Through their legacy gift, Dr. R. Mark and Lou Ann Beadle combine generosity with passion to serve the next generation of leaders.
For Dr. R. Mark and Lou Ann Beadle, “profession” and “passion” are one and the same.
Educators by nature, the couple has dedicated their lives to inspiring the next generation through teaching in the classroom and beyond. Devoted Christ followers, they see education as a ministry that has the power to change lives through the hope of the gospel.
So in 1989, when the opportunity arrived to lead a then new Christian school in suburban Cincinnati, the Beadles felt God’s hand working through it all.
“Our connection to CHCA is something only God could have woven together and started in 1989 before the first building was built,” says Lou Ann.
“I was a Christian school principal in northern Ohio at the time. I wrote the Head of School, Richard Johnson, and said, ‘Hey, I think Cincinnati needs a good school like this. I’ll be praying for you,’” Mark shares. “He wrote back and said, ‘I think you should apply.’”
That God-orchestrated conversation led to Mark’s position as CHCA’s first principal, a role in which he faithfully served for 17 years. Lou Ann, too, found CHCA a place where she could use her gifts to serve others, in both the classroom and Admissions. With three children enrolled, the family grew alongside the school.
“We’ve always believed the truth of Genesis 12:2—that ‘we are blessed to be a blessing,’” Lou Ann says. “Our years at CHCA were filled with people who poured into us and into our children.”
“We saw firsthand how God used this community to shape lives,” adds Mark.
Gratitude in Giving
Nearly 20 years have passed since the Beadles’ time at CHCA, but their hearts for the mission of the school—and their desire to serve—have remained constant.
One way the couple is staying connected to the community, even miles away, is through giving.
“I remember early board meetings when funds were tight, and a hat was passed around to cover the shortfall,” Mark says. “We watched people give sacrificially because they believed in what God was building. Those examples made giving to CHCA a natural and joyful part of our lives. Over time, that joy grew into a desire to give not only annually but also through a legacy gift.”
Working with a financial advisor, the Beadles created a financial inventory, an estate plan, and a donor advised fund. Later, working with an attorney, they updated their will to include ministries that share their values, including CHCA.
“The journey toward establishing our legacy gift began with gratitude—gratitude for God’s provision, for the CHCA community, and for a career filled with opportunities to learn and serve,” says Mark. “Our hope with the legacy gift is simple: that future generations of CHCA students will learn to ‘Love God and Love People’ through a Christ-centered academic experience.”
For those who are considering a legacy gift, the Beadles offer this advice: start with the resources God has given you and find joy in the process. Whether through the Scholarship Granting Organization (Ohio’s tax credit program) or other means, He will multiply even small gifts, they share, and will provide through it all.
“Our prayer is that our lives reflect faith, integrity, compassion, generosity, and a love that points back to God,” Lou Ann says. “I hope that the Lord allows me more time to help others and be His hands and feet here. But I know that since Mark and I have set this up already, at least a small piece of us will carry on.”
“There’s a quote by a missionary named C.T. Studd, and it says, ‘Only one life, ‘twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last,’” says Mark. “We hope our legacy is measured less by what we owned or accomplished and more by the people whose lives were strengthened because God allowed our paths to cross.”
