Visually Introducing the Word of God

Presenting the word of God in prominent places where students can see them is an effective way to encourage students in a relationship with Christ.

School Environment July 9, 2020

I guarantee that you can read from a distance of 100 meters, the biblical statement “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” posted on the wall of the 3rd floor of the Macau Sam Yuk Secondary School, in Macau. This is quote from Proverbs 1:7.

When you enter the men’s dormitory of Youngnam Sahmyook Academy, you will never miss the statement written at the entrance door: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

Every senior student of Seohae Sahmyook Academy must be acquainted with the Bible text posted in big-size letters on the wall of their study room: “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

On the wall inside the administration building of Hiroshima Saniku Gakuin Academy, you will see a 5-meter-long paint of The Christ of the Narrow Way. This reminds the administrators, teachers, staff, and even students that they are on a journey with Christ, to a sure heavenly destination.

I can continue the list with many more examples of this kind statements. But I believe you know what I am talking about: integration of biblical truth to the school environment. Perhaps I can paraphrase the question of Isaiah to Hezekiah, about what the Babylonian envoys came to his palace (Isaiah 39:4): “What have they seen in your school?”

Regardless what we have done, we can still do more in introducing God and emphasizing His truth through what we post in our school’s facilities, buildings, and rooms.  In many of the AAA visits I chaired, this suggestion is included most of the times. Let me give some more examples of what we can post in our school area:

  • In the home economics room and in the cafeteria: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1Corinthians 10:31)
  • In the music room: “Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals” (Psalm 150:3-5)
  • In the art room: “Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8)
  • In the science laboratories: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1)
  • In the computer laboratories: “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:17)
  • In the Registrar Office: “but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20)
  • In the gymnasium: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1Timothy 4:8)

The purpose of establishing our schools is to connect the students to a personal relationship with God, to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, and to guide them to depend on the council of the Holy Spirit. One way of doing this is to make sure that we have a right answer for the question: “What have they seen in your school?”

Author

Richard Sabuin

Sabuin, PhD, is the Education Director for the Northern Asia-Pacific Division, Korea.

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