THE
WARRIOR
“ 16,000
SPRING 2013
Hours of Education” by Dr. Gary Arnold, Head of School
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations … teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19 & 20)
Mention the Great Commission of Matthew 28 and people immediately think of missions or evangelism. But, embedded within the Commission are two key phrases that bring the work much closer to home: “making disciples” and “teaching them.” Once you and I “go” there is much work to be done to make disciples. And, according to Jesus, teaching plays a big part in that process. That’s where Christian schooling comes in. As parents, we are given 6,570 days (18 years) to prepare a young man or woman for the responsibilities of adulthood. Let’s be honest, given your adult responsibilities, how much of that time is truly focused on your child’s preparation for life? Again, that’s where Christian schooling comes in. There are approximately16,000 hours of school from kindergarten through grade twelve. Consider 16,000 hours of life training for your children in a context full of God versus 16,000 hours of life training in a context devoid of God. Assume your children experience approximately 2,500 hours of Christian education in your local church over the course of those same thirteen years. This time in the church setting makes a huge difference and is ESSENTIAL for Christian families. But our children need more in order to effectively withstand the dizzying assault of our secular, post-modern, post Christian culture. The model of 18,500 (16,000 Christian school + 2,500 church) hours of biblical worldview training where truth and life are richly integrated is a powerful model. No doubt, layering the investment of church and school reaps a rich return. Why we do what we do at Little Rock Christian Academy... We believe that the 16,000 hours of school is an opportunity to be seized and an advantage to exploit for good and for God. Who among us would not like more time? Who among us does not desire more time with our children? Perhaps that is exactly how our Father in Heaven feels about you and me. Without a doubt, He desires more quality time. Letting God reign at home, church AND school is a smart way to gain more quality time with Him ... and to fulfill the Great Commission.