Why Christian Education?
The motto of Summit Christian School is “Education with a Christian Purpose.” Some people may wonder why we think Christian education is so important. Much of our conviction about this is related to worldview. A worldview is the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual filter through which everyone interprets and responds to the world. Research shows that in the United States, a person’s worldview starts to develop around 15-18 months of age, and a person’s worldview is almost fully formed by the age of 13.
Many people think of the United States as a Christian nation, but in the last 30 years, there has been a 67% decline in the number of Americans who hold a biblical worldview. Today, only 4% of American adults have a biblical worldview. Unfortunately, the numbers aren’t much better for those who attend church. Statistics show that 62% of regular church attendees believe they have a biblical worldview, but only 11% actually have views which align with the Bible.
It's a Matter of Time
Attending church and having your children involved in children’s ministry is certainly important. However, research shows that a child typically spends 2-3 hours per week at church. By contrast, a child spends 35 hours per week at school. Because children spend so much time in school, the educational environment can have a significant influence on their worldview.
* Source: George Barna, Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, 2024