Faith Formation

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…

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.

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.

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.

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.