PERIENCING THE JOY OF EDUCATION (Left) Burton Academy eighth grade class has been noted for both their quantity (currently 34) and their quality. This class has been characterized as diligent, intelligent, creative and resourceful. (Below) The Jones Creek Adventist Academy Beta Club in Baton Rouge takes the first Monday of each month to volunteer at the local St. Vincent de Paul Catholic food kitchen. After two hours of standing and serving over 300 people, they are still pleasant and cheerful to the people they meet. (Above) Hot Springs church school students in grades five through eight pictured with their D.A.R.E. officer, Tim Hoover, of the Hot Springs police department. Officer Hoover visited the school once a week for 16 weeks to help students learn how to resist peer pressure and know how to say "No" to drugs. (Cover Photo) RuthAnn Green, a teacher at Keene Adventist Elementary School, teaches students Students at Santa Anna School, Aimee Beam, Esther (from left) Joye Petr, Crystal Almgren, Janelle Wright and Jonathan Wright, hold one Cabansag, and Yvonne of the quilts they have made for ADRA orphans. Some Hilaire about the classroom's of the students stay after school to cut, applique, sew pet lizard, Gumby. (Photo: and hand•tack on the quilts. The plan is that they will Tobe Watts) continue with this project even after school is over for the year. To be better prepared to empathize with handicapped people, Gulfhaven Adventist School students spent a day taking turns being blind, mute, hard of hearing, crippled and paralyzed. 2 RECORD / June 1994 Integrating faith with learning That's what Christian schools are all about "Code Blue! Code Blue! Code Blue!" brought The doctors and nursing staff could not but help doctors and nurses running to the intensive care notice the students' concern and their comings and unit that Thursday night just in time to revive goings. As one nurse put it, "I've never seen a Shawne, a young 15-year-old girl whose body young girl who had so many other young people organs had already shut down due an acute case of praying for her!" There was talk about brain meningitis. There was no sign of breathing or damage. Then there was talk about the amputation heartbeat! of toes. Upon learning of her condition, her classmates Shawne is recovering slowly. A brain scan shows hurried down to the hospital where they gathered to no damage (although doctors feared for the pray in the chapel. They continued going back and worst!), and she hasn't lost any toes, but it has forth to the hospital to pray through one crisis to been a long four weeks. And it will be months the next. They asked their home churches to pray. before she recovers fully. She might lose the ends "Mom," said one daughter who'd seen how of a few toes due to lack of circulation. earnest her mother was about prayer, "you need to Her first reaction to people's joy at seeing her get your prayer chains started." And that's how respond to them was one of confusion and anger at several churches became involved with praying for being hooked up to tubes and unable to move. But Shawne. once she heard about what had taken place, her But Shawne's condition worsened. Her heart anger turned to joy and thankfulness. stopped again and her blood began coagulating. Shawne is a living miracle. The doctors and More "Code Blue" signals echoed over the hospital nurses know how near she came to losing her life. speakers. At 11:30 p.m. Friday night the phones They know how her electrolytes went "haywire" were ringing again. "Shawne's condition is worse; that one night and how her blood was coagulating the next two hours are critical. Please pray." from lack of oxygen. They know she's alive because Even little kids in grade school were praying. And of prayer—prayer that was being offered continually at family worship some were praying. "Don't forget on her behalf. to pray for Shawne," said six year-old Aaron at And the students know—there is no doubt that evening worship. God heard and answered their prayers! They know At the hospital, the students came and went, day they serve a wonder-working God—the Almighty and night. Shawne was air-lifted to another hospital God they have learned about during their years in for more intensive care. The academy students church and at school. Praise be to the God of followed her there. That little chapel could not hold miracles! them all—they spilled over into the hallways. Jean Thomas, Editor June 1994 / RECORD 3 a lifestyle as they see such values flight of stairs at the end of the modeled. As a parent I want my gym. What strange sounds flood Integrating children with teachers who are the room as master choir direc- Why I'm a free to reinforce the faith per- tor Clif Simpson warms up the faith with spectives which my children have choir! A pause and then what school been taught at home. glorious music fills the room as learning—it's Education within the Adventist dozens of youthful voices blend principal system also provides the addi- in singing songs of praise and a Christian tional advantage of socialization uplift, drawing not only the sing- Douglas Hayes into the Adventist church family ers but also the listeners closer Principal lifestyle and program. It creates a per- to our Maker and our King. Here, Sandia View Academy sonal network and pathway into in this unlikely room with an W. G. Nelson the church activities and pro- amazingly large number of young When I read the newspaper I 4 Academic Dean, grams. Several research studies men, practices one of the best have indicated that there is a youth choirs in North America. find evidence that Southwestern Adventist positive correlation between the We sing a lot in our Seventh- crimes are hap- College number of years of Adventist day Adventist Christian schools! pening daily on The system of education and the depth and This spring I have had the privi- public school Adventist Chris- quality of the individual member's lege of spending many pleasant campuses. Vio- tian education involvement in Adventist church hours in six of our schools as lent crimes such has meant a great life. I believe that Adventist edu- they have been evaluated by vis- as shootings, rape, beatings, and deal to me both cation has been the church's most iting teams to recommend ac- drugs occur daily by perpetra- as a student and effective evangelistic and reten- creditation terms. In each school tors both male and female. An a parent. Of its tion program. I have talked with students, indi- Associated Press article in March many potential vidually and in small groups. They stated that "values once were benefits, I would like to share Douglas Walker tell of the friendly, caring atmo- taught in American classrooms sphere in their schools, of long- along with the three R's. Sup- three. Director of Education, Adventist Christian education time friendships, of teachers with porters of character education 4 Southwestern Union provides for the integration of whom they can share their sor- say it's time to bring it back be- Conference faith and learning within the for- rows as well as their joys. They fore society falls apart, but oppo- mal curriculum. Students have "Thank you, speak of being one big Christian nents say it's too political and the opportunity of studying the Jesus, for the family. Although these young strains crowded curriculums." Bible as a subject as well as all green grass, for people do see some problem ar- Adventist schools are estab- other subjects from a Biblical the pretty flowers. eas, they exhibit a fierce loyalty lished in order that young people perspective. This process allows Please bless to their schools and, yes, to their may be surrounded by circum- • the student to see the Christian mommy and church. As I talk with them, watch stances most favorable for the view of the world as legitimate. daddy and my them interact on campus, and formation of character That is The Adventist educational sys- teacher. Please listen to both their prayers and strong enough to withstand the tem provides students with the help . ." So went the morning their songs, I have great hopes evils of the world. SDA schools opportunity of studying with a prayers of a circle of tiny kinder- for the future of our church and are to be a haven of refuge for teacher who holds the same val- gartners all kneeling around their for a soon finishing of our work our youth and should be the best ues as the Christian parent. I do teacher on their own small many- here on this earth. we can offer. not believe that Christian educa- colored carpet squares at We plan for a heavenly reunion The purpose of Christian edu- in our Seventh-day Adventist cation at Sandia View Academy tion is served by bashing public Parkview Adventist Academy in ti education. To the contrary, I be- Oklahoma City. Shoes ranged Christian schools, kneeling at the is to inspire young people with lieve public school teachers from fluorescent, green-striped, feet of Jesus and uniting our principles of truth, obedience, should be supported and honored aerobic models to black cowboy voices in that special anthem re- honor, integrity, justice and pu- for what they do on behalf of the boots with scuffed toes, but each served for Cod's redeemed chil- rity.