Our Academic Approach - Faith Builders

We Learn to Love and Serve

Faith Builders Educational Programs is committed to nurturing Christians toward faithful service in the kingdom of God. In that nurturing, we want to honor and extend the investment of parents, pastors, and entire communities who have formed our students and volunteers.

We believe that learning is happening all over the place: in the classroom, workplace, home, and in formal worship. Because of this, we incorporate classroom learning with other forms of learning which are at least, and probably more, important. Our purpose is to disciple Christians so that they can contribute to thriving communities that are primed to join in the work of God.

We strive to cultivate forms of community that love the Lord with heart, soul, mind, and strength and love their neighbors. We do this through the study of history, Bible, theology, literature, and many other disciplines. And we seek to integrate this study through practice and personal discipleship. We actively embrace a commitment to conservative Anabaptism through academic, financial, and social accountability.

Discipling Through Teaching

We study and offer resources in the disciplines of theology, philosophy, history, literature, science, music, mathematics, education, and communication. Our courses include lectures, discussions, small group discussions, guided reading, projects, experiments, and labs. Because of the varied nature of learning and the range of our activities, we create a variety of learning activities like curriculum, short-and-long academic terms, and events.

Discipling Through Relationships

Christian education is best accomplished through relationship: between God and the student and between God’s people and the student. Thus, an important part of discipleship becomes the passing of life, knowledge, skills, and attitudes from one person to another. In our two-year programs, mentors and student groups meet regularly. In our classrooms and curriculum, we honor the role of a teacher. We emphasize the power of life-on-life contact and prioritize that over content delivery. We seek to disciple people who can disciple others.

Discipling Through Practice

Because man is a unified person, education must be more than the mastery of a body of information. It must include practice.

Practice includes the guided experience our two-year students receive. Throughout their study, students spend significant time observing, hearing, and then practicing. Teacher Apprentices are immersed in observation, reflection, teaching, and interaction with more experienced teachers. Students in Christian Ministries and General Studies create and guide inductive Bible studies, learn to see and respond to needs, and cross cultural boundaries. The combination of experiences provides the student with a range of experiences from which to grow, deepen vision for God’s kingdom, and sharpen skills for teaching and ministry.

Our events include regular workshop components to link theory and practice. The Living History curriculum engages students in the practices of classroom participation, research, and creative projects.

Education of the Whole Person We Pursue Whole Person education by

Deepening Faith

A fundamental part of our education is deepening faith in God and His Son Jesus through the Spirit. We show and grow what we trust with the things we do and thoughts that occupy our time; by what we see as true, good, and excellent. Because God exists and has revealed Himself, we can understand what is true, good, and excellent, especially as revealed in Scripture. Truth in every discipline (whether literature, sciences, theology) finds its fulfillment in what God has revealed, ultimately Jesus Christ. We seek to cultivate a robust appetite for truth and beauty, a discerning spirit, and a Spirit-empowered resistance to evil.

Shaping a Christian Worldview

We offer a view of the world which adheres to Anabaptist beliefs, commitments, and practice in the context of historic Christianity. This view is best transmitted in the context of community. Because of this, the character of education offered is largely determined by the character of the teacher-disciplers. In other words, the faculty and staff of the learning community must exemplify the beliefs, commitments, and practices of the school. Students join the community and learning by participating in both the forms of life and instruction of the community.

Strengthening Local Congregations

Faith Builders seeks to strengthen local congregations by preparing men and women for joyful service in the Kingdom of God. We believe that the primary responsibility for education and discipleship is held by the church and the home. And our ultimate authority is the person of Jesus Christ as promised in the Old Testament, revealed in the Gospels, and interpreted by the Epistles. Any authority we have for education is delegated by the church or home, in service to Christ and the church.

Developing Character

We strive to develop character through relational discipleship. A complete education includes the training of the will and loves in the way of obedience to Jesus Christ. We are to “bring every thought captive to Christ” by learning to think and know Christ in all fields of knowledge. Our privilege to make choices is best exercised with joy and confidence in a lifelong pursuit and Christ’s image in ourselves and others. Thus, the marks of a truly educated person are humility and servanthood.