The English teachers at Collegedale Academy have all offered their students the opportunity to write a devotional together. This project serves as extra credit, a school fundraiser, and a way to praise God. The deadline to turn in the devotionals is May 10, and the goal is to have a book ready by next semester.

Mrs. Bradley, one of the English teachers, has years of experience when it comes to putting together a devotional book. At a boarding school where she used to teach, she compiled a book of about 70 student-written devotionals “to keep us connected during the summer because we were scattered.” The small project grew to impact much more than just the students. “That just became something to look forward to,” Mrs. Bradley explains, “and our whole community loved it, the conference loved it, and so we just kept doing it for nearly…15 years.” Eventually, the Review and Herald Publishing Association took notice and asked them to write the North-American Division (NAD) devotional.

However, editing the devotionals was a lot of work, and when Mrs. Bradley began teaching at CA, she didn’t continue the tradition here. But about a month ago, when school counselor Ms. Susie asked her about the possibility of writing a devotional book, Mrs. Bradley thought, “What do you know? We’d be a good team!” Mr. Baldwin approved the project, and now students are being offered extra credit for English if they write and edit up to two devotionals. The money raised from the book sales will go towards school projects yet to be determined.

“Anytime that we think about spiritual things, it makes us better people,” shares Mrs. Bradley. “God made us to share our testimonies…when He has worked in our lives, and when we can reflect back and see what He’s done, we’re supposed to share that.”