5th - 8th Grade - February

Middle School News:

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Our 7/8 life science students are currently studying concepts in the theory of evolution and the implications of these concepts on a person's developing worldview. With an increasingly hostile world, it has become imperative that our students grow more soundly equipped with a knowledge base that supports a faith-based worldview, particularly with regards to the origins of life.

To support our study, we have watched two dynamic videos: Evolution vs. God (available to view online and containing interviews of prominent agnostics and atheists conducted by evangelist and apologist Ray Comfort) and a movie entitled "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" by producer and director Ben Stein (available for purchase online). In the latter film, Stein uncovers some astounding information as he embarks on a quest around the world to uncover the reasons why evolutionary proponents are so adamantly against the idea of an Intelligent Design model for creation. What he uncovers will shock you!

As another resource in support of the creation model, we invited guest speaker Todd Woolston to join in our class discussion. Todd is the owner of Mid-west 3D Solutions in Boone and a seasoned, local creationist and apologist. With decades of self- education and

knowledge regarding the subject, Todd was able to present many convincing arguments to

our class which directly and soundly contradicted what we have learned regarding evidences for the Darwinian Theory on the origins of life. He even brought a token for

each student to remember his visit with us: 3Dprinted caterpillars complete with moving parts that "defy" an evolutionary explanation! Our many thanks to Todd for the time he dedicated to our class study!

Leadership. Lessons. And Love.

Our 5/6th graders have recently had the opportunity to lead the student body, as well as

family members, in our weekly chapel worship service. The class chose to teach the message found in Colossians 3:12-17 "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and

beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

The message they delivered began in a morgue with three people who had died of heart failure. The regular doctor could not save them from the sin-darkened hearts. Calling in

Jesus, the great physician, who performed open heart surgery, removing the man’s heart

of sin, saved him. Matthew 15:19: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” Jesus replaced the heart with a clean and righteous heart washed in the blood of Christ. The patient now has a pure heart filled with the fruits of the spirit. Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Having the opportunity to witness their faith and to teach a lesson of love in Christ is an important element in developing our students into strong disciples.