Throughout history one can see the hand of God and how He has moved and worked in a variety of situations. From the founding of America to the proclamation of His written word in print, His activity is unmistakable. This leads us to appreciate what He has done, and it also reminds us that God is still at work today! 

History also provides a myriad of examples of consequences that occur after making godless choices. We can see in history the principles of the Bible come to life in the examples of others. 

We can also see how God has faithfully brought His people through intense times of darkness and suffering. Their testimonies are a light to the truth of all that God is and all that He can do. 

We cannot talk about a biblical worldview of science without beginning with the subject of Creation. The fact that God created the world in six literal days is an essential belief of ours here at Open Door. When we study science, we are understanding how God crafted this world into existence in all of its exquisite detail and rich beauty. Much can be gleaned about our Creator from studying the world He gave us. 

Science reveals the care God shows for His children. Whether studying the human body or the world around us, one can see in science that God has designed the world to take care of us. A few examples of this are the perfect position of the sun 93 million miles from earth, the way that body heals itself after an injury, and the abundance of food that mankind can produce from the earth. 

Science shows us that God is a God of order. The rules and laws of science help us know that God did not haphazardly do anything; instead, He carefully designed the world to function properly. 

Science points to the reality of God’s power and transcendence. This world is incredibly complex and our universe is larger than we can comprehend. These realities serve as a reminder that God is far above His Creation. We are therefore accountable to Him and should submit our lives to Him. 

There are a myriad of good reasons we teach this subject, but none can surpass the significance of the fact that God is a relational being that desires to be known by us. We teach communication skills because God is a God of communication and desires to communicate with us. This is how we first respond to Christ, trusting Him as our personal Savior rather than joining a religious club. This is also how we grow in Christ, communicating with Him daily as we grow to love and trust Him more and more! 

God’s desire to communicate to mankind is evident in the way He provided His written Word to us. It is critical that students are able to read the Bible for themselves and respond appropriately to God. It is also important that students can read theological literature and stories of how Christ has worked in the lives of others. 

We also teach language because communicating is a vital way Christians can share their faith. Of course, our testimonies and the way we conduct our lives matter, but there is never a substitute for communicating the love of God though the words that we write and speak. God commanded the church to spread the Gospel into all the world, and we want to equip our students to answer that call. 

In high school, we teach two years of Spanish as well. In conjunction with the above paragraph, we believe it is important that students can communicate their faith to our geographically closest neighbors. We also know that many may have the opportunity to go on a missions trip and utilize the information they glean to serve Christ. 

There are obviously many other practical benefits of language and reading that are essential to everyday life. However, these above form the most important motivations for why we do what we do in this area. 

We begin with the Bible. This one may seem obvious as a Christian school but it is one that we undertake with passion and purpose, not out of duty. We teach the Bible because John 17:17 says “Thy Word is truth.” This includes the truth of knowing life’s greatest questions as well as the basis of all truth. 

We teach the Bible because it is the only way to know God and live in relationship with Him. People love to create theories about who God is and how He operates. While these are sometimes logical and well thought-out, they are simply mans opinion and projection. It is only through God’s Word that we can know who God is and what He wants for our lives. 

We teach the Bible because it reveals practical information on how to live a holy, God-honoring life. Often, the Bible is looked at as an outdated, historical book. However, the truth is that it offers a treasure trove of helpful tools to live a successful Christian life. 

As we approach teaching the Bible, knowledge and facts are certainly important. Information is helpful and allows one to understand the outline of the Bible and many vital things. However, we never want to look at the Bible as simply a historical textbook. As stated earlier, it reveals who God is and allows us to connect to Him. This relationship is the primary goal of all Bible study. 

Teaching Bible as a standard class early in our day helps us maintain the priority of it. However, this is not the end of it as our desire is to teach the Bible throughout our day. As we apply it to practical situations, it helps the Bible to come alive for our students. As you will also see, it provides the foundation for every other subject of teaching as well. 

Though we recently had an Open House, we are always willing to meet with you and give you a tour of our school if you are interested. Just call our office at 225-667-7745 and we will get you set up. We would be thrilled to meet with you personally and answer your questions. We live in a volatile, changing world and we believe that a solid Biblical education can be a true catalyst for great things in the life of a student. Come see us soon!

We are also planning to update the signage on campus as a whole soon. Aligning our ministry names will help streamline that process as well. Overall, we love the unity that this signifies across our campus! 

You will see the new name and logo used in advertising in the coming months. It is important to note, however, that this change is not official until this summer. If you have a student graduating this year, they will still be graduating from Southland. 

God is doing great things at our school, and we are excited about what the future holds. We will continue to prioritize an Emphasis on God’s Word, create a loving Environment focused on individual needs, and strive for Excellence in all that we do! Please help us share this news in person with others and online. Thank you for allowing us to shape your student for eternity! 

Serving Christ, 

Ben Blackburn, Principal