MCHS students can take Bible classes

The Christian Learning Center of Madison County, a non-profit Christian education group, hosts a Bible class Monday – Friday during seventh period at Trinity Baptist Church in Danielsville. Teacher Mark McAndrew says the class is in its second year and has 21 students enrolled.

“Last year we started with 11, so we’ve almost doubled,” McAndrew said.

Jerry Ediger, a member of the Learning Center’s board, said they came up with the idea of a Bible class after attending a men’s retreat where they heard someone speak about sponsoring such a class in Walton County.

They also spoke with Everett Brackett, who spearheaded the formation of Bible classes in Gwinnett County, and where 12 of 19 high schools now offer it.

“We started ‘kicking the tires’ to see if we could get support from the school system,” David Hancock, another board member, said. “We encountered one big open door.”

The bible class is self-supported through various churches, businesses and individuals in and out of the county, as well as through local fundraisers.

Hancock said the classes don’t violate any separation of church and state since they are held off campus and are not paid for with taxpayer dollars.

The class was begun using Core Foundations (corefoundations.org) to implement it in the high school. Students in the class receive educational credit though Westminster Christian Academy in Watkinsville, where Ediger teaches.

“Our textbook is the Bible, it’s as simple as that,” McAndrew said, adding that they study the New Testament in depth one year and the Old Testament the next. “That way students who start as juniors can get through the entire Bible,” he said. “The purpose of this class is to prepare students spiritually for college.”

And McAndrew says he tries to stay middle of the road in his teaching – keeping to the center of the Gospel – Jesus.

“The class is spiritually driven and I try to help them apply what they learn directly to their lives,” he said.

And since McAndrew just finished college himself, he feels he can give students a personal take on some of the issues they will face as they enter college life.

“We thrilled to have him teach this class,” Ediger said. “Mark is just a gift student himself.”

McAndrew finished two years of education at Gainesville State, followed by two years at Toccoa Falls College.

Ediger said McAndrew’s job as a teacher is to “make the Gospel attractive.”

“We want students to say that it’s what they want for the rest of their life,” Ediger said.

McCarty drives to the class each day from where he lives in Statham. He also substitute teaches at Westminster, as well as undertake speaking engagements at local churches.

“There is no job I would rather have than teaching this class,” McAndrew said.” I can’t believe I get paid to do this.”