When Deke Andrews reads the Bible, he often finds verses that mean something to him at that particular stage of life.

Several years ago, he and his wife, Linda "Boo," came across Psalm 127:3, "Children are a blessing and a gift from the Lord."

It spoke volumes to the couple, who had used a variety of preventive measures to keep from having children, and yet the children came anyway.

The Moneta couple now have six children between the ages of 19 and 27. And the license plate on one of their cars reads: PS1273.

"We've transferred that plate to I don't know how many cars," Deke Andrews said. "It's amazing how God can speak to us through his word with just what we need to hear."

It was a scripture that led Andrews to take the position of headmaster at the proposed Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy, where he said there will be about 60 children under his guard when the school opens next year.

Andrews had worked for 19 years, wearing a variety of hats, at North Cross School in Roanoke County, when he felt the urge to move on.

"It was a step of faith because I didn't know what the next step would be," he said. "I still had to work."

In the summer, he was approached by Micah Gaudio, founder of Laker magazine, to join the effort to found a Christian middle school at the lake and to serve as its headmaster.

As Andrews contemplated the offer, he attended a religious conference in Minnesota with his son, Braydon, an executive at the Target headquarters in Minneapolis. The conference focused on endurance, emphasizing that there's no such thing as complete retirement; Christians have to continue ministering to others.

During the conference, a Bible verse was displayed on the screen that resonated with Deke Andrews.

Psalm 71:18, "Don't leave me when I am old and my hair turns gray. Let me tell future generations about your mighty power."

"I'm thinking, 'That's me. I'm growing old and gray,'" Andrews said. "I thought, 'Wow. That kind of hits close to home.' "

Also at the conference, Andrews found himself sitting beside a man who had founded a Christian school and now serves on a board for the National Christian School Association. Andrews later talked with the man for three hours about Christian schools and the proposed academy at the lake.

"There were 5,000 people in that conference," Andrews said. "Little things like that are hard to pass off as coincidences."

In October, Andrews accepted the position of SMLCA headmaster. Although he has no teaching certification, Andrews has many years of experience in leadership and ministry roles.

"Perhaps the greatest qualification I have as an educator is that my wife and I have raised six children together," Andrews said.

After Deke and Boo Andrews moved to the lake 10 years ago, they began hosting Docksiders at their home, a devotional group for high school and college students.

They also host Friday morning fellowships for men and Sunday morning worship services for lake residents and visitors during the summer.

"I'm just a layperson," Deke Andrews said. "I love the Lord. I'm appreciative of what he's done in my life."

For more information about the activities the Andrews host at their home, visit boojoyful.com.

 

Laurie Edwards | Laker Weekly 981-3117