, however, probably the real reason was that at MAC, Carman was the first and only choice.  Carman was the only decision because everyone understood that to pass on the Christian values that MAC and members stood for and wanted for their children, no other public or private school would do.

2. …closely connected to the first point is that if they didn’t support Carman and people started choosing other schools, Carman’s programming/academics/culture would not be able to continue.  This is a real problem in today’s world.  People want a strong Adventist education for their children but when enrollment changes happen that directly impacts funding, staffing, and the basic life of a school.   This is part of that reason why for MAC through the years, Carman was the only option.

3. …through the years the support given to the school by the MAC church, MAC community, and MAC families has been huge.  Volunteers, families, donors, mentors, teachers, admin, pastors, coaches, GCA, AAA, and many churches have all rallied around Carman helping to make it a thriving school.  There is this “synergy” that happens when a school thrives under great support, then the school gets very successful in all the education areas.  More support & students then come because of that “synergy”.  That pushes the support & school to keep striving for greater success and support.  When a church and school get into that type of a cycle, the school is seen as part of the very fabric of that campus that can’t be separated.  It is seen as the “life-blood of the church” or in other words, can’t or don’t want to live without it!

4. …Carman & MAC have intentionally kept tuition as affordable as possible.  This only happens because the church and school are intentional. The intentionality shows also that the support around the school agreed with this intentionality and made up the differences.  This is why at Carman, NO student will be turned away because of money!  Teams will be built around students and their families and together it works.

Well that is what I believe it means when MAC history shows that the school was the “life-blood” of the church in Marietta.  Maybe you see it different, I don’t know.  Moving forward though I can’t help but ask the question, what about now?  What about until Jesus comes?  Is Carman still the “life-blood” of MAC?  Will it be 'til Jesus comes?

As you wrestle with that question, remember that question is more important today than ever.  The educating and training of our young people must be of the highest priority.  The world is happy to teach young people what the world says is important.  That type of education is easy to find.  Finding a school that teaches, trains, disciples, equips, and invites students, families, staff, and community to be a part God’s heavenly kingdom is really hard to find.

If you have questions, thoughts, or ideas of how you can be a part of keeping Carman the “life-blood” of MAC, I invite you to come and engage with me.

I believe Carman is and should be the “life-blood” of MAC, thank you for all you do church family to make it possible today and to keep it going until Jesus comes again.  Let us finish strong as we wait for the blessed return of our Lord Jesus Christ!