The last two weeks have been tough for BFA. I cannot say in too much detail what happened, but here is a statement from the director:
Dear Friends of BFA, Thank you for your interest in Black Forest Academy. BFA is going through a difficult time. There has been an incident involving a male student who was physically involved with several female students. He is no longer at BFA. This is a difficult time for all – students and staff alike. Please pray for our administration, faculty, residence and counseling staff, and students as we work through this issue.
Tim Shuman, Director, Black Forest Academy. 10 February 2010.
There are many hurting students right now. This kind of thing hits home to everyone; in a small school, everyone knows at least one person connected to the issue. There is pain, anger, resentment, a sense of betrayal, fear. Lots of kids don’t know how to handle the information; it will take some time to process it all.
Some of my students are unable to function normally because of the weight of this issue. Most of the kids in orchestra find it a relief to play their instruments; physical movement gets their minds off their mental and emotional anguish. The happiest kid in orchestra stares into space whenever he is not playing; I have never seen him so downcast.
It’s a good reminder for us to trust in God, not in BFA. As safe a place as BFA is, bad things do happen here. We are still in a fallen world, and we should be putting our trust in God, not people.
It is hard to understand why this happened and what we should think about it. It is apparent in Jude 18-24 that there are many responses toward situations like this.
In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly dsires. These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear – hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
