Young minds full of promise ~ Teachers assume role as models

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Originally published in The Walton Tribune

By Pam Krumpach

Watching the leaves change provokes the dreamer in me. It reminds me of the swift passage of time and how, with each passing day, my students grow and change, developing into the men and women of quality and dignity that God intends for each to become.

In scripture, Jeremiah tells us God has a plan for each of these young people and these plans give all of us hope and a future.

Isn’t that what life is about? Think about it. What a gift life is, freely given with plans designed by the Creator and full of hope. What a privilege it is to be surrounded by the promise of optimism which springs from our students as they discover their own futures. It makes even more poignant the events of this past week.


Our family here at Covenant Christian Academy suffered the loss of an amazing man and a wonderful friend. He left a huge impact on everyone who knew him because of his loyalty and compassion. He was a role model for students — a man not afraid to visibly demonstrate his faith through words and actions. And even though he was not a teacher nor an administrator, he was an educator. As I think of this man, I am reminded of the priority of Christian education and our role as parents and educators in the lives of our children.

While the three Rs retain an important role in education, Christian education offers so much more. Christian education takes place in a community setting. Parents, teachers, administrators, staff and even the young people themselves bear the responsibility and privilege of creating an atmosphere in which each child can freely partake in the opportunities of learning and developing as students and as caring members of the “family.” Students have that chance to grow surrounded by love and support.

The Christian school setting provides a fertile ground for that change. Keep in mind that societal pressures have encouraged the disintegration of traditional families, and children now spend far more time in a school atmosphere where teachers assume a primary role as models for their students. David L. Roth said recently, “Christian school teachers must serve as role models. [Therefore] it is important that a teacher model the Christ-centered and Bible-centered mission of the Christian school.”

As members of our Christian family at Covenant Christian Academy, we are particularly mindful of how important that Christian family is and how we need to support, love, uphold and lead our young people, certainly through instruction, but more importantly through deed.

So as we find ourselves grieved, disappointed, angry, hurt or any of the other responses we have to the many stresses in our changing lives, we need only be reminded that even in the midst of the storm, Jesus lived what He taught, that there is a future which God has destined for each us and that no matter what, there is hope. We must strive to live our lives as Christ did. After all, He is our ultimate role model.

Click here for original post.

Equipping Teachers - A Balancing Act

Is the Picture in Balance?
Originally posted on Nurturing Faith (Christian Schools International)
April 20, 2009

Do your teachers know Piaget, Kohlberg, and Erikson better than Cavaletti, Stonehouse, Fowler, and Dean? Are your teachers as equipped to nurture student faith as they are to help students reach academic success? Do your teachers possess a common foundation in distinctively Christian philosophy and classroom practices that nurture faith? Do you believe that a high quality faith-integrated, truth-revealing curriculum is the highest need in schools that bear the name Christian?

Do you have a plan to equip your teachers to nurture faith? Perhaps a start is take 5 minutes at your next faculty meeting, ask them how they have been equipped in the two ways shown below, and then discuss the results.

Equipping for Academic Instruction
List the top 5 ways your teachers have been equipped to help students reach academic success.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Equipping for Faith Nurture
List the top 5 ways your teachers have been equipped to encourage student faith development.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Can We Keep Up with Our Competition? Should We Care?

Dr. Barrett Mosbacker
Originally posted on The Christian School Journal
January 31, 2009

We are in danger of becoming increasingly irrelevant and non-competitive. If we do, we will lose students.

Historically, our competition has come from free public schools, charter schools, and homeschooling. Our new competition is coming from technology enabled courses offered by public schools, colleges and universities, and virtual schools, including virtual Christian schools. This development is changing the educational landscape and the school market. The current recession is likely to accelerate this change.

Public schools are adopting interactive technology and distance learning (D.L.) at an accelerating pace. Moreover, there is an increasing number of online virtual schools in higher education and in K-12 education. These options make virtually (pun intended) any course available to any student anytime, anywhere. Students and their parents are no longer restricted to brick and mortar traditional schools to have access to high quality fully accredited courses.

Topics discussed in this post include:

• The Explosion in Distance Learning
• Distance Learning Is and Will Disrupt the Traditional Classroom and School
• The Stimulus Plan is to Include $1 Billion for Ed Tech in Public Schools
• Competition from an Unexpected Source-Virtual Christian Schools: The Challenges and The Opportunities

Click here to read the FULL TEXT of the post on The Christian School Journal.

Click here to read the rest of the post on Dr. Mosbacker's blog.

Reaching the "Whatever" Generation - Part 2

Steve Cornell, Senior Pastor
Millersville Bible Church (Millersville, PA)

Presented at the MACSA Administrators’ Summit
December 4, 2008
Afternoon Session

Click here for the AUDIO file of the session.
Click here for to view/print the HANDOUT.

Unique Challenge of Christian Schools: Overcome Complacency Due to Overexposure



John 6




John 4




Luke 15




Deuteronomy 8




Hebrews 10

Reaching the “Whatever” Generation - Part 1

Steve Cornell, Senior Pastor
Millersville Bible Church (Millersville, PA)

Presented at the MACSA Administrators’ Summit
December 4, 2008
Morning Session

Ministering in the Context of Western Culture: Challenges and Opportunities

Click here for the AUDIO file of the session.

Click here for to view/print the HANDOUT.

America: A pluralistic society that is rich in multiethnic and multi-cultural diversity (even though the culture of your daily work might not reflect it). We (Christians) welcome this diversity without partiality and recognize that the gospel is meant for all nations and peoples on earth (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Revelation 5:9- heaven itself will be inhabited by people “from every tribe and language and people and nation”)

A Major ideological shift
But, more recently, we have experienced a major ideological shift in our nation aimed at protecting and promoting the pluralistic make-up of society, and a pluralistic civility within it.

Certainly, in a free and diverse nation, we recognize the need for pluralistic civility—for people to treat respectfully those with whom they disagree. Maintaining civility within diversity requires citizens who respect those who differ from them. People who (within the law) choose different beliefs, morals and lifestyles, must be asked to respond respectfully to each other.

But the promotion of pluralistic civility over the past several decades has gone beyond asking for respect to demanding affirmation of other morals, beliefs and lifestyles. And it has been done based on a radical brand of tolerance (which turns out-- on certain occasions/issues-- to be amazingly intolerant).

Some have begun to speak of the tyranny of tolerance because on certain issues no exceptions to tolerance will be tolerated.

True tolerance
The true virtue of tolerance only activates or is practiced when two people/groups disagree with each other and treat each other with respect. Where disagreements either do not exist or do not matter, there is no need for tolerance.

But under the tyranny of radical tolerance respect has been replaced with required affirmation of the validity of each person moral and religious opinions (especially the ones deemed politically correct and protected by elitists within our culture).

We agree that tolerance is a safeguard to civility but tolerance that asks for more than respectful treatment of others, is not only deeply misguided, it is a form of intolerance. And, if we don’t respect this distinction, the liberty of our nation will be threatened. (Is being threatened).

In this new emphasis, people are pressured to remove from their beliefs or at least to downplay any notions of absolute truth or claims to moral superiority or exclusivity.

Here is a profound irony: This is being done under the guise of protecting the diverse nature of society and promoting pluralistic civility. Yet, in the end, it leads to a monolithic culture where we have to down play or mute our differences. What we end up with is a multi-cultural diversity we cannot talk about lest we offend others by sounding intolerant, superior or in some way, imperialistic.

Of course, this new rule of tolerance especially applies to the culturally sanctioned politically correct issues. And, it applies most forcefully against Judeo-Christian beliefs. It joyfully celebrates the marginalization of Christianity. Christians have had their day for being the reigning ideology.

Exceptions to the rule of tolerance
Exceptions to this rule of tolerance are found in areas where society decides the acceptable views for everyone. The primary tools of influence on these matters come through the media and academia. Elitists in these fields pressure others to see things their way or face ridicule and condescension. Uniformity of opinion is required for all who wish to be considered open-minded and progressive. Those who see things differently will be labeled (among other things) narrow, hate-mongers, bigots, backwards and right-wing conservatives.

For examples, homosexual lifestyles and gay marriage must be considered acceptable. Abortion is a fundamental right, not the taking of innocent life. All religions lead to God in their own way and the value of religion is found not in its truthfulness but in the benefit it brings to adherents. As long as you are sincere in your efforts to serve God, it doesn’t matter what religion you follow. Conversely, one must never publically refer to what the bible teaches—outside of Church at least. Those who are brave enough to do this should expect to hear collective groans and sighs about the presence of “one of those radical Christians.”

An entire generation socially conditioned
Without sounding too alarmist, I believe that an entire generation of Americans have been socially conditioned under this tyranny of tolerance and that it has been one of the greatest threats the health and stability of our nation. But I also believe that the Church has been profoundly affected.

First - Mainstream culture
How has this made its way into mainstream culture-- particularly youth culture?

In Christian Smith’s book "Soul Searching" he analyzed the beliefs and values of today’s teenagers. Regarding absolute moral or religious beliefs, youth today have a one-word response: "Whatever."

And this response has been subtly and systematically encouraged through mainstream education. Let me explain.

Children and youth spend six to seven hours a day in school (perhaps more for extra-curricular activities). During that time they recognize that when it comes to certain opinions on morality and religion in particular, “You don’t go there” is the safest policy. No matter how strongly held or valued, mentioning some beliefs or values could get you either in trouble or mocked. This is especially the case for beliefs that sound too exclusive or absolute in nature.
As a result of the “you don’t go there” approach, our young people have developed two very dangerous behaviors:

1. A learned ability to suspend commitment to certain beliefs.
2. An inarticulacy regarding the faith—“you don’t go there.”

See John 12:42-43: “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.”

Think about it
A learned capacity to talk about differences becomes unnecessary in a society that asks us to avoid speaking in particular or absolute categories. As a result, large numbers of people are not only unable to articulate what they believe and why they believe it, they are guarded against beliefs that are too particular or in any way exclude or offend the beliefs of others.

Even if they actually hold to particular moral or religious beliefs, they have learned to suspend their commitment to them in most social circumstances. And, since they have been taught that moral and religious opinions are merely matters of personal taste, why stir things up over such matters? You don’t go there.

How would this affect the offer of evangelism, logic or apologetics classes? Would these classes be viewed with suspicion?

No need for evangelism or apologetics classes
Under this kind of social conditioning, it becomes unnecessary to be trained in moral argument or to learn how to constructively engage someone in a discussion about different beliefs. Young people in particular might question the value of such training. Why talk about things that could be perceived exclusive or violations of pluralistic civility. Some might even suspect hidden imperialistic agendas designed to oppress a minority group or to impose your politics on others. Let’s not go there.

A growing number of people actually feel that there is something morally repugnant about followers of one religion maintaining that they are correct in their beliefs and that sincere adherents of other religions are mistaken in what they believe. Most college students, for example, accept the idea of some creative force behind the existence of the universe. “What is a debated topic is how you move from this rather impersonal force to the beliefs of a particular religious tradition, and especially whether in affirming the truth-reliability of one path, you must stand against the truth-reliability of all other paths.” (Professor Daniel Liechty, Illinois State University).

The new tension is not about belief in God but whether or not it is "safe" to believe in one absolute deity. The tyranny of tolerance has scared people into postures of neutrality. It feels safer to choose not to believe anything too conclusively but to hold all beliefs in their broadest terms. The by-product is a culture that has lost its ability to think, discuss and debate. “Whatever” has become the common response to differences on morality and religion. In this environment, it becomes increasingly hard to train people to share and defend their faith.

Observation about Christian missions
Those who study trends in Christian missions tell us that in the very near future America will cease to be the primary sending nation for Christian missionaries. Already large numbers of missionaries are being sent to bring the gospel to the world from places like Latin America, India and South Korea (to name a few). And they are even being sent to reach us. Question: Why is it that our Churches are full (especially in their Mega forms) and yet a steadily decreasing number of Christians answer the call to take the gospel to the ends of the earth?

Division of truth: Personal and Public
A division of truth into personal and public categories strengthens the social conditioning based on radical tolerance. So moral and religious opinions are widely viewed as matters of personal taste like preferences for chocolate over vanilla. Media and academic elite (the primary means for social conditioning) have tried to persuade the public that moral and religious opinions (unlike scientific facts) are merely personal matters we should keep to ourselves. An unsuspecting public has been taught to marginalize and trivialize religion and morality into a private sphere irrelevant to life in the real world.

Pressure on religious communities
In the cause of promoting and protecting pluralistic civility, social pressure is particularly placed on religious communities to de-emphasize all positions that could be perceived as claims to superiority among the religions of the world. Under the tyrannical rule of the twisted version of tolerance, people have been conditioned to be deeply suspicious of attempts to privilege one religious tradition or teaching as normative for all. If a religious tradition claims to have special access to truth about God, it is considered intolerant no matter how respectfully it relates to others. Absolute religious and moral opinions are considered potential threats to pluralistic civility.

Effect on Christian witness and missions
Should we be surprised that Christians with a missionary faith feel intimidated by this attitude? How can they obey Jesus’ call to, “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), without being considered rude and intrusive? Under the tyranny of tolerance, how should we think about Jesus statement, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the father but through me” (John 14:6)? Should we change Jesus' words and make him say, “I am a way, a truth, and a life. People can come to the father through me or any other means they desire.”

It’s tempting to feel marginalized by the selective tolerance of our culture. The primary object of intolerance is Christianity. Islam doesn’t receive the same level of ridicule and hostility. Professors who openly mock Christianity wouldn’t dare attack the Islamic faith in university classrooms. But like the first followers of Christ, we must not compromise the message of salvation. In a fiercely pluralistic and polytheistic Roman society, the early apostles testified of Jesus that, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). They did not offer this as a personal opinion among many equally valid options. This was proclaimed as a fact of prophecy and history.

When Jesus described his true disciples in the beatitudes (see Matthew 5:10-16), he included persecution as distinguishing mark (cf. John 15:20). Persecuted people live provokingly different lifestyles in the world. They are true difference-makers and Jesus picks up on this when he reminds his disciples that they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. He also cautioned them not to follow the temptation to dilute the salt or hide the light. The followers of Jesus must be like well-lit cities on a hill that cannot be hidden. We must capture strategic places of influence for Jesus and not allow ourselves to be marginalized by the pressures of selective intolerance.

The Christian School
Good news: The Christian school environment is not bound by such restraints. It fosters the ability to freely express and evaluate moral and religious conclusions. Used wisely, this could be one of the most important contributions Christian schools make to the Church and the wider culture.

Witness with wisdom and grace
Considering the atmosphere I have described, Christian witness should be offered with wisdom and grace. Scripture that is particularly applicable exhorts us to, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:5-6). Given the prevailing distortions of tolerance and the misdirected attitude toward religious beliefs, it is also wise to emphasize the inclusive parts of our message. The good news of salvation is meant for all people.

At least seven truths related to the gospel apply to all people - without exception.

1. God has demonstrated his love for all people (John 3:16).
2. God desires the salvation of all people (I Timothy 2:3-4).
3. God has made provision for the salvation of all people (I John 2:2).
4. God commands all people to repent (Acts 17:30).
5. God will hold all people accountable for their response (Acts 17:31).
6. God takes no pleasure in anyone’s rejection of his provision (Ezekiel 18:23,32).
7. God will save all people who place faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:16).

Questions for discussion:

1. What are the long-term effects for those who spend large amounts of time in environments where they learn to avoid talking about particulars and absolutes?

2. Would a learned ability to suspend commitment to one’s belief lead to moral compromise in similar circumstances?

3. How can churches address these matters and the issue of inarticulacy regarding the faith?

4. How does the Christian teaching that all people are created equal in the image of God serve as the only reliable basis for true tolerance?

5. Does tolerance ask too little of people?

6. Would it be better to use the word respect instead of the term tolerance? If so, Why?

7. How would a call to radical neighbor love over tolerance be more socially transformative from a Christian perspective?

8. How do the salt and light metaphors relate to the roles of Jesus’ followers in the world?


Steve Cornell
Senior Pastor
Millersville Bible Church
58 West Frederick Street
Millersville PA. 17551
717-872-4260
http://www.thinkpoint.wordpress.com/

I believe in education!

Commencement Address
by Everett Piper President, Oklahoma Wesleyan University

In a recent address to the graduates of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Dr. Piper began by saying, "I believe that the best education is one which is tested by time, confirmed by experience, validated by reason, and ultimately grounded in Scripture. "

Dr. Piper also made several other "I believe . . ." statements to his listening audience, and now, by extension, to his reading audience.

I believe that the academy is the gate keeper of our individual virtue and our national conscience.

I believe that all intellectual and moral training must be anchored in our Creator who endows us with the rights of life and liberty and that if we build education on any foundation but Him we will lose our conscience and shortly thereafter lose our freedom, our joy, and our ability to pursue happiness.

I believe that our future lies in the hearts and minds of today’s students and that all cultures are but one generation away from irrelevancy and extinction.

I believe that what is taught today in the classroom will be practiced tomorrow in our churches, our companies, our communities and our country at large.

I believe in absolutes and that if we don’t teach them, learn them, and cherish them that we will be cast about by every wave of human desire, political promise, and selfish ambition.

To read the rest of Dr. Piper's address and his challenge "to believe", please click here to visit the Oklahoma Wesleyan University website.

Oklahoma Wesleyan University, located in Bartlesville, OK, is a four-year Christian university of the liberal arts and sciences that is fully accredited by the North Central Association. OWU also obtained professional accreditation with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the International Assembly of Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). It is a member of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities as well as the Council of Independent Colleges and Universities and the Association of Oklahoma Independent Colleges and Universities.

A Failure as a Father

by Jonathan Nazigian

I am a failure. At least that is what my TV told me. The other night, during the evening news, several of the local TV stations conducted a digital signal test to show viewers if their television was ready for the upcoming switch from analog to digital broadcasting. As my wife and I sat with our two boys, we had fun counting down the seconds until the test would begin (the outcome already known to my wife and I since the TV we were given 9 years ago was definitely not digital-ready). And, lo and behold, when the clock struck zero, the message was clear: we had failed. The boys had even more fun as we flipped through the channels calling out to each other, “We failed!” “We failed, again!” “How about channel 10? Nope! Failed again!”

So yes, I am a failure. I have failed to provide my family with a digital-ready television. Soon, our rabbit ears will be obsolete and our 24” electronic window to the world of broadcast news and entertainment will grow dark. Unless, of course, we convert (but that’s a discussion for another day).

As I was musing on my “failure” as a father, I was actually encouraged that despite my inability to provide some extra “niceties” of modern life, by God’s grace, I have been able to provide not only what the world recognizes as necessities (food, clothing, shelter), but God has also allowed me to provide that which is even more vital to my children—a godly home and Christ-centered schooling.

I was also encouraged to be a part of a Christian school ministry, where other Christian parents and I have partnered together to provide our students with an education that is of the highest caliber—an education where all of God’s truth is taught with excellence for His glory.

And yet, as I continue to watch dozens of Christian schools across the country close their doors for lack of students and for lack of donor support, I have to ask some hard questions of my fellow Christian parents.

How many Christian parents are failing their children on an issue with eternal stakes far greater than digital TV? This Christmas, how many Christian parents will sacrifice to provide their children with new toys, outfits, and electronic gadgets, while failing to provide what their children need most—the one thing God has commanded parents to provide for their children—a knowledge of God, a Biblical worldview?

How many Christian parents who would never, knowingly place their child in physical danger, will more than willingly place their highly impressionable children in spiritual danger every day in a public school system which must, by law, teach moral relativism? How many Christian parents will continue to enroll their intellectually curious children in a public school system which must, by law, artificially remove the truth of God from every academic subject, and which must, by law, remain not neutral (for neutrality when it comes to God is impossible) but anti-God (for acknowledging the creation without acknowledging the Creator is the epitome of idolatry)?

How many Christian parents are giving their children the world to the forfeit of their soul?

A few years ago, my wife and I attended a dinner party at the home of a local couple. The hostess was actually a graduate of the Christian school in which I serve and commented on how impressed she was with the improvements she had seen in the school over the years. She then made the comment I have heard so many times, from so many people. “It’s a shame Christian school tuition is so high. I would love for my kids to go there, but we just can’t afford it.”

I’ll be honest. What I said out loud and what I was really thinking were not the same. What I said was some general, polite comments about scholarships and fundraising and true cost vs. tuition. What I was really thinking was quite different, and perhaps the geniality of the evening was preserved because I didn’t have the boldness to speak it out loud.

As I looked around the very large house, furnished with very nice things, located in a very nice neighborhood, with two very nice cars parked in the very nice, multi-car garage, and some very nice toys filling the very large back yard, I really wanted to say, “Please. Don’t say you can’t afford Christian school. Be honest with yourself. Say you choose not to afford Christian school.”

Too blunt? Maybe. Too insensitive? Probably. And I know, I know, you can’t judge by appearances, etc. etc. But I think there is a core truth to the “I can’t afford Christian school excuse” that many ignore. There are those who value Christian school but genuinely cannot afford it, and there are those who, instead, choose to afford other things they value more.

For example, let’s say an average, middle-class man walks past a Mercedes Benz dealership and says, “Sure, it would be nice to have a Mercedes, but I can’t afford one.” Technically, this is probably not true. He could afford it; he just decides to spend his money elsewhere. For example, he could sell his house and buy the Mercedes. However, most would agree that this would not be a wise decision. It would be a foolish financial move to sell what, for most people, is their largest investment (their home), to buy a car, the value of which depreciates very rapidly.

In the same way, an average, middle-class, Christian family says, “Sure, it would be nice to have our children in Christian school, but we can’t afford it.” As I said earlier, for some, this is indeed true. But technically, for most, this is probably not true. They just decide to spend their money elsewhere. For example, they could move to a smaller home or choose lesser furnishings or drive an older car or vacation in a less expensive place. This brings us to the core question of value. What is the more valuable investment, a home (or furnishings, or car, or vacation, etc.) or the formation and education of one’s children in the best, most biblical way possible?

And the irony is that if even half of those Christian parents who can afford Christian schooling chose to enroll their children, Christian schools would be in such a strong position financially that they would be able to lower tuition for everyone and fully fund scholarship programs for those who truly cannot afford it.

Most parents would sacrifice everything for their children, even their very lives. So why are so many Christian parents not willing to sacrifice financially to provide their children with the best education possible?

I may fail at many things as a father and provider, but may I never disobey God by failing to provide my children with every possible opportunity to be trained up in the way they should go, so when they are old, they will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).

May I never disobey God by failing to teach my children God’s commands, when I sit at home, when I walk along the road, when I lie down and when I get up (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). And since I cannot be with my children throughout the day, may I never fail to place them under the day-by-day, moment-by-moment teaching and influence of someone who loves God with all of his or her heart and has the freedom to teach my children openly about the Truth.

May I never disobey God by failing to pray for my Christian school, by failing to give to my Christian school, or by failing to lovingly confront my fellow Christian parents in love about their need to do the same.

May I never fail at what matters most.

Is Your School an "Authentic" Christian School?

The following reflection/challenge was posted by Arthur Bennett, Superintendent of Arkansas Baptist School System and was based on a brochure entitled What Is an Authentic Christian School?, written in 1996 by Dr. Carl Herbster, President of the American Association of Christian Schools.

Click here to read the original post.

Dr. Bennett reviews several areas of school ministry to help determine the authenticity of Arkansas Baptist . . . so, substitute YOUR SCHOOL NAME where you read "Arkansas Baptist" as you examine the authenticity of your ministry.

The first few sentences [of the brochure] read, “The sign over the front entrance of a Christian school does not necessarily serve as proof of a Christian school inside. Neither does the American nor Christian flag hanging in the corner or a Scripture verse displayed on the classroom wall. It is impossible to identify an authentic Christian school solely from its appearance.”

So, I asked myself, “Is Arkansas Baptist an authentic Christian school?” Honestly, I am convinced we are, and I’ll tell you why:

• Every single decision that is made about the operation of the school is backed by Scripture.
• The Bible is taught each day and is a major part of the curriculum.
• The Bible is integrated within all subject matter.
• The Bible is central to guiding students in developing character, attitudes, and values.
• All classes are taught by Christian teachers who are willing to share their faith with the students.
• Students not only develop their faith, but actually put it into action daily.
• Students and teachers have the freedom to pray with and for each other at any time.
• Servanthood is gained through numerous mission opportunities.
• Academic mediocrity is unacceptable.
• Our students learn in a disciplined atmosphere.
• We value not only the students, but parents, too.
  

At a time when some Christians have a hard time agreeing on what it means to be a “Christian”, our school is known for its integrity and pursuit of truth in order to honor and please God. Our staff and faculty are caring, genuine, real and trustworthy. Arkansas Baptist is an authentic Christian school.