Children of Promise A vision for Christian education

Deuteronomy “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Mark “He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” Matthew “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.”

Why are we concerned for education? Education is: The key to developing children’s gifts, abilities and promise The foundation of society The springboard for the rest of life A major area for Kingdom influence Chinese proverb: “If you plan for one year, plant rice. If you plan for ten years, plant trees. If you plan for a hundred years, educate your children.”

Do we think broadly enough about education? We want to be Salt and Light Salt: Christian teachers, Christian heads, Christian schools workers and youth workers, Christian content in curriculum and assemblies Light: Christian schools, Christian universities, Bible Schools, Theological Colleges – all of them centres of discipleship As parents, we want to be good stewards of the children God gives us

Are Christian schools some new-fangled fanatical thing? No! throughout centuries, Christians have been involved in Christian education “Christianising” nations Part of mission Helping believers fulfil their destiny

Some quotes from history St Augustine (4 th century): “In a Christian school, there is no such thing as teachers and pupils, as there is only one teacher, Jesus Christ. There are older pupils, i.e. the teachers, and younger pupils, i.e. the children, but there is only one teacher.” Martin Luther (early 16 th century): “Parents, if you don’t put your children into these Christian schools, you are depriving God of a captain and a general in the fight against the devil.”

More quotes…. Calvin (mid-16 th century): 1. “Give me the wood (i.e. the children) and I will turn it into arrows.” 2. “The church has never flourished without schools.” And, by comparison, Jean-Jacques Rousseau: “Parents are unfit to teach their children – it should be the state who teaches them.”

The King’s School Nothing defensive about it! Partnering with parents in the training of our children Jan 1983: recognising God’s VVIP’s Following 18 months: God speaking clearly & prophetically Sept 1984: opening pioneer and pilgrim school April 1988: New Yatt Road opened September 1998: Wesley Walk opened

The King’s School: what do we want? An atmosphere of encouragement for every individual Biblical foundations for curriculum, assemblies, relationships and living Teaching children to know and love God, and to care for his world Training “servant-rulers” who will influence their generation

Christian education: where are we going? A new wing to be built on New Yatt Road – a blessing for the school and for North Witney church!! £2.5million! “A hand across the county” Early Years Development Units / pre-schools / local community schools – feeding into the King’s School

Prayer, encouragement and support Pray for, and encourage all teachers – that they may be channels of God’s Kingdom Pray for King’s School developments Pray for county-wide early years’ developments Pray, give, support, help, encourage – in order that we may see children fulfil every promise that God has spoken over them!