WHY CHOOSE STARBOARD?

In 2013, during a moms’ Bible study, that founder Jennifer Stahler attended, the leader asked for prayer as she and her husband had decided to take their daughters out of their highly sought-after public school to try a different school in the area. It was a new University-Model® school. Most of the group had never heard of it before. At the time, Jennifer and her  husband, Kevin, had just had their second daughter and their older daughter was only a toddler. They were in the thick of the terrible twos and sleepless newborn nights. Although Jennifer was intrigued with the model, grade school was the last thing on their minds at the time. Looking back, Jennifer realized it was this introduction to UMS that would plant the seed for what was yet to come.

Fast forward to 2015. A new year. A new house. A new town further out from the city. It was their ninth year of marriage and their fourth move, but something felt different this time. They truly believed that God had a hand in the decision during the home buying process and that they were where they were for a purpose...they just didn’t know what that was, yet. All they knew was that from the start, Denver, NC felt like home.

In early 2016, the time was fast approaching to register their firstborn for Kindergarten. Before moving the previous year, they had taken a lot of time to discuss options and to compare the local public schools. A decision was made to choose an area with excellent elementary schools with the plan to send them to Christian school for the upper grades. Jennifer knew Kindergarten was going to bring feelings of sadness, but, what she wasn’t prepared for were the feelings of doubt as registration loomed over them. The realization of losing her baby girl for 35 hours a week left her feeling increasingly uneasy. Deuteronomy 6:5-7, “Love the Lord God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” 

She and Kevin  decided to go visit the closest University-Model® School which was over 40 minutes away. They left that open house excited and yearning for that option for their girls, for their family. Proverbs 16:9, “A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”

Jennifer was confused. They believed with their hearts that this school was an answer to prayer, but neither of them felt like they were supposed to take the next step and register their oldest. Before they knew it, Claire was headed off to the local public school. God blessed them with the sweetest teacher and Claire was thriving. God was working on Jennifer, though. He was putting the pieces of the puzzle together. “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” Ephesians 3:20

It was at a MOPS gathering that fall that for one of the first times Jennifer decided to share the idea of starting a UMS school in the area. She knew she couldn’t do it alone. Abby Keener was in her group and she could see the wheels in her head turning. After meeting for coffee Jennifer gave her the information she had gathered at that point. It was a huge answer to her prayers when Abby told Jennifer she was in. “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:19-20

Since that meeting with Abby, they have continuously seen God working throughout this journey. He reminds us that He is directing and planning right alongside them and shows up every time we need encouragement, an answer, or a person. We have been amazed at His faithfulness and truly believe that God is at the heart of Starboard. 

“My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways…” Proverbs 23:26