Heart Behind Faith Academy
FAITH ACADEMY MISSION AND VALUES
We are parents who believe a daily education, rooted in God’s Word, is essential for empowering children for their God-given purposes and for preparing them to be disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Mission Statement
To partner with parents to provide a quality Christian education to students while developing the whole child: mind, body, and spirit.
Statement of Doctrinal Beliefs
ABOUT GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the Universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
ABOUT MAN
Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. He is the supreme object of God’s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This attitude separates man from God. Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2
ABOUT ETERNITY
Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence. John 3:16; John 2:25; John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; 1 John 5:11-12; Matthew 25:31-46
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of kings, and Lord of lords. Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13
ABOUT SALVATION
Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self – improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
ABOUT ETERNAL SECURITY
Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives this security. John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily. 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1
ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s Word to all men. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
ABOUT MARRIAGE
Marriage is a biblical institution established by God as described by Scripture. We believe biblical marriage can only occur between one man and one woman. This school recognizes that marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment. Genesis 2: 22-24, Proverbs 18:22, Matthew 19:3-9, Mark 10:6-12, 1 Corinthians 7:1-16, Ephesians 5:22-33, Colossians 3:18-19, Hebrews 13: 4-7
Guiding Principles
1. Seek God’s truth and righteousness first, bringing Him glory in all things
2. Interdenominational and grounded in the basic tenets of the Christian faith
3. Do not favor one of God’s children over another
4. Keep tuition affordable for a wide range of income levels
5. Maintain independence from a church or supporting organization
6. Make a Kingdom impact in the lives of as many children as possible
7. Develop and maintain strong financial health
8. Maintain high level of parental and family involvement
Tenets of Faith
“Tenets” are core principles and beliefs. In this case, they are what we affirm at Faith Academy as our foundational understandings of the Christian faith, giving guidance to what will be taught and what won’t be taught, Biblically and spiritually speaking, as faith and academics are woven together. These tenets will be evident in the classroom setting, in chapel and other worship services, in our prayer life and all other facets of Faith Academy, including our interactions with parents and family.
While Faith Academy is a mission of the Kingdom of God, its tenets of faith as a school are not as specific in certain areas, (i.e. Baptism, Spiritual Gifts, etc.) as they are in churches. Given that Faith Academy embraces students and families from a number of denominational and theological backgrounds, the intent is to limit the tenets to the very core beliefs to which the vast majority of Christians adhere, thus emphasizing those things which unite us, leaving other principles to each family and the churches they attend.
1. The Bible
The Bible is the ultimate authority in the life of a believer and is God’s living word for all people. Written by God through divinely inspired men and women, the Bible is the complete story of God’s love, instruction and plan for each person. It reveals God’s absolute truth and is as relevant today as when it was first written. The Bible says “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
2. The Trinitarian Nature of God
God is three persons in one, each person unique yet inseparable as a creating and sustaining entity. The trinity consists of . . . God the Father, who, with the Son and the Spirit, created all things. There is but one God, the God who is made known in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible; who said of Himself “I AM WHO I AM.” (Exodus 7:14) God is forever sovereign and owner, sustainer and master of the universe . . . God the Son, manifested in the person of Jesus Christ. God came into the world to reveal Himself though the person of Jesus. Jesus was and is fully both God and man. Born of a virgin who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Jesus taught, healed and lived as man yet was without sin. He died on the cross, taking upon himself the punishment for our sins, rose on the third day in glorious resurrection and ascended into heaven where he sits at the right hand of God until he returns. He is, as evidenced by his very name, Jesus, the savior of the world, for “ . . . he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) . . . God the Holy Spirit, who is the ongoing presence of God on earth. By His Spirit, God dwells within all those who have received the love and forgiveness of Jesus into their lives. The Spirit guides, comforts, empowers and gives gifts to be enjoyed and shared. It is the work of the Holy Spirit which draws persons into a relationship with God through belief in Jesus. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was present at specific times with specific people for specific reasons. At Pentecost, The Holy Spirit came to be available to all people, fulfilling the promise by Jesus, “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:25-26)
3. Salvation
Salvation comes through Grace by Faith in Jesus Christ Under the “New Covenant” (see Jeremiah 31), we are no longer under the “law” but rather “grace”. God’s grace involves extending forgiveness and a reconciled relationship with Him not by works, but by repentance and faith in Jesus, who died on the cross as penalty for our sins, thus “saving” us from the consequence of our sins. This grace is received, again, by faith. ” . . . if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) Furthermore, salvation is only available through the relationship with Jesus, by accepting him as savior and Lord. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” (John 14:6)
4. Eternal Life
Eternal life is a reality for all persons. Without a saving faith in Jesus, eternity exists in hell as consequence for our sinful condition, into which all are born as a result of the original fall of man. For those who have embraced a saving relationship with Jesus, eternity occurs in heaven, where believers will dwell for all time with God and others who have also embraced Jesus as Savior and Lord. “For the wages of sin is death (hell), but the gift of God is eternal life (heaven) in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Jesus put it this way, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)