Michigan — Christian education was very important to the founders of the Onaway (Mich.) Adventist Church. As soon as the congregation was established, a school was started. Unfortunately, the school was closed around 1970. With the help of the Michigan Conference disaster relief team, the facility was refurbished and reopened in 1994.

A centennial celebration was planned for September 2002. Susie Preston, a former student and current school board member, remembers trying to recall all the names and addresses of alumni and former members to invite them to the centennial program. As she began to finalize the list, she remembered Charlie Collins, who attended the school in the early 1930s. She was amazed that she remembered him because she and Charlie had not talked in over 60 years.

Charlie did not attend the centennial celebration, however that evening he did telephone Susie’s home. He apologized for not attending, but promised to send a donation. A few days later the school board received a check in the amount of $5,000! A few weeks later, another check for $10,000 was received!

Charlie promised that as long as he lived he would donate $1,250 a month to the school. He remembered that his parents were active in the Onaway Church and recalled his father having a very difficult time paying his tuition to attend the small school. For that reason, Charlie wanted to make a difference and assist families today.

Susie remembers Charlie always talking about religion, but never deciding to be baptized. In the fall of 2002, Charlie attended an evangelistic series and surrendered his life to Christ in baptism. The school board sent a beautiful oak plaque to him as a way of expressing their tremendous gratitude.

Charlie moved to Texas and passed away the next spring at the age of 82. After his death, Charlie’s lawyer contacted the Onaway Church and surprised members with information that the school had been named as the beneficiary of his estate. They would receive $200,000, plus a mobile home and all the contents of Charlie's home in Marshall, Mich.

With tears in her eyes Susie says, “It was the prompting of the Holy Spirit that I remembered to send an invitation to Charlie.” Today plans are being made to build a new gym and to help families with tuition. “This whole experience shows the value of Christian education — its influence returned and drew him back to God even in his 80s,” exclaimed Susie.

Christian Martin, Onaway Church pastor