Jeff Powell
In 2001 our country suffered a horrific 9/11 event but in 2002 our school suffered a 4/27 event. Jeff Powell, born August 6th 1984 to proud parents Don and Karen Powell, was tragically killed in a one car accident on April 27th 2002. He left in his wake a grieving family, a void in a planet that desperately needed him, and a hole in the heart of the Arlington Christian School community. In his honor the ACS community dedicated our “Spiritual Emphasis Day” to his memory. It has since been called “Jeff Powell Spiritual Emphasis Day.”
Jeff Powell definitely marched to the beat of a different drum. He often seemed to be out of step with the majority of people surrounding him but never out of heaven’s rhythm. He thought out of the box but walked in the light. He surfed a different frequency but tuned-in to the voice of God. Fortunately for all of us, he chose to be Jeff Powell instead of some carbon-copy, mass-produced, or cardboard-cutout teenager. He intentionally chose to be who God made him to be instead of conforming to less than His Creator’s plans. However unconventional, quirky, or idiosyncratic Jeff might have been, he was a one-of-a-kind creation and proud to be so. A good example of this is when we went to Harding University and Jeff just disappeared for most of the day. We had no idea where he was until we went to the Bison football game and saw some crazy face–painted Harding students acting like fanatics. When they turned around we saw Jeff, face-paint and all, hanging out in the lunatic section of the Harding fans and cheering wildly.
At first sight you might define Jeff as the “not-kid”. He was not the most gifted student, not the most remarkable athlete, not the most impressive actor/artist/singer, and, as you might expect, not the most popular. But he also was not one to stand on the sidelines and watch others live life, not one to judge others for their uniqueness, and not one to exclude any human being as a potential friend. Jeff embraced everybody even though he was not often embraced by everybody. There was no such thing as a stranger to him. Since all men share the fatherhood of God then he was going to offer unconditional brotherhood.
Jeff was known for many things. He loved to kick and punch things as a karate student, encountered the wild as an experienced Boy Scout, enjoyed both the camaraderie of soccer and the personal challenges of golf, pioneered his own sprint-and-walk…sprint-and-walk technique that gained him notoriety as a cross country runner, and also passionately embraced his life calling in the areas of drama and service projects. Jeff was the first to volunteer for even the most menial of tasks; nothing was beneath him if it meant loving service for another human being. He did not need “glamorous” before he would participate. He was just as happy manning the spotlight for others as he was standing in the spotlight before others.
Jeff Powell was proud to be a Christian, honored to serve his Lord, and privileged to work in any capacity that brought joy to others. Although his passing is tragic his impact on ACS is epic. He has left a legacy that should not be forgotten and hopefully will be emulated by many more students to walk our halls. He has left the footprints for others so they can know where to step. The “Jeff Powell Spiritual Emphasis Day” is one way we are trying call attention to the Savior of the world as it is fleshed out in His unassuming servants like Jeff Powell. Hopefully one day all of us, like him, will be in heaven’s fanatic section face-painted with the colors of eternity and shouting praises to the glory of God.