y r o t is H n O k r a AM With gratitude to God for His servant, Jesse Long 1932-2014
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A Mark on History | Remembering Jesse Long
A Mark on History | Remembering Jesse Long
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Leader 4
In their later years, many people retire or
his GAC office every day he could – and oh yes – every Spartan
find other interests they love. Not Jesse.
athletic contest possible.
Though he came to a point in 1996 when he informed the GAC Board of Trustees
He was patient with me when I didn’t deserve it, and offered
he would be stepping aside soon, it wasn’t
wise advice, but careful to do so only when asked. He tried to
for a rocking chair. His commitment
teach me, as he’d say in difficult moments or crises, to just “do
to Christian education still burned
the right thing.” That was Jesse.
brightly. He was just giving a young guy (that’s me) a chance to learn to lead with training wheels. Ride on his
His timely one-liners broke up many unnecessarily
coattails, as they say.
serious discussions in just the right way. In
W
moments of trying decisions or great victories, he hile Chancellor Long’s (1998-
reminded me who was King (and it wasn’t either
2014) role changed in his later
of us).
years, he continued to serve with
the same approachable dignity, gentle spirit,
A couple of times recently, Jesse and I talked
and kindness of his early days. I suppose those
about leading Greater Atlanta Christian for the
qualities were who he was to the core. He still
Lord, and why He’d placed us in our roles. With
attended Board of Trustees meetings, came to
his typical humility, Jesse gave me credit for
1961
1964
Incorporation of Greater Atlanta Christian School
Land purchased on Indian Trail Road
A Mark on History | Remembering Jesse Long
Humor remained sharp even when illness impaired his body.
1963
1968
Jesse Long appointed President
Classes began at GAC
accomplishments I didn’t deserve.
Like each of us, Jesse was built to count.
But he made for me a poignant
Not only chosen, but ready to live out his
statement. “Looking back,” Jesse
calling and all that went with it.
said, “God raised me up with the skills and heart to help start GAC.
All of Atlanta, along with tens of thousands
But David, you couldn’t have done
of children, and now hundreds of
what I did. Then when your time
thousands of extended families throughout
came, you took GAC places I never
the world are better because Jesse was
could have. We were each chosen for
chosen for a season. The kingdom of God is better because
a season.”
Jesse was chosen.
Chosen for a season – I suspect that’s true for each of us, if
We will miss you, Jesse. I’m still just riding your coattails.
we’re ready for what it means. Our personal agenda fades
Lots of us are. And we are thankful to have had the chance.
to the background, and God’s call takes center stage. In his book Divine Conspiracy, Christian philosopher Dallas Willard advised us that we are “built to count, as water is
Dr. David Fincher GAC President
“The story of GACS is the story of a group of Christian people who had heard of the value of Christian education. They could hardly believe that they could build a school that was truly Christian and also capable of competing academically as well as in extracurricular activities.” – Jesse Long
made to run downhill. We are placed in a specific context to count in ways no one else does. That is our destiny.”
1970
1972
1986
GAC’s First Graduating Class
Bradford Gymnasium completed
SACS Accreditation; Zenobia Tye Liles Media Center completed
1970
1988
GAC wins first State Championship (Boys Basketball coached by Jackie Bradford)
Junior High Building completed
A Mark on History | Remembering Jesse Long
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Friend
In 1947 in Canton, OH, a dedicated mother with a desire for her two young sons to receive an education with a Christian foundation packed up and moved to Valdosta, GA. She enrolled sons Jesse Long (15) and Bill Long (13) in Dasher Bible School. This was the beginning of God’s plan for Jesse Long to become His person for Christian education that has now reached thousands of students and has made a mark on the world.
I
first met Jesse in the early 60s at a GAC fundraising event, but our friendship really began at the GAC state basketball tournament in Macon in March 1972. My wife Becky and Jackie Long were chaperones for the cheerleading squad and Jesse and I visited and played golf.
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The Campus Church of Christ had opened in February that year and the Longs invited us as guests to “Friends Day” in March. Our home church in Cascade Heights had moved to South Fulton County and we began a move toward Norcross, GA. A new church home and new friends became the highlight of our 1972. From that year, Jesse and I became best friends, visiting over a dozen foreign countries together – many in Communist areas – distributing Bibles and holding Bible studies, which were illegal in those days. We also traveled to churches all over Atlanta and outlying areas for fundraising events beginning in 1977. In those days we often struggled with expenses exceeding our income, even taking
1989
1996
GAC named a National School of Excellence
Long Administration Building completed
A Mark on History | Remembering Jesse Long
1994
1997
Bible Building completed
Early Childhood Village completed; Spartan Stadium completed
on two new schools in South Atlanta and helping them get on more solid ground. We were able to pass those schools on to other leaders. School growth was made possible by the selling of 100 acres on Indian Trail across from the school buildings. While seeming unwise at the time, I can’t help but think it was God’s plan. Today, both of those South Atlanta schools are still in existence and GAC is stronger financially than at any time in her 50-year history. Jesse was the primary instrument in our growth from a two-building campus in 1968 to twenty-three buildings today. It’s been said that GAC is one of the largest private Christian schools in the U.S. with approximately 1,800 students and 80 acres of land.
Jesse began his activities in Christian education as a 15-year-old teenager and continued with dedication for over 65 years to create a legacy that will seldom, if ever, be repeated. Jesse was a true giant in the growth and development of Christian education – a true giant in church growth and in the Lord’s Kingdom. I will miss him and will always remember and cherish our long, close friendship. Thank you, God, for that time together and for Jesse Long, my best friend. Jim Combee Chairman, GAC Board of Trustees
“The story of GACS is truly the story of God taking a group of ordinary people with not much more than a dream and using them to build a house more wonderful than their dreams.” – Jesse Long
1998
2003
Jesse Long named Chancellor; David Fincher appointed President
Jim & Becky Combee Elementary Complex completed; Student Family Center completed
1999 GAC’s Elementary School named a National School of Excellence; Sara D. Williams Fine Arts Center completed
2006 Senior High Complex renovated A Mark on History | Remembering Jesse Long
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Father
I
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t was the spring of 1974 when Jerry and Peggy Porter
was a little longer than
suggested that Jesse travel to Jackson, Mississippi to
what the school policy
visit a young widow and her two boys. I have a letter
allows” (hey it was
that Jesse wrote me later that summer in which he
1974!), but he didn’t see
told me about his feelings for my mom, and his hopes that our
this being a big obstacle
families could be united.
to overcome.
The letter reads in part “I know that it is sometimes difficult
Some of the greatest memories of my life
for a 42 year old and a 13 year old to communicate, but I think
happened between the age of 13 and 18 when we lived in
you and I can bridge the gap. I want you to know that if your
the house on the hill across the street from GAC. I can only
mother and I are married, I will expect to love you and treat you
imagine the prayers offered by Jesse and mom, and the
and Marc as my own sons. I do not expect to try and take your
patience and wisdom granted to them that allowed God to
dad’s place, as I know that your relationship with him is one
blend the seven of us into a healthy, functioning family almost
that was dear to you. Please know that I am your friend, that
from the beginning. To Marc and me, it was fun to gain Jess as
I care for you, and I look forward to helping you be the kind of
a big brother, so worthy for us to look up to and follow; also a
man that your dad would be proud of.” He went on in the letter
great new friend/brother in Mark, and Gay, a beautiful sister
to tell me about GAC, what great basketball teams they had,
who graciously accepted two more “little brothers.” Peggy
the great friends I would make, and what fun it would be to go
Porter started calling us the O’Longs (O’Briens + Longs). I
to school there … and a short section telling me that my “hair
not only enjoyed attending GAC, where I have truly made
2007
2010 - 2015
Freeman Aquatic Center completed
GAC named an Apple Distinguished School
A Mark on History | Remembering Jesse Long
2009
2013
Long Forum completed
GACS 1500 Center completed
lifelong friends, but Jesse fulfilled his promise to love me like
buildings and sweeping the sidewalks. He considered every
his own son and become my dear friend. When each of us left
child who entered the school one of “his kids” and prayed for
for college he said “Do right and pay the price.”
them, and cheered them toward excellence in every activity. He loved GAC plays and chorus performances and he loved
We’ve had a closeness and a fellowship for 40 years that made
GAC athletics.
me want to be like him. Spending so much time with Jesse has made me want to have his faith in God, share his values, and
Jesse Long, whom I am proud to call my dad, is alive. He is
try to mirror the way he loved and treated people.
with Jesus. It is just like David said in II Samuel chapter 12 when he had prayed so hard for his
I remember many times over the years
son, but God took him anyway, “I
driving around the state of Georgia with
will go to him one day, but he will not
Jesse and he would tell us stories about
return to me.”
people who helped him start and build the school. We might be in Rome for a
I want to thank God publicly for
state tournament and he would point
allowing me to have Jesse as my
to a building and say, ”That used to be a
father for 40 years, knowing that
church, and in 1968 I met with 100 people
he was a father-figure to hundreds
in there and they gave me $5,800 because
of others through the years. How
they believed we needed a Christian school in Georgia.”
different my life (and so many others) would be if there
Passing through numerous small towns on the way to St.
were no Jesse Long, no GAC. We might not live in the same
Simons Island, he told me about people in each town who had
city, have the same spouse, have the same job, have the
donated land or given money to help him establish GAC. He
same friends, attend the same church, and
always remembered fondly some who pledged $5 a month
share in all the many blessings we have
and prayed for the school.
received from God through what he did
Y
“God raised up leaders, donors, teachers, parents, and students … He gave them a dream, a vision of what it would take, and showed them how to work together to make it happen.” – Jesse Long
through Jesse. ou could tell by the way he talked about these folks that he loved and appreciated every one
Jesse…THANK YOU for the sacrifices you
of them. He loved every person that worked
made for me, my mother, my brothers and
side by side with him to build this school with
sister, and what you have done for so many
their blood, sweat, tears, money, and prayers. Jesse loved
others. We love you with all our hearts and
many things. He loved God, his family, God’s beautiful
look forward to being with you someday
creation, Campus Church – which he started with a small
for the rest of eternity.
group of dedicated brothers and sisters in 1972, and where he preached for 16 years. He loved God’s word, playing golf, he
Your loving son,
loved helping with his own hands to build some of GAC’s first
Ned O’Brien A Mark on History | Remembering Jesse Long
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“Jesse greatly influenced my life. He inspired students to be focused, to be visionaries, and to do all things with excellence. But above all, he wanted his students to live for the Lord.” — Terry Davis (GAC Class of 1989)
“As a student and an athlete, Jesse was one of my biggest supporters. You always knew he was rooting for your success. Looking back now as a GAC parent, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate Jesse’s vision, commitment and perseverance to create a school of excellence based on Christian principles.” — Janna (Stringer) Jenkins (GAC Class of 1982) 10
A Mark on History | Remembering Jesse Long
“Throughout my life, Mr. Jesse has been an extraordinary example of what it means to be a Christian man, leader, and friend. He had a gift for making everyone he met feel special and appreciated.” — Blake Harper (GAC Class of 2009)
1961: That was the starting point for GAC’s early pioneers who believed Atlanta needed remarkable, faith-filled education. They worked to that end, with scant resources and against all odds. Thanks to God, they had more on their side than human odds could offer. All that effort was underway 50 years ago…planning, praying, and sacrificing for a Christian school to come to life. And in 1968, it did just that. Though they couldn’t have pictured the work of GAC and the thousands of lives that would be impacted by 2014, they knew God would do great things if He was King of their efforts. The torch is being passed – to you and me. There’s vital work to be done, and looming challenges are just ahead. In the 20-teens and beyond, Christian education and excellence are being challenged in news ways. Issues and risks rock the world of our children and families like never before, ranging from poor learning to global unrest to waning values. Yet, with God’s help, and with new servants who stand in the gap, GAC will be training young men and women to reshape their world, their work, their families, churches, and communities. GAC students and alumni will be building a better world, making things right because they are learning; they are being prepared for a purpose. His purpose. So are you ready to take the torch for the next 50 years? If not you, then who? I challenge you to live a life of volunteering, sacrificing, support, prayer, and service to impact faith and youth for the next 50 years.
If you would like to know how you can help shape GAC for the next 50 years, contact Katherine White, Vice President of Development at kwhite@greateratlantachristian.org. A Mark on History | Remembering Jesse Long
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