By Catherine Smith

 Sixteen years ago, my grandfather clipped an advertisement from the daily newspaper; it contained information about a nearby school called Vancouver Christian. He passed it along to my parents the next time we came to visit.

After receiving more information about the school and weighing the pros and cons, my parents reached a decision and registered me for kindergarten.

I believe that has been one of the greatest decisions they could have made for me. Since then, I have completed my years at Vancouver Christian and am now completing grade 12 at Carver Christian High School. This year, as I have been looking into the various options for pursuing higher education, I have realized the true value of a Christian education.

We believe in Christian education because Christ is the centre of our life. We should aspire to be people whose everyday actions are continuous outpourings of adoration to him.

All things were created by God for humans to use in glorifying him. In a Christian educational system, faith is integrated into all subject areas, not just Bible class or chapel. Whether it is sports, arts, sciences or math, the principles of the Bible are taught and put into practice. In every course, teachers seek to accurately portray the character of God and incorporate him into the curriculum.

Continue article >>

Being part of a Christ-centred community is one of the great benefits of attending a Christian school. Because we share a common faith in Christ, we strive to model him by loving and serving each other. In this type of community, we can put our differences aside and focus on putting the needs of others before ourselves.

We aren’t perfect. The issues in public school are also present in Christian schools. However, the biggest difference is being able to walk alongside one another, keeping each other accountable in Christ.

One poignant memory I have is of my grade eleven Distinctives (Bible) class. As each class member mustered up the courage to share his or her testimony, we began opening up about some of the most difficult experiences from our pasts. The tears began to flow, and we laughed during the funny stories. Finally, we had the opportunity to pray for each person. Not only did we bond with one another, but we were also able to recognize the grace of God that has been continuously at work throughout our lives. It is moments like these which make Christian schools distinct.

An African proverb states that “it takes a village to raise a child.” The support that is behind each student is a valuable gift in a Christian school. Parents and teachers alike make a great number of sacrifices in order to see the students succeed. Teachers are available to mentor, encourage and offer guidance. Being in a Christian school is about more than gaining knowledge; it’s about developing life skills so that in future students will be able to serve the world while representing Christ. Christian education is more than preparation for a future career; it’s preparation for life.

February 2011