A Newsy Update

It’s been a couple of months since our last post and so it is high time we gave everyone an update. We can’t possibly cover everything that has happened during these very full two months at BFA but here is, at least, an overview - starting with family updates.

A slightly outdated picture of Emma - voting for the first time in November 2024

Emma has been digging into her online studies and is loving her classes. Emma has been gifted with an incredibly insightful and creative mind, and so to see her almost giddy when talking about what she is learning has been delightful. Another source of joy for Emma this year has been her weekly BFA small group. The girls of this group have become treasured friends as they have mixed a lot of fun with a study of the book of James.  

Sophie is thriving despite a pretty busy schedule. In addition to keeping up with a demanding set of courses, Sophie is playing JV soccer for BFA this season and is a part of the BFA honors choir which will perform in Budapest over spring break. Sophie is also blessed with a group of quality friends who challenge and encourage each other well as they seek to honor God in the midst of the ups and downs of teenage life. 

Dad and Sophie on a walk at BFA's recent High School retreat in Switzerland - an incredibly beautiful location where God moved in many hearts (including mine).

As many of you know, Catherine is the hub of our family. She keeps the spokes of our lives balanced and in tune as the wheel of our family life bounces quickly over life’s changing terrain. Outside of the family, Catherine has been able to re-engage with her women’s Bible study and is a semi-regular participant in a ballet class with a number of local German ladies. Catherine’s German is increasingly passable and the ladies (none of whom are believers) have really embraced Catherine.

My life is fully immersed in BFA. Outside of my role as Head of School, I am helping to coach our Varsity soccer team (as the assistant coach like I did last year), leading a small group of seven senior boys, and (along with Catherine) am part of a weekly “life group” through our church. The highlight of each week, however, is time with Catherine and the girls. Friday night is family night for us, but we also try to manage at least one other intentional family time during the week.

Catherine and Emma on a recent walk near Kandern.

A lot has also happened in the last couple of months in terms of our ministry at BFA. Most significantly, BFA just finished a year-long re-accreditation process with ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) and MSA (Middle States Association). After a rich season of self-reflection on our mission and programs, a visiting team from these agencies arrived and spent a week with us.

The visiting team had a number of really encouraging things to say, but I was particularly pleased when the chair of the team called BFA, "top-notch and a blessing to many" (and) “one of the strongest Christian communities and best practices for spiritual formation that I have seen.” In addition to an enthusiastic report from the visiting team, the process has helped produce a new draft strategic plan for BFA that we believe God is going to use to deepen our vision and effectiveness in the years ahead.

Phil introducing the Chairperson of the ACSI/MSA Visiting Team in February.

Of course, BFA is not perfect. We have plenty of areas where we feel we can grow significantly. Nevertheless, it was encouraging for our community to be strongly affirmed in this way.

For those of you who have been following the story of BFA’s purchase of a new triple dorm, you will have also heard the exciting news that our important year-end-appeal was successful. During the last three months of 2024, God provided over $1 Million in pledges and donations towards the dorm project. We have been stunned by God's provision. When we started our "Immeasureably More" campaign two years ago, the task felt virtually impossible. How could a school of our size raise the $9 Million required to replace two old and unsustainable dorms? Incredibly, with a year to go, we only have $2 Million to go. That is still a daunting figure, but as people have come to understand BFA's significance - not only to our students and but to global missions - God has inspired many to get involved, including some of you!

It is an incredible privilege to be a part of something with so much Kingdom significance! Thank you for the important part you play in allowing the Dows to participate in what God is doing around the world through this unique school community! 

BFA's High School Retreat in Lenk, Switzerland - over 200 students representing missions work in about 50 countries around the world!