Alumni Spotlight Josh Evans
Union Grove Christian School (UGCS) reached max capacity four years ago.
Every summer since then the waitlist for enrollment grew longer. The growing pains were both exciting and frustrating. The administrative team at Union Grove recognized the challenge before them as an open invitation to move forward in faith. Trusting God to make each step clear when the time came, Union Grove drafted plans for school expansion.
Alumnus Josh Evans (’07) is president of UGCS and Head Pastor of Union Grove Baptist Church since 2021. As such, he became the lead administrator on the construction project as well.
Implemented as a three-phase project, the first phase of construction was an educational building featuring classrooms, cafeteria, and administrative offices.
Phases two and three of this project will be the completion of a gymnatorium and ball fields. Included in the overall project was a general upgrade in technology. As with any major undertaking, various obstacles threatened progress. There were time-line delays, days when overwhelm clouded their vision, and even though they were healthy financially they were denied financing eleven times! Through each challenge they felt strongly that God had assigned them this task and they were only to act in faith. God made a way for one step forward each time!
Phase one is now complete and officially open to students as of Monday, September 22!
The new facilities enabled UGCS to eliminate the wait list, effectively growing from 580 students to 680 students in a single year with room for more!
Aside from providing a quality education in their community, Union Grove’s mission is to provide a biblical foundation for life. Pastor Josh believes that this mission is one of the most important aspects of education at UGCS. He says it is vital for young people to have a strong foundation built on the Word of God.
“Wherever life takes these students, their foundation will come into play… if they experience grief… or are just navigating the difficult challenges that we are facing culturally and as a society, they will take their foundation into that…”.
Josh says one of the main lessons learned through the school expansion project is that faith acts.
“{We must} be willing to take steps into the unknown, leaning not on our own understanding, but to Him; recognizing that He might not show us the exact place where we will be five years down the road, but… He will illuminate our path every step of the way. That’s what he’s done for us.”
UGCS learned early on that the new building would not be completed in time for the first day of school. Sensing that they should move forward in faith, they proceeded with the original plan. At the time they could not see how to solve the capacity issue resulting from this delay. Little did they know that a local church would offer the use of their facilities! This bridged the gap between the first day of school and the opening of the new building. As a result, UGCS was able to enroll the entire waitlist this fall even while the finishing touches were completed on the new building!
Not only is this a record year of growth for UGCS, but they are also celebrating their 50th anniversary as a school!
Founded in 1975, the school bears testimony to a half century of God’s provision. They are excited to continue forward, believing that faith acts!
A Church Ministries graduate of Trinity (2007), Josh has 18 years of experience in youth and pastoral ministry. Presenting the vision of the building project and leading the ministry in this undertaking was a daunting on a personal level. He is grateful for the opportunities he had at Trinity (both as a student and while serving on staff) to watch others lead through seasons of change.
“I had a front row seat through my relationships at Trinity to watch them navigate change and successfully implement improvements along the way. I think that helped me come into a position like I’m in today and be able to lead.”
Josh Evans graduated from Trinity’s Church Ministries program in 2007. He married Abby (Denton), and together they have served in ministry for 18 years. They have two children, Lynlee and Cam.
