This morning I gave the opening address to our Christian School, Pinon Hills Academy, to kick off the school year.

To the parents: Christianity has been the most important influence on literacy and education worldwide for the last 1,000 years. The university system was created in Europe by Christianity. The motto of Oxford University, which was founded by the Church, is Dominus Illuminatio Mea or “The Lord is my Light.” It is the first phrase of Psalm 27:1. It is a confession that God is the source of all knowledge and all truth is God’s truth. So your investment in your children’s education will provide a spiritual and intellectual foundation that your children will draw on for the rest of their lives.

To the students: God knows you are here and God has important things for you to do in your life. But, you will need certain tools to do those important things. You will need things in your heart, like faith. And you will need things in your mind, like knowledge and skill. So study hard this year. You will have a lot of fun here at Pinon Hills Academy, but it is also important that you study hard to be ready for what God has for you to do.

To the teachers: Love your students. Pray for your students. Demand important things of your students. Demand that they obey you. Demand that they show you respect. Demand that they do their best work for you.

We are creating leaders here that will change the world. So let’s have a great year.

Prayer: Lord, bless these students this year that they may grow in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. Amen.