What is a Christian School?

Let’s reflect on the blessings of Christian education.  As Proverbs 1:7 states:  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  The “fear of the Lord” is a way of saying you are not your own and you are accountable to someone beyond your parents and your teachers.  All authority is derived from God and all things find their ultimate source in Him.  King Solomon said that whoever finds wisdom finds life.  We need to recover that sense of fear which is the beginning of wisdom and be reminded that God is at the center of the universe and we orbit around Him.

Christian education puts God at the center which helps students form a Christian worldview.  Teachers at HCA seek to transform all activities and studies into an expression of biblical wisdom, training the students to walk as disciples of Jesus Christ.  The Barna Group indicates that a person’s worldview is firmly in place by the time they reach the age of 13; George Barna concludes that if you want to shape a person’s life, it is during the crucial ages of 5-13 that lifelong habits, beliefs and attitudes are formed.

Heritage has the privilege of serving Christian parents by providing a Christ-centered education with academic excellence in a nurturing environment.  This includes guiding our children to think Christianly, and thus be Christ-like.  And in so doing, to love the Lord their God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength.  The training of our children’s minds affects how they think and thus how they live.

As Joel Belz, founder of World magazine states:

“Most evangelical Christians continue to leave the primary task of teaching their children . . . to the secularist state.  Secularism is never as neutral as it sounds.  It is a high-octane religion of its own, imposed on Christian at their own expense.  These high priests of ultimate American values, from Kindergarten through the great graduate programs of the state universities, tell us what is politically correct.  They tell us what to believe about our origins, about what is wrong with the human condition, and how to make everything right again.  Those are not merely educational concepts; they are the most profound of all religious issues.” 

HCA provides a Christian education so that the truth of Christ can be reflected in all of life; this includes training young minds to make wise choices in their lives and provides a Scriptural perspective so students can understand and analyze the world through the lens of God’s Word—the ultimate Truth.  Our hope and prayer is that our children will grow in the love of the Lord and will gain the mind of Christ.  In so doing, they will be equipped for works of service in God’s kingdom.

In summary, what is a Christian school?

• It is not a school where the Bible plays a marginal role.
• It is not a Bible school—the curriculum is not limited to the study of the Bible, but embraces God’s revelation in all of Creation.
• It is a learning institution where Christ is present and in charge of all of its operations—not just the academic ones.
• It is not a place to shield our children from sin, for sin is present no matter where we are.

(CSI:  The Nature and Task of the Christian School)

Rather, it is about training and equipping our children to serve God in all areas of their lives.

On this last day of classes for 2010, we can reflect on the blessings of the season. We are so thankful to have a Christian school where the truth of Christ can be proclaimed daily. Our Christmas programs were a very real display of how our children embrace the truth of Christ in their lives. Christmas provides a unique opportunity for our students to reach out and live out their faith. Some classes participate in Operation Christmas Child and others support the Global Orphan Project by sending care packages at Christmastime. What a blessing to share the love of Christ in this tangible way.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on a verse in Luke 2, where we read about the prophet Simeon, whose faith became sight. We are told of the prophet Simeon’s reaction to finally see the long-expected Messiah Jesus Christ. Upon seeing the Child, Simeon exclaims, “Now Lord, you are allowing your servant to leave in peace as you promised. My eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared for all people to see. He is a light that will reveal salvation to the nations and bring glory to your people Israel.”

If we pause for a moment to reflect on this familiar passage, we realize how extraordinary Simeon’s response was upon seeing the Messiah in the form of a poor babe of lowly status and wealth. Simeon had looked forward to his entire life to this moment when the Messiah of the world, the light of the nations, and the glory of Israel, would be revealed. And it is in the form of a helpless baby.

It is no wonder that Luke goes on to write, “Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what was said about Him”. To the faithless eye, the baby Jesus was nothing extraordinary to behold. In fact, Isaiah is clear that the opposite was true: “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him”. Yet, just as Simeon anticipated the Messiah by faith, he now worshiped the Messiah by faith and by sight.

In this advent season, I invite you, Heritage parents, grandparents and friends, to anticipate by faith the daily provision of His presence.

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Blessings in Christ,
Kathy

“We thank you, then, O Father, for all things bright and good,
The seedtime and the harvest, our life, our health, our food;
No gifts have we to offer, for all your love imparts,
But that which you desire now: our humble, thankful hearts.
All good gifts around us are sent from heav’n above;
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all his love.”
Matthias Claudius (1782)

Greetings HCA families!

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends! When we, as a School community, reflect on our blessings, we have so much for which to be thankful!

First and foremost, we are thankful for our opportunity to teach our young ones God’s truth. Christian education provides training for young minds to make wise choices in their lives. It also provides Scriptural perspective so students can understand and analyze the world through the lens of God’s Word—the ultimate Truth. Our hope and prayer is that our children will grow in the love of the Lord and will gain the mind of Christ. In so doing, they will be equipped for works of service in God’s kingdom. Christian education is truly an eternal investment!

Let’s highlight some of our blessings so far this school year—there are many!

• Adding close to 100 wonderful new students to the East Campus, with double classes throughout and three triple classes this year.
• The integration of ten teachers into our staff, all of whom have a heart of service to teach children God’s way.
• Our beautiful campus, with walls reflecting the Biblical teaching at the heart of our school: “Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14
• A Grandparents Day with close to 400 grandparents in attendance, the beautiful performance by the 6th grade choir, and the opportunity for these special visitors to see their living heritage—students who are learning about God and His world and growing in love and service to Him.
• A successful fundraising auction that raised over $100,000 which goes directly to our School to enhance our students’ educational experience.
• Our sixth grade Student Council placing before our student body the needs of the orphans in Haiti, whom we can support through the Global Orphan Project.
• The inauguration of The Learning Commons, where children benefit through exploring God’s World: “The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Psalm 24:1
• A 5th and 6th grade band of 47 students and wonderful concert last week at West Campus. “Praise him with instruments and cymbals!” – Psalm 150

We will soon usher in the Christmas season: Christ is born for you! “And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11

Our students would love to share the good news of Christmas in song with you. Please come see our 3rd-6th graders on Thursday evening Dec 9 and our Kindergarten-2nd graders on Thurs morning Dec 16. Help us celebrate the wonder of this blessed season.

Christians, awake, salute the happy morn,
whereon the Savior of the world was born;
Rise to adore the mystery of love,
which hosts of angels chanted from above;
With them the joyful tidings first begun
Of God incarnate and the Virgin’s Son.
John Byrom (1749)

Blessings in Christ,
Kathy