The long nightmare is over. For the past 23 months, Detroit Lions football fans have been praying, hoping and dreaming of the day when the 19-game losing streak would come to an end. To be quite honest, since December 2007, there's hardly been a game when the team even had a chance. But this past Sunday, the future looked bright. Rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Lions roared up and down the field and came away with a victory! Fans cheered and players cried. It was a great day for southeastern Michigan.

There haven't been a lot of great days in the Detroit area over the past five years. The auto industry, which built this part of the country, has been to the brink of collapse numerous times and thousands of people have lost jobs, homes, retirements and, most importantly, hope. It may seem simple, but a Detroit Lions win on Sunday is something this community really needs.

When people lose hope, communities lose hope. If communities lose hope, schools, churches, clinics and everything else associated will go down the same depressed path. I didn't grow up in this part of the country. I'm a southern boy by heart — Tennessee to be exact. The nickname of the state of Tennessee is the "Volunteer State." It goes back to the founding of the state and is meant to symbolize the closeness of people in the same community. Well, I live in Michigan now, and I have never seen that kind of volunteerism and community like I have seen and continue to see in the Detroit area.

If people are down, others come and pick them up. If folks are hurting, someone will be there to provide healing. If there is a problem or need, someone will have a solution. That spirit runs deep and it is quite infecting.

On Oct. 1, the community and students of Oakland Christian School will participate in their 3rd Annual Servathon event. More than 1,000 members of the OCS community will be involved in 15 different service projects throughout southeastern Michigan. There are moms, dads and children who are in need and this school is committed to helping. In fact, the service itself is infectious and provides a great opportunity for schools to be teaching students the value of helping someone in need.

By the way, this is the school that I lead and I couldn't be more proud. I'm thankful for state championships and academic awards the school has earned and received, but I never want trophies or plaques to define Oakland Christian. The definition is found in the students who spend their days building a larger community — one victory at a time.