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When I was an early childhood administrator, I kept a running log of “Funny Things Kids Say” to share at the end-of-the-year graduation ceremony. These “funny things” included statements like, “I don’t eat chicken. That’s why mommy gives me dino-nuggets.” and “I don’t have any pets. I have a baby sister, but I’d rather have a puppy.”

Kids are funny, right? Unfortunately, just like all of us fallen humans, they’re also sinners in need of God’s grace and forgiveness. For example, I once had a child threaten, “I will beat you with a belt. I wish to lash you until you cry!” because he had to wait his turn to use a fun classroom center. I had another student repeatedly and loudly call me a name (that I will not repeat here) because I did not allow him to throw objects at his classmates.
As Christian educators, we are called to shepherd the hearts of all children and integrate faith learning into daily teaching. Yes, we laugh at the funny things kids say, and we are hurt by the harsh statements, knowing that “out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). But I have to share something . . . I cannot remember the names or faces of those children who made me laugh with the above statements. I do, however, remember the names and faces of those who demonstrated their hearts were full of violence and hatred. I still think about and pray for these children often, hopeful that they have replaced the ugliness in their hearts with the goodness and love of Christ.

You see, that’s what it’s all about. Yes, we are here to teach reading skills, historical facts, the scientific method, mathematical equations, and other academic standards. But let’s face it—students can learn these things in public schools, homeschool, or even with a quick Google search or by asking ChatGPT. The teachers at CCAC know we are here for more than just imparting knowledge to students. We are here to help them fill their hearts to the point of overflowing with joy, goodness, and love.

How do we do this? It’s not easy.

First, all lessons are taught through a biblical worldview lens. In other words, the Bible and its truths are integrated into everything we teach. Therefore, science is taught through the lens of a Creationist viewpoint. Reading and writing are taught as means of communicating what God has done for us. Even our wonderful math teacher teaches the students about the order created by God, upholding the mathematical concepts taught through our curriculum.

Second, and probably more importantly, we “teach Christianly.” To put it another way, we love our students because God loves them, we love God, and everyone is created in His image. Does this mean we’re perfect? No. We are human. We get tired. Sometimes we’re teaching in loud classrooms, on long, hot days, with short-tempered kids and no coffee. But frustration is not the tone of our school. Moments of weakness are not our pattern—they are the exception. When they happen, we repent, reset, and restore. Why? Because our calling is to reflect the grace and truth of Christ, even when it’s hard. Repentance, forgiveness, and restoration are in His plan for us, and we want to demonstrate these concepts for our students as well.

Ultimately, what we want for our beloved students is not just academic learning, but right hearts. We want them to develop hearts full of love, joy, compassion, kindness, empathy, grace, peace, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Jesus said, “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks,” and if we want our students’ words to reflect kindness, grace, and truth, then we must help them fill their hearts with these things. We do this not only through what we teach, but HOW we teach.

My guiding prayer is, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14). This prayer reflects the daily, holy work we do here at Christ Classical Academy of Charlotte: we teach, we love, we laugh, we shepherd hearts, we succeed, we fail, and we model grace, repentance, and forgiveness so that, by God’s grace, what overflows from our hearts (and eventually from theirs) will be beautiful and pleasing to Him. We’re grateful for your partnership as we pour truth into our students’ hearts, prayerful that what is good and pleasing to the Lord will one day gush forth from their mouths with joy and with love.