Our mission is to “equip minds and nurture hearts to transform the world for Jesus Christ.” However, these are not separate and distinct endeavors; instead we seek to honor the whole child in an integrated way. The teachers at Holland Christian are uniquely equipped to encourage student growth and maturity in every dimension of their being, including their faith.
Faith Formation
It is an honor and privilege at Holland Christian Schools to partner with parents and churches to encourage the unique faith development of each student.
Real Faith in Real Life
We pray together
What does this look like in our schools on a day to day basis? It means we pray in our classrooms and throughout the day. We have the freedom and desire to openly and intentionally acknowledge God’s presence and working in our lives whenever the need or desire is present throughout the day. At any given moment any number of classes are engaged in prayer and devotions throughout the day. But that is not all…
We worship together
Faith development means we worship together in chapel. We value and treasure the freedom and opportunity we have to worship as a group. Every grade level at every school regularly joins together in communal times of worship, praise, prayer. Elementary and HCMS students gather together as a school at least once a week for large group worship, while HCHS students gather together as a whole school every Monday and Friday. These are opportunities to worship together as well as listen to God’s Word and apply it to our lives as it informs all that we do and say throughout the day.
We study Scripture
Faith development means that we have Bible classes and a comprehensive Bible curriculum. The Bible classes are unique from what a student receives in Sunday School through his or her church. Holland Christian’s Bible curriculum studies each Bible story with a desire to see how the story is centered and focused on God, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Students and faculty deeply and thoughtfully explore the Biblical text: its context, geography, history, and culture. All of these components significantly impact what the Bible meant to its original audience and consequently, how it speaks to us today. All of Holland Christian’s Bible teachers have bachelor’s degrees and many have advanced degrees. All of them seek the Bible to be read and experienced meaningfully, and responded to faithfully.
We share experiences
Faith development means we live and share lives of faithfulness together, in truth and grace. Relationships matter at Holland Christian Schools. Staff members are thoroughly committed to Jesus Christ and His Word and to living lives of faithfulness before God. The importance of relationships is emphasized not only in the classroom but in extracurricular activities, fine arts, sports, retreats, trips, and service opportunities. Through shared experiences, the staff and students openly and honestly share their joys and sorrows, trials and triumphs, confessions and restorations. It is the desire of the Holland Christian staff to develop deep and sincere relationships with students as they share life together.
We serve together
The commitment to faith development drives us to think beyond ourselves both locally and globally in acts of service. It is our desire to be bringers of “shalom” here and now, at every grade level and age.
- Elementary students have service opportunities through grandparent buddies, POD groups, by collecting food and household supplies for local food banks, reading to younger students.
- Older students serve both individually and as groups by volunteering with teams or classes at the Rescue Mission, at Compassionate Heart, Benjamin’s Hope, tutoring at neighboring schools, or helping in local classrooms.
- Students are also encouraged to respond throughout the year as needs arise. This includes things like collecting household items for local families whose houses burned down, or collections for needs in other American states or international countries including an AIDS orphanage in Lesotho, Africa, or helping at a children’s care center in Cape Town, South Africa.
- In addition to these things, students are challenged to think about how what they are learning in their current classes could be used immediately to make a difference in their world.
We celebrate a Christian worldview
Faith development means that with integrity, through the course of every day, every hour, every class, and every discipline, we intentionally acknowledge that “This is my Father’s World” and that everything belongs to Him. The Bible provides the bedrock foundation and lens through which we see God more clearly. Every subject, every concept, every hypothesis, and every truth is taught through this particular worldview. God is sovereign and created all things good. Yet all things have fallen from that original goodness. Jesus Christ, by His death and resurrection, has redeemed all things and eventually will restore them. And, finally, we join the Holy Spirit’s work of restoration by seeking to make all things new. All things hold together in Christ. This is our lens. This Biblical framework gives focus and shape to our study, our lives, our past, present, and future, and our response to all that we learn.
This is truly education that is Christian. This is education that meets the whole child with integrity and intention. This is education in which students from preschool through their senior year are intentionally and thoughtfully met with opportunities to encounter God and respond to Him in faithfulness and in grace.
High School Chapels
Take a seat, prop up your feet, and catch morning devotions with us! We’re so blessed at HCHS getting to worship together twice a week–a rare joy! Our elementary schools worship together weekly, and do not generally record their chapels, though parent and grandparent visitors are welcome to attend as invited.
Discipleship Practices
If a Holland Christian student walks across the stage at graduation fully equipped with an excellent education, but without a burden to use what they’ve learned in service to Christ and His Kingdom, then we haven’t really lived into the true purpose of Christian Education. The Discipleship Practices exist so that students recognize, and are invited to practice, what it means to transform the world for Jesus Christ. These Practices can be thought of as learning targets for faith formation that recognize the Kingdom-purpose in all our learning. Throughout their academic careers, HC students are invited to use math, science, literature, language, history, etc., as disciples: to create beauty, to seek wisdom, to serve, to breathe grace, to make disciples, to steward creation, to reflect His image, to discover order, to grow community, to build God’s Kingdom—all rooted in Scripture and for the glory of God.
Holland Christian School celebrates the inherent connection between faith and learning. Teachers work to embed faith intentionally in curriculum and pedagogy. Students Preschool through 12th grade are invited to articulate their understanding and practice applications of their faith and their learning.
Have Questions?
We look forward to meeting you and your family and introducing you to the fresh, creative, personalized education at Holland Christian! We are here to help! Get in touch using the contact form linked below or call us at 616.820.2805.