Holding out the Word of Life – July 5, 2015
HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION HEAD BLOG – July 5, 2015
… as you hold out the word of life–in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. – Philippians 2:16
From the earliest time I can remember in high school, I had my eyes set on one day becoming a medical doctor, having a wonderful family in a big house, and driving a BMW. That desire motivated me through my high school years and drove me to use the academic gifts with which the Lord had graciously blessed me. The Lord had other plans for my life, though. I recently saw a great quote on Facebook by John Piper that said, “The Lord is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you are aware of about three of them.”
Proverbs 19:21 says, Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. The Lord used two separate events at Christian conferences before my junior and senior years to bring me to the point where I surrendered all of my dreams and aspirations to Him. I told Him that no matter what it looked like, I would serve Him, and I accepted a call into full time ministry. What that looked like, I wasn’t sure. Slowly but surely, He began to reveal His plan for my life.
The summer before I went off to college, I knew in my heart that I was called to be a high school Bible teacher. I knew it was going to be quite a sacrifice … no more BMW, no more big house, and who would ever want to marry a poor Bible teacher? But I knew I had to step out in faith.
Eighteen years later, the Lord has blessed me beyond measure and shown me His special grace. I have had the privilege of holding out the Word of Life to over 700 high school seniors over my career in Christian education. I often feel like John the Baptist who said he wasn’t even worthy to untie Jesus’ shoes, yet the Lord has allowed me to serve Him in greater ways than I could ever imagine.
Now as Principal of Parkview Baptist High School, it is my heart’s desire to see our Bible Department grow in strength and effectiveness. As a ministry of Parkview Baptist Church, it is our mission to seek first the Kingdom of God through a Christ-centered education that allows our students to grow and mature in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man. Our Bible teachers are tasked with leading this charge.
In ways that only the Lord could orchestrate, we were able to go from only one full-time Bible teacher last year to four full-time Bible teachers this coming year with minimal financial outlay. Having a full department of Bible teachers collaborating with one another and building a curriculum rich with God’s Word and application of His principles is a huge endeavor that will have an eternal impact on the lives of our students.
I encourage you to pray daily for all of our teachers, but particularly our Bible teachers. Battling the enemy and a worldly culture in defiance of God’s Truth is a monumental task. But with God’s grace, our Bible teachers will have the privilege of challenging our students to discover their identity in Christ each and every day. Please pray for Jenee Clark, who will be teaching our Freshmen. Pray for Wilhelmina Palmer, who will be teaching our Sophomores. Pray for Meagan Faulk, who will teaching our Juniors. Pray for Yancy Wilmot, who will be teaching our Seniors.
I read two outstanding articles this week on why Christian education is so vitally important, especially considering the times we are in. Please take time this week to read these articles and pass them along.
Article # 1 – A Case for Christian Schools
Article #2 – The Case for Christian Education
Thank you for choosing Parkview Baptist School and partnering with us to raise your children to be lights in a dark world.
All over the world this Gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth. – Colossians 1:6
For His Glory,
Ben D. Haindel,
High School Division Head
*Our first New Student Orientation/Boot Camps begin this Wednesday. We have forty-two new high school students (so far!) that will be attending. Thank you to those parents who have volunteered to be “Buddy Families” and to our Student Ambassadors for reaching out to our new students so they will have a friendly face.