April 22, 2010
For the last several weeks, we have been focusing on the challenge given to the board and teachers of Heartland Christian Academy by our board chairman, Dr. Mark Claussen. What was that challenge? To pursue areas of excellence in our school as we look back at 30 years of faithful educational ministry and look ahead to a bright future.
The first area of excellence that we were urged to pursue just makes sense for a Christian school: providing the materials, methods and mission to develop the next generation of Christian leaders. That deeper level of Christian discipleship is not going to happen by accident, nor will it happen just by having the Christian label on the school’s name. A commitment to excellence in following Christ is going to take a serious examination on all of our parts to seek God’s direction and training in the young lives placed in our care.
The second area of excellence that we examined last week is in the area of fine arts: specifically, music, art and drama. We have been challenged to believe that even a modest-sized school can produce a quality education in the areas, and not just for the very gifted and talented. I am convinced that an excellent fine arts program in Heartland’s future will result in a generation able to use a wide variety of communication tools to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The third area targeted for excellence in Heartland’s future is in the area of the sciences, including technology and math. Most Christian schools have excellent math programs, but many have viewed science as the arena for secular humanism and macro-evolution. As a man of science myself, I can passionately affirm that the concentrated study of earth, space, physics, chemistry and life science should not be abandoned as subjects outside of faith. A Christ-centered school like Heartland should be equipping its students to stand firm in the marketplace of ideas and invention, including the scientific and technological realm. Who will be a witness to scientists who truly desire to see faith in someone who speaks their technical language if not our well-trained children?
What does excellence in science, math and technology look like? It means that teachers with a strong scientific background, as well as a heart of faith, are encouraged to develop enriched programs that will capture the minds and imagination of curious children. It means having the updated computers and other technology that will equip our students with the technological awareness that is also a gift from the Almighty. Excellence can be expressed in science fair projects that rise above the mundane, competitions that help awaken and sharpen bright minds, and resources that permit the teachers to do the “cool experiments” that graphically teach what a wonderful and orderly created universe we live in.
My dream is to have Christian parents be pleasantly surprised when they come to a school where the children are as comfortable with the laws of physics recorded in the universe as they are with the laws of God recorded in Scripture.
Our program today is sponsored by our friends of Heartland who want to invite you to joining us in upcoming celebrations of our 30th anniversary.