After six years as the Robotics team advisor and upper level sciences teacher Tom Bray will be taking the trip of a lifetime as he leads close to 30 members of Team 1662, aka “Raptor Force”, to an international robotics competition in Israel in March 2010. This invitation is one that Bray takes personally.

 “It’s something I believe the Lord’s been putting together for quite a while and now I have kids who are ready to do it. This is my whole goal: that they will come back with an understanding of Israel’s place in our past, present and future. Every time they hear ‘the Sea of Gallilee’, they will be able to picture it. Their experience will help our country make the right decisions with regard to Israel,” he says.

When Elliot competed in Atlanta last year the Israeli General Consul, who was there to visit with the Israeli teams, inquired about the Israeli flag displayed alongside the American flag on the JECHS robot. After explaining that this was his way of showing honor and respect for Israel, Bray received another visit—this one from Brigadier General Asaf Agmon from the Israel Air Force Center, who invited Elliot to compete in Tel Aviv in 2010.

“Our Bible says that if we bless Israel we’ll be blessed; if we curse Israel we will be cursed. And many do not realize that as Christians  we’re grafted into the nation of Israel.  I have students who ask me why I have a Jewish flag in my classroom. I tell them, ‘See that flag there? That’s the American flag. That’s my earthly flag. When I die that will be on my casket. See that flag? That’s the Israeli flag—that’s my eternal flag. That’s the nation I will always belong to for all eternity,’ ” says Bray.

In contact with the Israeli general and government, Bray and his team are putting in the many hours of hard work that a trip like this requires. Once there, they will not only compete against Israeli and other international  robotics teams but will also be visiting Jerusalem, sightseeing, helping locals and being ambassadors for JECHS and the Lord Jesus Christ.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to go to the Holy Land and walk on the ground that our Savior Jesus Christ walked upon. It also gives us a chance to evangelize and be disciples. This trip isn’t just about competing; it’s also about glorifying God,” says Bray. 

Doug Buhr—engineer, former board member, friend of Tom Bray and the founder of robotics at Jim Elliot had a passion for Israel, often reminding others to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

With the anniversary of his death three years ago approaching, the significance of this trip holds special meaning.

Bray recalls, “Normally what Doug would say to me when I’d get these ideas and con him into going along with me was, ‘Bray—what did you get me into this time?’ Not on this one. He would cry because he and I had talked about this, and he would see it as an opportunity for our students to experience Israel.”

Six years ago when a robotics website had inspired Bray to start a similar program for Elliot, he told Buhr about it. He recalls the conversation that ensued between them:

Doug asked, “What’s stopping you?” I said, “$6,000.” He asked,  “When are you going to need it?” I told him, “In three weeks.” He said, “Oh, three weeks. I can do that.”

And for the next two and a half years Buhr would write many more $6,000 checks.

“He funded the team. He went with us to Atlanta. He thought this was the best thing going—even when the robot got loose and tore up the room. That’s why our robot is known as the Buhr-bot,” explains Bray. 

Perhaps you are as excited as Doug Buhr was about the opportunity that JECHS has with robotics.  There are many ways you can assist the Robotics team on their way to Israel.  Please consider helping or telling someone you know who would like to help about the needs listed:

• engineers for the second and third weeks of January for brainstorming
• small metal lathe
• $1850 per student
• someone to make the team flag
• two solder irons
• pallet scale
• a good chain break
• donation of sodas for us to sell with pizza lunches (fund-raiser), and for us to drink
• chest style tool boxes