God's Not Dead 3: God's Even Less Dead than He Was Before

Chapter 1

Sarah Markerson hurriedly made her way through the brightly lit halls of Wellesly High School with a lot on her mind. As Junior Class President, Chairwoman of the Prom Committee (not to mention a shoe-in for Prom Queen the following year), and President of The Christian Students Club, she was never left with much free time.

"Hey Sarah!" "Afternoon, Sarah!" "You look so pretty today, Sarah!" Compliments and greetings showered her from every angle. She had so many friends. Nearly everyone liked her. All the boys wanted to date her, the prettiest, most popular girl in school. Even better, her father, Pastor Mark Markerson was famous in the town of Wellesly, Idaho. He was known as the Godliest of all the town's ministers. Sarah was bathed in the light of the Holy Spirit through and through.

She was known for throwing the best prayer parties in all of Wellesly High, and all the cool kids went. She always made the most rockin' snickerdoodles for the guests, and if anyone forgot their Bible, she ALWAYS had spares they could borrow. In short: She was Grade "A" Certified Cool.

Finally reaching the classroom where the Junior Class Council was meeting, she bounded through the doorway.

"Sorry I'm late! The prom committee meeting ran a little long! I convinced them we needed to end it with a prayer for a wholesome and Godly prom!"

"Oh, it's ok Sarah, we know how busy life can be when you're doing the work of the Lord!" said Laney, Junior Class Vice President. "Would you like to start our meeting off with a prayer for God's guidance in our governance of our beloved classmates?"

"Sure!" Everyone bowed their heads. "Lord, we ask humbly that you guide us, your lowly servants, in our meeting tonight. We ask that you guard our hearts from evil as we decide on the lead story for the student government newsletter. We ask that you lead us not into the temptation of sinful debauchery when discussing pep rally fundraising ideas. We give thanks for the many potato chips on our refreshment table, for we know there are refreshment tables in Africa with no potato chips at all. Be with us as we move on to the upcoming election for next year's student body government. May the most Godly person win. In Jesus' name we pray, amen."

"Amen," parroted the room.

The meeting went on as it usually did, with votes on the newsletter, and the pep rallies. Finally, there was one more order of business: The upcoming election of the Senior Class President, the most important position in all of the student body government. To make the ballot, prospective candidates needed fifty students' signatures, the endorsement of three members of faculty, and a $25 filing fee. It was daunting, by far the most onerous set of requirements of candidacy for any officer position. Everyone expected Sarah to be the only candidate running, as only she could charm so many students and teachers in the short window between Spring Break and the filing deadline.

"Madame Secretary," said Sarah, "will you please read aloud the candidates who have applied for positions in Senior Class government?"

Stacey Rodgers looked down at her notes. She read through the myriad candidates for various Senior class committees before finally getting to the top officers.

"Treasurer: John Matthews, Blake Jefferson, and Rodney McLane."

"Secretary: Stacey Rodgers and Alicia Green."

"Vice President: Laney Sanders." Laney smiled.

"President: Sarah Markerson, and Sergei Ivanov. The election is to be held two weeks from today."

Sarah's perpetual smile did not break; it only dimmed a little. "Before we adjourn, let us once more pray to God for his guidance in the upcoming election, and a safe trip home tonight for all of us." And so they prayed.

After the meeting adjourned, Sarah met up with Laney, who was giving her a ride home. "Congrats on being the only candidate for VP, Lanes!" said Sarah.

"Thanks Sarah. I'm sure you'll win the presidency," said Laney as she buckled her seatbelt and adjusted her side- and rearview mirrors for safety. She slowly backed out of her parking spot while frequently checking her surroundings for oncoming cars and pedestrians. She double-checked that her headlights were on for good night-time driving visibility, but that her high beams were only in use when she was more than 500 feet away from any other vehicle. She had made sure to adjust her radio and air condition before setting the car in motion so that she would not be distracted while driving, and she was confident that her tire pressure was at the manufacturer's recommended level for safe operaton.

"I guess I haven't had much time to meet new friends. Who is that Sergei fellow, anyway? I'd love to invite him to a prayer party as a show of sportsmanship."

Laney's smile began to fade, and her 10-and-2 grip on the steering wheel tightened. "Sarah, haven't you heard?" Laney's voice lowered, as though afraid to be overheard by even the Lord himself. "Sergei is the president of that new Atheist club that started after Christmas Break."

"Atheist club?!" cried Sarah. "What in the world are you talking about? How could there be such a thing at Wellesly High! They'd have to get principal approval and a faculty sponsor! There's no way an atheist club could start up! Not here! Not here!" Sarah's heart was pounding. Tears were welling up in her eyes. Atheism was something that happened in big cities, where there was violence and pornography and multiculturalism. God's hand was protecting Wellesly, wasn't it?

"I was as surprised as you, Sarah. When I first heard a group of students were experimenting with secularism, I was taken aback. However, I was confident Principal Miller would put a stop to it."

"Didn't he? Principal Miller is such a Godly man. I know he would do anything to protect students' hearts from atheism's Satanic pull."

"I'm sure he tried, Sarah. But something must have gotten to him. If even a Godly man like Principal Miller can be turned, what hope is there for us?"

Sarah was on the verge of a full meltdown. "And the faculty sponsor? Every teacher I know is a lover of Christ! They would never aid in the creation of such a club!"

Laney's voice lowered even further, almost to a whisper. "It's that new biology teacher, Sarah. Mr. Petrov. He didn't get his Associates in education at Wellesly Bible College. He didn't go to Wellesly Bible College at all! I heard he has a degree in biology from Boise State. Do you know what that means?!"

Sarah, trembling, nodded. "He's lived in Boise. The big city. A den of secularism and debauchery."

"That's not even the worst of it. When you go to a big, secular college like that, they brainwash you. And then they make you brainwash others! Mr. Petrov has been spreading crazy theories about the origin of man to everyone taking his AP Bio class."

Sarah was puzzled. "AP Bio? Why would the school offer an AP Bio class? My dad said Wellesly Bible College doesn't recognize AP credit so I should take home economics and learn how to care for my future husband instead."

"They don't, Sarah. Do you know what that means? Mr. Petrov is trying to get kids to go to college in big, flashy cities like Boise! He wants to help godless professors brainwash people like they did to him!" Laney came to a complete stop at a stop sign. She looked to her left, her right, and then her left again. When there was no oncoming traffic, she proceeded through the intersection, continuing to check her right and left for oncoming cars, as well as crossing pedestrians.

Sarah felt sick to her stomach. She had almost taken the AP Bio course. Without her father's guidance, she could have fallen astray from the Path of Christ. She looked at Laney, her fear turning to righteous anger. "Tomorrow, I'm talking to Principal Miller. I'm going to get to the bottom of this 'Atheist Club'."