Daily, we hear about and experience the challenges that face Christian schooling. We can choose discouragement and/or fear, or we can see the events as opportunities for growth. At CCA, we choose the latter because, at no time have we seen this endeavor called Christian Central Academy as anything other than a God-sized adventure.
There are noticeable shifts in the culture that make private Christian education at CCA a more difficult option to consider. The cost to families gets more daunting; to other families, there is a preference for home schooling for a variety of reasons. Then there are numerous, competitive, well-established, high-quality private school’s within the Buffalo and surrounding area that offer college preparation. We seem to be competing for the same students, while their parents compete for the same jobs.
CCA must, therefore, make a compelling case for those distinctives that will encourage any family to choose a Christ-centered education in the search for an excellent education for their children. With that in mind, let’s take another look at CCA!!
1. CCA believes that the principles of Kingdom education are set out in God’s Word, the Bible. The home, the church, and the school must be in agreement if our children are going to be trained in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
2. At CCA, we aim to develop a worldview consistent with all of life – not a man-centered part and a God-centered part. In short, a complete Christian worldview cannot exclude God from any part of a child’s life.
3. At CCA, the question, “Who is your child’s teacher?” is a serious one. For almost seven hours each day, a child sits under the influence of the teacher. We take care that this instructor is one who completely believes God’s word. The teacher, whether in the secular or Christian school, also influences your child through the other curriculum – the hidden, wordless curriculum conveyed through the teacher’s life. It does make a difference what worldview the teacher espouses.
4. At CCA, diversity does not mean a compromise of God’s truth. Today society retreats on biblical standards, especially with regard to marriage and the family. The Bible is clear on marriage as being a holy union between one man and one woman. It also makes clear that single-sex unions are contrary to God’s divine purpose for mankind. The Bible also affirms God’s love by stating clearly in II Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. It is God’s will that no one should perish. The Bible wonderfully supports one unified worldview – a God-centered worldview – even though dualism suggests that there is a secular and a spiritual part to life – making the two parts as unrelated. Everything impacts the development of children. When we divide life into unrelated compartments, we encourage fragmented humans. We can only find true meaning and purpose in life through the unifying factor, Jesus Christ. CCA does not believe in compartmentalizing life, that is making God relevant in some areas but irrelevant in others. We do not separate beliefs and values from any area of knowledge. Walter Ediger puts it this way, “It is impossible to separate God’s word from God. How then is it possible to teach about God’s word and leave him out?” The Christian teacher knows that “all truth is God’s truth.” (Gaebelein).
5. The Christ-centered school is often at odds with popular culture. Choosing it can be both daunting and expensive. It is, however, a sacrifice that perhaps should not be reasoned away. The future of children’s lives and of our country will depend, to a large extent, on the kind of education that shapes their worldview. Such a sacrifice will, in the long run, be worth the expense and determine the people they become. Having said all of the above, the challenges facing CCA and all like-minded Christian schools are great. We see the roadblocks as opportunities to train students to experience a life of wholeness in God. We are in a fight to the death for the hearts and minds of children. Do not allow the culture to swallow them up. CCA invites you to choose an educational experience for your children that will help them understand God’s plan for their future.
Nurline A. Lawrence is the Head of School at Christian Central Academy in Williamsville, NY. She was born in Jamaica, married 38 years to Alphonse Leslie Lawrence (deceased). She is the mother of 4 children and enjoys Christian education administration, 17th and 20th century literature, walking, reading, friends and traveling. Mrs. Lawrence previously served at The Stony Brook School (Stony Brook, NY) and The Covenant School (Charlottesville, VA). Mrs. Lawrence holds a B.A. from the University of London, International College of the Cayman Islands, B.S. ,SUNY at Stony Brook, M.A., Dowling College, SAS, Dowling College, SDA
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