Many people have a story to tell as to why they are at their present jobs. Peggy Stacey is no exception, and her story may be inspiring to others. Stacey accepted a teaching position at Sunshine Bible Academy near Miller, SD, for the 2004-2005 school year, and has had no regrets.
But what brought a newly widowed grandmother of eleven west to a high school on the high prairie of South Dakota? To a community isolated from the larger towns she had lived in? To a profession she had set aside some years before in order to raise her family?
She answered those questions with a simple word: “God.”
In 2002, Stacey and her husband, a pastor, were living near Brookings, SD, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Going through breast cancer surgery was tough, but just as she was beginning six weeks of radiation treatment, tough times really began–her husband of 33 years died unexpectedly. Months later, as the fog of grief began to lift, she started asking God what He would have her do now.
Her first ministry had been her husband, then the church he served. Now she had neither. How would He have her fill that gap and become useful again?
During long walks and talks with God, Stacey said He answered her in a quiet but persistent voice: “Renew your teaching license. I know you haven’t taught for a number of years. But I will use you.”
Stacey took about a year to obtain the needed credits. When she had the license, she began looking for a position. She knew she wanted to teach at a Christian school.
“My faith is so important to me; I wanted to work where I could share it with others every day.”
God had in mind the school and community, Sunshine Bible Academy. As she spent hours packing up her house, finishing her work at a local bank, saying goodbye to friends, she had no doubts that she was making the right choice.
At SBA Stacey teaches freshman, sophomore, and junior English. She has also re-established the oral interpretation and one act play extra-curricular activities which had been discontinued for several years due to lack of a coach. She said the oral interp program has had some success in the last five years. During three of those years, students advanced to the state competition where two entries have earned superior ratings. The one act play has advanced to the South Dakota State Festival for the last two years. Stacey is looking forward to the coming school year; she has already chosen the one act play.
The short video below is from the one act play which was performed at the State Festival in February, 2008.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiWcj0xwqbA
