Educating God's Way

Michael and Bernadette Chapple powerfully articulate the Biblical mandate: "all our children should be taught of the Lord." This isn't just a suggestion; it's a foundational principle for raising children rooted in faith and values. Their article highlights how a Seventh-day Adventist parochial education directly answers this divine call, providing an environment where spiritual growth and academic excellence go hand-in-hand. Explore the deeper meaning behind this essential teaching.

Educating God’s Way by Michael & Bernadette Chapple

And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children. Isaiah 54:13.

 We are often reminded of the Biblical story of Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli in the book of 1 Samuel, Chapter 2.  Because Eli’s sons did not know or regard God, they both acted in wicked ways. The result was a divine promise of death. This Bible story illustrates the danger in neglecting our parental duty and the severe consequences of dishonoring God. Ellen G. White’s book, Patriarchs and Prophets, emphasizes that Eli’s neglect to soundly rebuke and firmly discipline his two sons caused dire consequences that ended in judgement on his entire household. Though Samuel was witness to the evil actions of Eli’s sons, the Bible states Samuel grew in favor with God and man, representing a faithful contrast to their wicked influence.

We were born into families that embraced Christian Education. One focused on Adventist Christian Education, the other on Catholic Christian Education. Because we never planned on raising a family, concerns over our educational paths were never raised. We were of the same faith. However, over time, it became increasingly important to us to share the value of Christian Education as a witnessing tool for Adventist Christian Education. In 1998, at the local academy, we established an Adventist Christian Education Scholarship in honor of our mothers and their steadfast belief in Christian Education. The scholarship offered tuition assistance to anyone who applied. We viewed Adventist Christian Education as a mission field and we were fully committed to making certain that as many families that desired to educate their children under this banner were afforded an opportunity to do so.

As a young couple we enjoyed traveling and experiencing life in fun and adventurous ways. On a trip to Chicago we knew something wasn’t quite right. The feeling of nausea, reduction in energy, and the lack of taste for the delicious food the city’s culture offered was disturbing. Following a few questions and a doctor’s visit, we learned that after thirteen years of marriage, and the desire to remain childless, we were expecting. It was in that moment that the reality of parenthood began to set in. Following the shock of impending parenthood, our first question was regarding our child’s educational future. It was firmly and unequivocally decided that Adventist Christian Education would serve as the launchpad to cement the firm foundation.

Fast forward five years. The local Adventist Academy made adjustments to the curriculum in accordance with North American Division (NAD) standards and to our great joy our daughter would become a member of the first kindergarten class. This was the first of many signs that God was working on our behalf.  To witness our child thriving in this new environment was nothing short of phenomenal. The memory verse recitations, the countless lead roles in plays, and the angelic voice from which songs flowed effortlessly were all a testament to our obedience to God. But soon the tests would increase and the challenges would seem insurmountable.

Armed with the knowledge that Adventist Christian schools were dwindling in numbers across the country, we were keenly aware of the mission field we had embraced. However, as parents and staunch supporters of this mission field we were challenged on a number of occasions. As a kindergartener our daughter was attacked by a teacher’s child, teachers and administrators routinely misrepresented the truth, student records were falsified, leaders of the faith operated outside the bounds of both conference and NAD guidelines, we were removed from positions on the board and ultimately not allowed to serve in parental positions within the home and school setting. We were increasingly ostracized for our obedience to God’s word, yet we never waivered in our commitment to the instructions God gave to parents in His Word regarding His children.

While our experiences allowed us to grow closer to God, new challenges were on the horizon. The question now, where to enroll our angel for high school. The heavy temptation to enroll her in one of the best public high schools in the country (approximately one mile from our home) OR to have her attend one of the best private academies in the State, less than two miles from our home, was overwhelming. With no local Adventist high school for at least 80 miles, the options were few. How God intervened was nothing short of a miracle. An unheard of pandemic, a change in academy leadership, and newly available access to remote Adventist Christian Education set us on a path we were unaware existed. We were the grateful recipients of Divine Intervention! Because we were unwilling to accept the natural progression of our daughter’s education (to a school outside of Adventist Christian Education) we stepped into miracle territory and the power of the Holy Spirit continued to work on our behalf. This is what BIG Faith looked like.

As our daughter prepares to graduate at the top of her senior class in just three months (at the date of this writing) we look back and can clearly attest to the Lord operating in the impossible and aligning the miraculous. We placed our decisions for our daughter’s Adventist Christian Education in the hands of the Lord. By God’s grace, we planted the seeds and now our daughter is reaping the harvest. The decisions for her early education were fueled by the Word of God and now our daughter is planning her educational future under that same Authority. In the Fall, she will be a Freshman at an Adventist Christian University. In Ellen G. White’s writing, A Child’s First School, she reminds us that “parents are to seek God earnestly and obey Him implicitly. . .”. The light which shines from the cross of Calvary shows the work which God requires to be earnestly and vigilantly done as long as time shall last.—Letter 134, October 11, 1901 This Day with God, Page 293

Michael and Bernadette have been married nearly 31 years. To this union was born a beautiful blessing, a daughter. Though their commitment to Adventist Christian Education was ignited long before her birth, her life set in motion a series of God ordained events that continue to inspire them to testify that obedience to God is better than sacrifice.