God is so very gracious as He extends His redeeming love to sinners although we are totally undeserving.  Because our love finds its source in Jesus Christ, we strive to reflect this love for He first loved us. With this in focus, we are partnering with Gracework Ministries to establish the Jonathan Samuel Lorincz Memorial Scholarship.  We will seed this scholarship with $1,000 each school year and this will be split into two $500 scholarships at graduation. We invite our friends and family to contribute to this endeavor, and each time an additional $500 threshold is passed we will add another scholarship for that year’s graduating class. Unused funds will be carried over to the next year for additional scholarships. This grace-based grant is established to inspire faithfulness toward a Christ-centered growth in knowledge, in wisdom, and in service. We desire and pray that this will encourage the joyful giving of love toward God and toward one-another.

Jonathan was a student at Coram Deo Classical school (CDCS) (https://coramdeoclassical.com/) from elementary through high school. Prior to his junior year, Jon was diagnosed with cancer: T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The Lord blessed us with an additional two and a half years as Jonathan fought his cancer. During treatment, Jonathan had to withdraw from most of his classes since he spent the majority of the first year receiving treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta. Throughout the next couple of years, Jon struggled hard both in and out of the classroom to keep up with his studies, but was unable to fulfil the requirements for graduation. In the spring of 2017, CDCS permitted Jon to walk with his peers/friends at graduation since he was within a couple of classes to reach completion. However, the Lord had different plans for him. In August of 2017 we received the heartbreaking news that Jonathan had relapsed. During the following months, Jon’s chemotherapy treatment caused significant side effects that ultimately prevented him from continuing his formal education. His teachers, his peers and many of the students at CDCS continued to engage with Jon and to lift him up in their prayers. It pleased the Lord to take Jonathan home on April 14th, 2018. His funeral may be viewed at https://vimeo.com/264900701.

Many of Jonathan’s best memories were made at and through Coram Deo. In addition, as his parents, we highly cherish the blessings God has poured into our lives through CDCS. All five of our children have attended this treasured institution which has given them an excellent spring of knowledge and experience. We are very grateful for the labor of love that is clearly evident in each educator that teaches there. We appreciate the varied yet Christ-centered perspectives that apply God’s wisdom in discovering and understanding God’s creation. May Truth continue to be faithfully taught and proclaimed at CDCS without fear and apology, not as man-pleasers but as God-pleasers. May our every thought, word and action be an acceptable sacrifice as we worship and steward our lives before the face of God.

Following is Jonathan’s graduation letter read during the ceremony:

Jonathan’s letter

Psa 126:2  Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”

Dear Jonathan,

Your name is traced from the Hebrew word meaning “Yahweh has given” and you, dear son, are truly God’s gift to us.  In and through your life God has tailored for us a large treasure of joys and challenges that have been rich in transforming graces.  Even so, as He works to refine and mature us in the faith, He also kindly seasons our journey with wit and humor.  You especially needed that sense of humor through the years and we have been blessed by it countless times.  From the time you were young you have kept us in stitches.  Grandma and Grandpa certainly won’t forget your question “Are we going to Home Sweet Home ..Depot?”  While your movie quotes and made-up words like “Confuzzled” (confused and puzzled) and “Confrustrated“ ( “confused” plus “frustrated”) made life a little more entertaining at home. Even when you were diagnosed with leukemia, we were in tears, but you handled it in your own way – with humor and grace.  The doctors, nurses and visitors were all in wonder – but God enabled you to display a strong testimony of a quiet confidence in His Sovereign plan.

The secular world looks at trials and sees only tragedy.  It contrasts painful hurts to pleasurable experiences in order to make sense of life and to call something “good” or “bad”, yet this is completely arbitrary.  Others think a little deeper, but still come up short of true purpose and reality.  “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” the novelist pens, but God, God declares that “there is a time for everything under the sun”.  God comforts us with the message that “He has made everything beautiful in its time” and furthermore that “all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose”.  How wonderful it is to trust in the living God who, while totally sovereign, is also wise and good.  He takes the evils that we face and transforms them into triumphs.  How credibly awesome and hopeful that is!  Let us both rest and be energized by the joy set before us, by the redemption of our body and of our soul.

Now, bearing in mind the gift of life and of light that God has given you, let us consider your commission.  You, my son, have been bought with the highest price, you are not your own.  You have been commissioned by the King of Kings to be an ambassador for Jesus Christ—Emmanuel—God with us.  Whether your testimony is beautiful or deplorable, it is a testimony that you bear.  Rise up to the stewardship with which He has entrusted you.  Strive for excellence in all your endeavors.  Be a champion for the orphans and for the widows, for the poor and for the oppressed.  Pour yourself out for your King and for your kinsmen and ye shall have no regrets.  Let your love for God and your love for your neighbor be abundantly manifested in your life, and consider that all you are –  every single action that you do – is a real offering that you bring before God’s altar.  May your sacrifice and worship be acceptable unto Him.

Alright, so, hearing all this in rapid-fire-mode may be challenging to internalize, yet I hope that it is nothing new but a reinforcement of principles we have previously communicated to you throughout your time at home.  In order to more readily receive this, or any wise council, you must have a tender heart filled with courage and humility.  This is a battle that constantly needs to be fought, even when you grow old.  Pride gets in the way of wise council and laziness plus cowardliness (meaning the fear of man) prevents us from implementing Godly convictions.  Humility, on the other hand, helps us to approach Him reverently, to hear His voice, to receive correction, and to boldly face and overcome our sins.  Realize that many voices will battle for your attention.  Family, friends, fancies and foes will bid for your allegiance.  However, there is only One that you ultimately need to hear and to heed.  Always agree with God’s assessment and be a quick repenter.

We sum all this up with the reality that life is not about us, it is about glorifying God, and that ultimate joy and satisfaction is found only in Jesus Christ who is your best advocate, asset and advantage.  He alone is The Truth, The Way and The Life.  May Jesus Christ receive your full esteem and adoration. We love you son.

Php 1:21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Coram Deo Classical School recipients of the Jonathan Memorial Scholarship:

2018 Recipients:

Benjamin Alton, Jacob Appel, Jeb Breeding, Rachel Fisher, Caroline Lail, Madeline Rogers, Andrew Saba, Harrison Williams

2019 Recipients:

Josiah Koh and Jonathan Snyder

2020 Recipients:

Chloe Crotts, McKenzie Morgan, Gabe Rasmussen, Jordan Sharpe

2021 Recipients:

Zachary Regier, Jacob Rogers, Natalie Smith, William Stark

Please watch and be encouraged

Congratulations to Coram Deo class of 2022 and recipients of The Jonathan Lorincz Memorial Scholarship:

Jeb Briggs, Kazlyn Eichholtz, Wesley Kinney, Chloe Marchman, Liam Morgan, Alexis Turvey, Carson Upshaw, Anne Williams and Molly Yoder

—Live well for Christ!—

We remember Jonathan, but we glory in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Congratulations all, we love you, live well for Christ!