Why would we not support the growth of the football program? The trajectory of the program wasn’t going the way the church wanted? So they don’t support growth and development of young men, giving so many the opportunity to be exposed to athletics through a Christ-centered perspective? Sad.
J
Jose Diaz
5 years ago
The kids shouldn’t pay for the decisions of adults. Let them play!
K
kurt pommerening
5 years ago
Football builds character - the leadership has failed and should resign.
D
Dawn Wilson
5 years ago
Remove the head pastor for Grace Brethren
I
Iby Gamarro
5 years ago
This football program has offered so much to many young men in the community shaping them into leaders!
D
Diana Thelen
5 years ago
I am very disheartened that such a major decision was made by a few individuals without any input from parents (those who actually pay tuition, invested time & resources into the program) and the actual players (those who have waited a whole year during a pandemic to find out their dreams would be shattered), I feel this Program was a Huge Ministry for our Community. I wish they would have Atleast attended 1 practice, 1 banquet or 1 camp before they made this decision.
B
BRANDON CHAO
5 years ago
Coach Henderson and the entire football staff changed the lives of so many young men including myself.
T
Thomas McErlane
5 years ago
This is wrong on so many levels, resign immediately
B
Broadbent Family
5 years ago
Changing this decision to continue the program would be in the best interest of hundreds of kids and families. Resignations not required, just don't take the football program away from the High School guys who have chosen a Christian High School.
Sports is an incredible part of the majority of high schoolers journey including the opportunity to be mentored and coached in life skills and teamwork. AND the student body needs the social support aspect of games where they can can rally around their team along with their peers and families, an incredible way to bring together and bond a faith community!
The amount of disappointment is unmeasurable. Coach Hendo and the team - you are in our thoughts and prayers as we go through this difficult time.
S
Sydney Spafford
5 years ago
I’ve been at grace brethren my whole life and the highlight of my whole experience was the amazing football games. I’ve always been able to brag about how amazing it was and always been able to bring my friends and have a great night. If you take football away from the future generations of grace brethren they won’t have anything to look forward to, and what’s a high school experience without Friday night football?
T
Tim Thelen
5 years ago
Featured
My sons have been at Grace from preschool. Coach Henderson is a great man that taught my son some real life lessons and to always put God first. To remove him from the program is a tragic loss for the school and I believe it was handled very poorly.
C
Christina Joy
5 years ago
I have known several young men who have played football for Grace Brethren. Many received the word from nowhere else except from that program. For teenage boys that have that desire to play and have a relationship with their coaches that is the way to reach them and often times the best and only way to reach them. To take this away from them is a true travesty for those families and our community. I pray you will reconsider this decision.
J
JENNIFER L BUNCH
5 years ago
This may be the only place these kids see God!! Kids needs Christian organized sports!! Don’t give up on them...
L
Lisa Henrikson
5 years ago
Long time Grace parent here. My son does not play football but I can understand the devastation felt by the families who had so hoped to play for this coach and the school. When I read the email from Grace in early March they made it seem like Coach Henderson resigned and they were sad about it. It seems like it’s more complicated than that. This is very sad. I feel really bad for the kids! Right before this news came out I just registered my son for his senior year and he has been with Grace since preschool. I don’t know if Grace cancelled football or if the program was just damaged by the decision to let the coach go. I read the emails from the school. They say they had a long standing disagreement with the coach on the future of the program. Looks to me like the coach did a pretty fine job. Why change it? This leads me to sign this and voice my opinion in support of the grace athletes.
S
Stephen Galvin
5 years ago
This entire process has been handled in a clumsy and destructive way. Hiding actions and discussions in secrecy and darkness drives and justifies mistrust and suspicion.
D
Deborah L Chapman
5 years ago
Please don’t take football away from these kids!! They have worked so hard and this is their time!!
M
Marcey Burns
5 years ago
My daughter switched to Grace in 9th grade for cheer, but also for the school spirit, for the Christian values. We had no idea what lay ahead for us. In the end, it wasn't just a school switch for us, it was a whole change of heart for her, it brought Christ into her soul. The Cheer coach became her mentor not just for sport, but spiritually. And those Friday nights became such a bonding experience for our entire family. We became so close with our daughter and so many Grace families. I'll admit we rarely prayed before and prayer became a normal routine for us because of all the wonderful families we met through cheer and football. When my daughter was applying for colleges, cheer was a major part of her application. She applied to 16 schools and was accepted to every single one! Penn State, Clemson, LSU, Florida State, many other big football schools just because she wants to attend a big spirit school like Grace. The morale is going to go downhill now, enrollment will sink. I truly believe that this decision may not have been the best for the school in the long run. It truly saddens me that this happened without any input, contact or advice from any of us tuition paying parents.
M
Michelle Nicola
5 years ago
That's so wrong these kids have had a rough year already why would you do this to them shame on you
C
Carolyn Moreno
5 years ago
I am so shocked in what has happened at Grace Brethren. We have been here since preschool, in hopes that our son could play for coach Josh Henderson.
My husband giving money, time and love to these High school boys, assistant coaching to help form them as good Christian men. To be blindsided like this is horrendous. My heart is broken. My faith in this school has been shattered. Please someone make this right.
W
Willy Martinez
5 years ago
High school football has always been about building a solid foundation for a young person’s life, based on principles and experiences that can only be taught through the game. It's about developing genuine relationships between players, coaches and a community of fans.
There's nothing like high school football. This program was great for my son’s development in becoming the man he is today.
Why would we not support the growth of the football program? The trajectory of the program wasn’t going the way the church wanted? So they don’t support growth and development of young men, giving so many the opportunity to be exposed to athletics through a Christ-centered perspective? Sad.
The kids shouldn’t pay for the decisions of adults. Let them play!
Football builds character - the leadership has failed and should resign.
Remove the head pastor for Grace Brethren
This football program has offered so much to many young men in the community shaping them into leaders!
I am very disheartened that such a major decision was made by a few individuals without any input from parents (those who actually pay tuition, invested time & resources into the program) and the actual players (those who have waited a whole year during a pandemic to find out their dreams would be shattered), I feel this Program was a Huge Ministry for our Community. I wish they would have Atleast attended 1 practice, 1 banquet or 1 camp before they made this decision.
Coach Henderson and the entire football staff changed the lives of so many young men including myself.
This is wrong on so many levels, resign immediately
Changing this decision to continue the program would be in the best interest of hundreds of kids and families. Resignations not required, just don't take the football program away from the High School guys who have chosen a Christian High School. Sports is an incredible part of the majority of high schoolers journey including the opportunity to be mentored and coached in life skills and teamwork. AND the student body needs the social support aspect of games where they can can rally around their team along with their peers and families, an incredible way to bring together and bond a faith community! The amount of disappointment is unmeasurable. Coach Hendo and the team - you are in our thoughts and prayers as we go through this difficult time.
I’ve been at grace brethren my whole life and the highlight of my whole experience was the amazing football games. I’ve always been able to brag about how amazing it was and always been able to bring my friends and have a great night. If you take football away from the future generations of grace brethren they won’t have anything to look forward to, and what’s a high school experience without Friday night football?
My sons have been at Grace from preschool. Coach Henderson is a great man that taught my son some real life lessons and to always put God first. To remove him from the program is a tragic loss for the school and I believe it was handled very poorly.
I have known several young men who have played football for Grace Brethren. Many received the word from nowhere else except from that program. For teenage boys that have that desire to play and have a relationship with their coaches that is the way to reach them and often times the best and only way to reach them. To take this away from them is a true travesty for those families and our community. I pray you will reconsider this decision.
This may be the only place these kids see God!! Kids needs Christian organized sports!! Don’t give up on them...
Long time Grace parent here. My son does not play football but I can understand the devastation felt by the families who had so hoped to play for this coach and the school. When I read the email from Grace in early March they made it seem like Coach Henderson resigned and they were sad about it. It seems like it’s more complicated than that. This is very sad. I feel really bad for the kids! Right before this news came out I just registered my son for his senior year and he has been with Grace since preschool. I don’t know if Grace cancelled football or if the program was just damaged by the decision to let the coach go. I read the emails from the school. They say they had a long standing disagreement with the coach on the future of the program. Looks to me like the coach did a pretty fine job. Why change it? This leads me to sign this and voice my opinion in support of the grace athletes.
This entire process has been handled in a clumsy and destructive way. Hiding actions and discussions in secrecy and darkness drives and justifies mistrust and suspicion.
Please don’t take football away from these kids!! They have worked so hard and this is their time!!
My daughter switched to Grace in 9th grade for cheer, but also for the school spirit, for the Christian values. We had no idea what lay ahead for us. In the end, it wasn't just a school switch for us, it was a whole change of heart for her, it brought Christ into her soul. The Cheer coach became her mentor not just for sport, but spiritually. And those Friday nights became such a bonding experience for our entire family. We became so close with our daughter and so many Grace families. I'll admit we rarely prayed before and prayer became a normal routine for us because of all the wonderful families we met through cheer and football. When my daughter was applying for colleges, cheer was a major part of her application. She applied to 16 schools and was accepted to every single one! Penn State, Clemson, LSU, Florida State, many other big football schools just because she wants to attend a big spirit school like Grace. The morale is going to go downhill now, enrollment will sink. I truly believe that this decision may not have been the best for the school in the long run. It truly saddens me that this happened without any input, contact or advice from any of us tuition paying parents.
That's so wrong these kids have had a rough year already why would you do this to them shame on you
I am so shocked in what has happened at Grace Brethren. We have been here since preschool, in hopes that our son could play for coach Josh Henderson. My husband giving money, time and love to these High school boys, assistant coaching to help form them as good Christian men. To be blindsided like this is horrendous. My heart is broken. My faith in this school has been shattered. Please someone make this right.
High school football has always been about building a solid foundation for a young person’s life, based on principles and experiences that can only be taught through the game. It's about developing genuine relationships between players, coaches and a community of fans. There's nothing like high school football. This program was great for my son’s development in becoming the man he is today.