Christian education is in my DNA. My dad has been in Christian education for over 50 years. My mother, who is with the Lord, was in Christian education. My brother, his wife, my sister, and her husband, and now my daughter — are all in Christian education! Then throw in my nephew and his wife who teach at a Christian school in Paraguay; along with my wife, Julie, who worked in multiple Christian schools for a while too.  

My journey with Christian education started when I was in kindergarten. It was 1976 and I was in the local public school. I was part of a Winter/Christmas program called Charlie Brown Is King of All. That night, on the drive home, my mom and dad said, “Surely there's got to be a school, where it's not only okay, but it's even expected that you would say ‘Jesus Christ is King of all’ – and certainly at Christmastime.”  

So the next day my parents went to the Yellow Pages (remember it was old school back then) and found a Christian school where I went all the way from first grade through graduation. (I always have to put a disclaimer: I spent a few weeks kicked out of high school. True story.) 

Jesus says in John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.” So the greatest adventure you can ever sign up for is living a life for Jesus Christ. That's the playbook I want to live by, and I want our youth to live by. And that’s the playbook of the Christian school. I tell our young people all the time that God loves you and God has a purpose for your life — and that nothing will be impossible for you if you live out that purpose for His glory. Once kids realize that they have a purpose, that they are the missing piece in the puzzle of God's mission, it is powerful! 

As you probably know, Timothy’s enrollment is up for the seventh consecutive year — and our admissions office has been on jet fuel the last two years in particular. Families are looking for a school that is rooted in Biblical virtues and values. It used to be one of the paramount issues for Christian parents in the public school system was what the public school was not teaching — and that was the Bible. But a lot of Christian parents felt they could (and did!) supplement that through a good youth group, Young Life programs, and in the home. 

But now the danger is not as much what is not being taught, but rather what more public schools are teaching. Some of my best friends and close family members are in public education, many with whom I collaborate and I know God has called them to be in public education. They are brilliant educators and making a difference. But they're equally disturbed by the fast moving secular agenda in public education. And that's where Timothy can come in and partner with the home and the church and create that alignment – that winning team combination.

The tidal wave of popular culture is so powerful. In fact, in a recent Gen Z Barna study, Christian kids were asked: When you feel anxiety or stress, where do you turn for help? A majority answered music, friends, but one of the lowest categories was the Bible (which was actually tied with drugs and alcohol). This just illustrates how important it is to stay anchored in the Word of God and to lock arms with the Christian home and the church.

More and more Christian schools are (finally!) placing a heavy focus on doing things with a high level of excellence and the pursuit of best practice. I don’t need to rehearse Timothy’s excellence-driven programs (just take a look at any TCSNews or our website and you’ll see our students are excelling). These are all really important things — and they should not be absent from the Christian school. After all, Christ has called us to excellence. And yet, we have to be really careful that we keep our utmost focus on the foundation of the Christian school movement, and that is that our young people would be inspired, trained, and equipped to go into the world and make a difference for Jesus. This can't be something that's been just imposed upon students. It’s important they own this as a part of their DNA — that it is ultimately who they are. 

Here at Timothy, 1) we’re committed to boldly standing on God’s Word and His promises. Part of our mission is to uphold Biblical Truth. Folks, we must always do this in love. Without love, we can’t win. Standing on God’s Word and standing on a soapbox should never be the same thing. One is a stance in love…and the other is a stance in sinful pride and self-righteousness. I hope we’re known at Timothy by what we stand for and not what we stand against. Make sense? Then 2) we’re also committed to partnering with the home – your input matters to us! As a matter of fact, we even subscribe to an old-fashioned notion that the most important environment in the spiritual development of a child is the home. So we desire to join you in the journey as members of the same team. Together, “We got this!” And 3) we’re committed to your children. No obstacle will stand in our way when it comes to our devotion to the nearly 1,300 students of Timothy Christian Schools. We love your kids! I hear it from our staff every day. We will always Go Beyond in working with our students – your kids. By sharing the life and love of Jesus with them through the living curriculum of our teachers, we can activate this generation to do great things to advance the Kingdom of God.