Good morning Rockford Christian Community,

As Bret and I recently made our way through South Dakota on a trip home to Montana, I found myself in that familiar walk down memory lane and reminiscing about the first time I made that trek in the winter of 2000. We were newly married, I was a recent college grad, and we were ready for an adventure. The journey from Montana to the Midwest held an immense opportunity for us and we were eager to begin our new life together. When sharing our story, we liken it to an “Abraham moment” because we moved to a city we had never visited, we had no home, we had no jobs, but we were filled with a tremendous sense of hope for what lay ahead. Whether you call it obedience or naivety, that decision changed the trajectory of our lives. We had jobs within one week of landing in Iowa City, found an amazing church home and young couples life group, and were mentored by people who have become lifelong friends. While I miss Montana and the proximity to family, the experiences provided by God after that move keep my eyes focused on Him and the mission to which He has called me. My summer reflection leaves me with a heart full of gratitude that He chose me to lead this school, shepherd this mission, and cast a vision for where He wants us to go.

Just like my “Abraham moment” all those years ago, God is asking Rockford Christian to take faith-filled steps toward a future that holds tremendous opportunity for our children today and the generations yet to come. There is a sense of momentum, and we are experiencing what Jim Collins describes as the Flywheel Concept in his book, Good to Great. He says, 

“Picture a huge, heavy flywheel—a massive metal disk mounted horizontally on an axle, about 30 feet in diameter, 2 feet thick, and weighing about 5,000 pounds. Now imagine that your task is to get the flywheel rotating on the axle as fast and long as possible. Pushing with great effort, you get the flywheel to inch forward, moving almost imperceptibly at first. You keep pushing and, after two or three hours of persistent effort, you get the flywheel to complete one entire turn. You keep pushing, and the flywheel begins to move a bit faster, and with continued great effort, you move it around a second rotation. You keep pushing in a consistent direction. Three turns ... four ... five ... six ... the flywheel builds up speed ... seven ... eight ... you keep pushing ... nine ... ten ... it builds momentum ... eleven ... twelve ... moving faster with each turn ... twenty ... thirty ... fifty ... a hundred. Then, at some point - breakthrough! The momentum of the thing kicks in in your favor, hurling the flywheel forward, turn after turn ... whoosh! ... its own heavy weight working for you. You’re pushing no harder than during the first rotation, but the flywheel goes faster and faster. Each turn of the flywheel builds upon work done earlier, compounding your investment of effort. A thousand times faster, then ten thousand, then a hundred thousand. The huge heavy disk flies forward, with almost unstoppable momentum.” 

Rockford Christian has been pushing the strategic plan with great effort for the last few years. When I read this description from Collins, specific memories come to mind where I see people within our organization persevering to get our flywheel to inch forward. Their steady, consistent effort is moving us forward, and I can see our flywheel is about to move.  Are you ready? I know I cannot wait as we step into the future God has prepared for us.

Blessings, 

Dr. Jahna Duda