What makes ECA distinctive?
September 9th, 2008To all the parents that attended Back To School Night last week–Mrs. Alberts, Mr. Raudenbush, Pastor Drew Ryall, myself, and all of the teachers and staff present–we say a collective thank you! If you really think about it, Back To School Night is one of the most well attended nights by parents all year and it is the most strategic event from an administrative stand point. If you were not in attendance, we believe that we missed a golden opportunity with you to communicate our hearts regarding this ministry and where it is headed. Let me try to at least answer the question I have posed here, “What makes ECA distinctive?” In short, we embrace a completely Biblical philosophy of education.
I spent the first 10 minutes of our time together last week emphasizing the fact that we are engaged in a culture war over ideas and values. Each side of this war possesses totally opposing views–ideas and values that are either God-centered or man-centered. The target of this war is our children and the major front of this war is fought on educational turf. The Enemy knows just how vulnerable our children are and how accessible they are in schools and he will do anything he can to take them down. The battle line for this war is drawn at the mind (Romans 12:2). What goes into our children’s minds will influence their thoughts, which help formulate their beliefs, which, in turn, shape their values, ultimately manifesting themselves into action called behavior. This is where ECA comes in.
We exist to partner with Christian parents to counteract this culture war. The stakes are high–the minds and souls of millions of young people hang in the balance. It is critical that we stop focusing so much attention on students’ actions and behavior and begin focusing on their beliefs and values. Luke 6:40 reads, “A student when fully trained will be like his teacher.” If this is true, and we believe Scripture is true, then who you choose to put in front of your children as teachers is of vital importance because your children will take on the beliefs and values of their teachers. Then, as truth is taught and modeled and we allow the Holy Spirit to transform students’ minds into the likeness of Christ, then we will be properly preparing students for this war. I would echo the words of Dr. Michael Catt, Senior Pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia, “Whoever wants the next generation the most will get them!” Our challenge to you is this, “Are you fighting for your children more than the Enemy?”
Mrs. Alberts and Mr. Raudenbush both spoke for several minutes to their respective parents on the Biblical mandate that parents are the primary educators of their children. This is a freeing yet sobering truth in Scripture. Professional educators everywhere, including some Christian school educators, have failed to adhere to this Biblical truth. Because some parents today in our contemporary society are missing it when it comes to this principle, educators have stepped in and have tried to fulfill this role. This will not work! This is not how God designed it and any substitute short of God’s standard will fail and is a usurping of the role of the parent as the primary educator of children. At ECA, we desire to partner with Christian parents in a very tangible way to equip you to fulfill your Biblical mandate and position ourselves to be most effective in the discipleship of young people.
Pastor Drew finished the evening with our role as parents and ECA staff to be disciple makers. After convening with members of his Discipleship Committee, they came up with this workable definition of discipleship at ECA, “Maximizing every opportunity to foster life change in the hearts of others.” He went on to share that every teacher is finishing a Professional Discipleship Plan designed to fit that teacher’s gifts, role, and daily/weekly opportunities to foster life change in the students in their sphere of influence. He is excited about the various plans the teachers are submitting. The intentionality of this approach is powerful and we are anticipating awesome things happening in the lives of students this year because of it.
Please know that ECA was established in 1973 to provide Christian parents in this community with a distinctly Christian education for their children. This distinctive starts and ends with a completely Biblical philosophy of education. We trust this is why you send your children to Elkhart Christian Academy–it is a decision that may be the difference between a student being prepared or not for a culture war that has eternal consequences.
