God is the source of all truth (Jn 14:6).
The truth which He has chosen to share with humanity is contained within the Bible (2 Tim 3:16-17). We accept the 66 books that compose the Bible as the complete revelation of God to all people (Rev 22:18-19). It is upon this Biblical foundation that we build all learning within the Horizon Christian Schools (Prov 1:7).
We respect each student as made in the image of the living God but understand that every person has been separated from Him by sin (Ro 3:23). Even so, God’s love compels Him to provide a means of restoration of fellowship with humankind. Simply by acknowledging one’s sin and accepting by faith the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ as payment for sin (Eph 2:8-9) one regains fellowship with God (1 Pet 3:18). This truth is fundamental to a Christian education.
Each individual has a purpose in God’s plan (Eph 2:10) provided that s/he responds to God’s call to salvation. God has called Horizon Christian Schools to help students prepare for His call on their life, to help each student develop their God-given talents and gifts, and to encourage each student to pursue God’s purpose with their whole heart (Prov 22:6). Academic knowledge and skills are important, but their greatest expression is in obeying the call that God places on one’s life.
Our objective is to provide students with the best education within our means. Some skills (reading, language proficiency and fundamental numeracy) are so important to acquiring knowledge and reasoning that they hold a special place in our curriculum. Additionally, we encourage each student to press for their academic potential among the several subjects consistent with a modern, formal education.
Pursuant to the desire to make all academic subjects relevant to the Christian walk, Horizon Christian Schools strive to integrate biblical principles with the available knowledge base of each discipline. Each staff member accepts the responsibility (James 3:1) of integrating learning with the spiritual, emotional, intellectual, physical and social needs of each student. Modeling life for the students is fundamental to effective instruction wherein the staff models adult behavior that is consistent with biblical principles (e.g., Gal 5:13-23; Eph 4:25-32).
The staff at Horizon Christian Schools is as dedicated to their own growth in Christ (Eph 4:11-13) as to that of the students. Horizon Christian Schools comprises a staff of professional learners and dedicated helpers who encourage one another (Heb 3:13; 10:24) and seek God’s will along a common road. The student is not greater than his/her teacher (Lu 6:40), so our personal growth is essential to the development of our students.
Horizon Christian Schools exist within a greater academic community defined by the State of Oregon. In recognition of the authority of human governance (Ro 13:1), to the extent that it is consistent with the standards of biblical truth, Horizon Christian Schools are dedicated to achieving or surpassing the learning standards and objectives established by the State of Oregon. Horizon Christian Schools will do this with sensitivity to the individual potential of each student so that learning does not come at the expense of the overall needs of the student.
A school is not a substitute for the responsibility of parents to educate their children. Horizon Christian Schools partner with the parents to instruct their students in a variety of skills and to pass along information and concepts that are important to the student’s future. We will also introduce the student to fundamental Christian doctrines (the creation, the fall, redemption) and encourage each student to develop a vital personal relationship with God.
The quality of an education is directly related to the willingness of the teacher to present all of truth as it is known. Given that God is the source of all truth, then God must be part of every academic endeavor. The full truth cannot be taught if the Creator is ignored. Facts are the same whether God is part of the presentation or not; what differs is the interpretation and the significance assigned to the facts. Our curriculum is based on four basic principles of Christian education: