Building A More Christ
Centered School
Song of Dedication
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Spirit of the Living
God, fall afresh on
me.
Spirit of the Living
God, fall afresh on
me.
Melt me, mold me,
fill me and use me.
Spirit of the living
God fall afresh on
me. (2 Times)
What’s Wrong With This
Picture
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? Union Membership
1980
1990
2000
2005
–
–
–
-
INCREASE =
(members)
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UnionK-8 Enrollment
1980
1990
2000
2005
–
–
–
-
DECREASE =
(students)
SDA Church School EXPLOSION
1895 - 1910
# of
Pupils
700
(680)
600
+212
500
(468)
400
+223
300
(245)
200
100
+216
(1)
(1)
(2)
(6)
(16)
(29)
1872
1875
1880
1885
1890
1895
1900
1905
1910
What Were the Factors That
Ignited the explosion?
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1. Revival Swept through Adventism:
RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH IN CHRIST
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And,
2. A Conviction Regarding:
THE GOSPEL COMMISSION – “Go Ye
into all the world.” (Matthew 28:19,20)
Growth of Adventist Global
Missions
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1880
1890
1900
1930
5 Missionaries
56 Missionaries
481 Missionaries
8,479 Missionaries
? Union Summary of ITBS
Scores: 200? (Gr. 3-9)
Grade
Reading
Total
Language
Total
Math
Total
Social
Studies
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Note: There are approximately 325 students per grade level in Lake Union Schools
Note: Percentile rank is based on national school norms
Science
Composite
The Watchword of Adventist
Education: Ed, p. 296
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“Something better” is the watchword of
education… Let the students be
directed to something better than
display, ambition, or self-indulgence.
Lead them to behold the One
“altogether lovely.” When once the gaze
is fixed upon Him, the life finds its
center.
The Watchword of Adventist
Education: Ed, p. 296 (Continued)
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The enthusiasm, the generous
devotion, the passionate ardor, of the
youth find here their true object.
Duty becomes a delight, and sacrifice a
pleasure.
To honor Christ, to become like Him, to
work for Him, is the life’s highest
ambition and its greatest joy. (Ed. p.
296, 297)
The Objectives of Adventist
Education
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE
Leading young people into
a saving relationship with
Christ
(REDEMTPTION)
SECONDARY OBJECTIVE
SECONDARY OBJECTIVE
SECONDARY OBJECTIVE
Character
Development
Develop a Christian
Mind
Job or Occupation
Preparation
The Finished Product of
Adventist Education
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Dr. Ben Carson, SDA
neurosurgeon.
Students Who
Demonstrate that
the purpose of
their lives is:
SERVICE TO GOD
& SERVICE TO
MAN both here
and in the
hereafter.
So What Estimation Does God
Place on Adventist Teachers?
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To the teacher is committed a most
important work-- a work upon which he
should not enter without careful and
thorough preparation. He should feel the
sacredness of his CALLING and give
himself to it with zeal and devotion…
The schoolroom is no place for surface
work. No teacher who is satisfied with
superficial knowledge will attain a high
degree of efficiency. {CT 229.1}
The Three Objectives of Early
Adventist Education:
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1. To Teach the Children about Christ.
(Seek Ye FIRST the kingdom of God)
2. To Equip children with the Skills
Needed for Service and Evangelism. (Go
Ye into ALL the world)
3. To Protect the Children from the
Influences of satan in our World
Our Father’s Two Options for
Adventist Education Today
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Plan “B”
He will use a few
key people in the
church and the
school to prepare
brochure’s, and
videos and make
public presentations
to show how Christ
is IN our church
schools.
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Plan “A”
He will once again
ignite the people in
His church on the
Righteousness by
Faith in Christ
message and,
He will convict His
people on the need
to take the Gospel
to all the world.
But for Now … We Will Do the
Best We Can With God’s Plan “B”
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How Do We Make Our Schools
More Christ Like?
It Starts With Our Teachers & Our
Preachers & Our Parents & Our
School Boards & Even Our Students
Making Christ the Center of the
Program.
Barna Research Group Ltd.
November 15, 1999
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Probability of people accepting Christ as
Savior.
Ages 5-13
32% rate of probability
Ages 14-18
4% rate of probability
Ages 19-death
6% rate of probability
Bottom Line: If a person does not accept
Christ by age 14, the likelihood of ever doing
so diminishes drastically.
Key Themes to Building a
More Christ Centered School
#1 Keep Christ at the Center of the
School and Each Classroom
#2 Intentionally build and Strengthen
Relationships
#3 Involve Students in Outreach/
Witnessing Activities
#1:Keep Christ at the Center
of the School Program.
(Nuts & Bolts)
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Make Christ the focus of your life.
Invite Him to be the center of your school
daily –perhaps hourly. (brainstorm).
Focus on modeling Christ IN & THROUGH
you. Be a walking book about God’s love to
be read by all. With Christ as your model
… play follow the leader every day.
Bring in adults who can share their “Christian
journey” & Worship habits with your students.
Celebrate the joy found in Jesus. Share
victories
Keep Christ at the Center of
the School Program. (Nuts &
Bolts)
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Encourage prayer & action for
individuals in need.
Praise God in personal and public
interactions.
Form “What would Jesus do?” clubs
in each classroom. (Our High Calling, p. 198)
Provide a couple of profound agape
feasts yearly.
Keep Christ at the Center of
the School Program. (continued)
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Encourage your staff to pray one-onone with all students.
Be intentional with spiritual
programming. A “what ever”
approach to song service sends the
message, “this isn’t really important” to
students. Make the spiritual program a
priority with your time & your money.
#1. Keep Christ at the Center
of the School Program.
(continued)
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Make Bible class practical & personal.
Plan the yearly program well in advance to
ensure that Christ doesn’t get squeezed
out by other programs.
Expect miracles – celebrate them.
Expect disasters – use them as
teaching/learning experiences.
Provide opportunities for students to lead
out in spiritual endeavors.
#2:Building and Strengthening
Relationships
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The literature on child
resiliency and
intervention is clear:
“Every child needs at
least one adult who is
irrationally crazy
about him or her.”
(Bodine & Crawford
1998)
#2. Building and
Strengthening Relationships
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Make it a priority to ensure that every
student is well known by, and in regular
contact with, at least one caring adult in
the church. Example: adopt
grandparents.
Connect older students with younger
students in “big brother/sister”
relationships.
#2. Building and
Strengthening Relationships
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Intentionally do things to build rapport
with students. Example: cookie
day/night, birthday celebrations etc.
Understand that the purpose of
discipline is REDEMPTION. Use
discipline to point students to their
loving Father in heaven. Your actions
will speak louder than your words.
For discipline to be redemptive, it must
include a strong relationship
component.
#2.Building and Strengthening
Relationships
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Include students on advisory
committees. (Not necessarily policy making
ones)
Be involved – get out of the office and be
part of the flavor of the school.(Be a
welcoming committee of one).
Let kids tell you how they feel and LISTEN.
Act on what you can … and tell them when
you cannot. Be open & up-front with them.
#2. Building and
Strengthening Relationships
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Play with the students. Good advice
for teachers, pastors and board
members.
Teach cooperation & team work and
then expect both.
Celebrate successes – beat the drum
and bring out the band.
#3: Bible Labs:
God’s Plan for Serving
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A curriculum that explores
issues of caring is enriched
by opportunities for
helping others. Community
service can be particularly
beneficial for students at
risk. It gives them a
chance to feel useful and
build self-esteem.
(Curwin 1993)
% of Retention Compared
to Method of Teaching
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LISTENING (Lecture)
Reading
Audio & Visual
Demonstration
Discussion Group
Practice (experience)
Teach Others
5%
10%
20%
30%
50%
75%
95%
#3. Bible Labs: God’s Plan for
Serving
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According to the V.G study, the two
most influential factors in students
connecting to Christ and remaining
faithful are: 1) Parent/child dialogue
about faith and ….
Involvement in “helping” projects.
(home, church, and school).
#3. Bible Labs: God’s Plan for
Serving
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Include witnessing/service activities in the
schedule, and not just an add on.
Study the life of Christ with your students and
help them see that service is not
something you do, it’s who you are
in Christ.
Lead them to experience the joy of serving
others for Christ (and not for self).
Remember, servant leadership is taught
best through two models – Jesus & You.
The Role of the Principal, Pastor, School Board
& Teachers is to Create a Spiritual School
CLIMATE
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It is the Love of Christ that
controls me. -2 Cor. 5:14
Evidence exists that a school
or church are the shadow of
the administrator.
School & Church improvement
begins with the administrator.
Here is the Starting Point for
building spiritual
CLIMATE
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C - Christ’s
L - Love
I - Influences
M - My
A - Attitude
T - Toward
E – Everyone &
Everything
Think About This
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“Both then and now, Adv. ed. at its best stands for
something of great importance, rather than
representing an escape from the non-Christian
world. We may conclude that the health of Adv. ed.
depends upon its ability to maintain its spiritual
identity and its sense of mission.
Without these distinctive qualities it loses its reason
for being. With them, it will continue to be a
dynamic force in a world in need of redemptive
healing.” –George Knight.
The End!
Why Do I Believe In Adventist
Education?
Adventist Schools Provide ---
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More Opportunities for
Students to Know Their
heavenly Father - Abba
More of a Safe
Environment –
Emotionally, Physically,
Spiritually
More Emphasis given to
Developing a Christ Like
Character
More Understanding that
Their Lives Have a
Purpose – Tools in their
Heavenly Father’s Hands
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More Opportunities to
Discover the Joy of
Serving Christ by Helping
Others
More Emphasis on a
Healthy Life-Style
More Opportunities to
Develop Leadership
Skills
More of a Family
Atmosphere
More Opportunities for
Your Children to Take
memory “Snapshots of
Jesus Lived Out in the
Lives of His People.”
Conclusion:
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Children/Students Only Grow Up
One Time.
Don’t settle by giving them what
is good – When you can give
them what is best.
And, what is best is:
The home, the school and the
church all working to help
your children/students know
who they are & what they are
here for.
They are children of God &
He plans to use them to finish
the work here on earth!
The main thing is that we don’t forget that the
main thing is still the main thing. And in parenting
or teaching, the main thing is ….Christ IN us &
Christ THROUGH us for the good of His children
every day.