“Therefore, since we are surrounded
by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything
that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let
us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us
fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning
its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful
men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:1-3
The world’s perspective can cause not only us, but
our children, to lose heart. With the constant barrage of
secular morals and a worldly points of view, Christian parents
are faced with the challenge of surrounding their children
by a great cloud of witnesses that they may learn how to throw
off the hindrances of this temporal life, and fix their eyes
on Jesus while still being lights in a dark world and evangelists
for Christ.
This is the case today as it was over 40 years ago. In the
late 1950s a group of Santa Barbara parents prayerfully approached
the issue of how to provide a great education for their sons
and daughters while also laying a firm foundation in the truth
of the gospel. They wanted the best for their children: an
academic program rooted in the truth of God that their children
would be able to rely on and stand upon throughout their lives.
“Train a child in the way he should go and when
he is old he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
The perspective of life offered by the public school system
placed humanity first, not God. Indeed, God was being sidelined
and has since been discarded from public education. These
parents wanted more for their children.
Historical
Beginnings
In September 1960, Santa Barbara Christian School opened
its doors to 27 children grades K – 6. The goal of the
school was to place God first, to establish His word as the
primary source of truth, and equip the students to live Christ-centered,
purpose-driven lives. “Fix these words of mine in
your hearts and minds; . . . teach them to your children,
talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk
along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
(Deuteronomy 11:18-19). . . When you learn about history,
study mathematics, explore literature or enjoy physical education,
there should be an opportunity to fix the words of God, the
truth of God, the hope of God, onto the minds of our students.
When their children graduated from SBCS, the founders of the
school hoped they would live in a manner worthy of the Lord
and please Him in all respects, having a firm understanding
of Christ as their Savior and an ability to testify to that
truth.
Equipping
for Service
Alongside providing a thorough and godly foundation for students,
SBCS was and is committed to a competitive academic program.
In 1970 that program was extended to include the junior high.
In 1973, SBCS was accredited through the California Association
of Christian Schools (now known as ACSI) and Western Association
of Schools and Colleges. SBCS has maintained its commitment
to excellence, remaining the only private school in Santa
Barbara to be continually accredited through ACSI and WASC.
For 46 years SBCS has provided a non-denominational, God-centered
education to local students. Graduates have gone on to be
doctors, lawyers, teachers, entrepreneurs, missionaries, and
more. More importantly, however, graduates have gone into
the world as witnesses for Christ with a firm foundation not
only in the gospel but also in academics, allowing them to
bring light to a dark world and truth to the lost.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty
power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your
stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle
is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against
the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day
of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after
you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with
the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate
of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with
the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition
to this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish
all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of
salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God.” Ephesians 6:10-17
|
