Tom Gray, in partnership with Mount Paran Christian School, shared profound insights into the challenges facing Christian families today. As a pastor, community leader, and father, Gray offered a perspective shaped by decades of ministry and personal experience. This discussion, coupled with broader cultural reflections, highlights the pressing need for intentionality in cultivating faith-centered homes amidst a culture of distraction and misplaced priorities.

No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear. -C.S. Lewis

Grief is a complex and deeply personal emotion that affects each of us differently. As adults, we may face a range of feelings — anxiety, fear, sadness, depression, and even a sense of insecurity or trembling. Often, we try to stay strong, yet we may resist surrendering our pain to God, believing we must handle it ourselves. While adults may have a better grasp of the concept of death and loss, children are still developing their understanding of these difficult experiences. As parents, caregivers, and mentors, it's essential to guide them through their grief in ways that are loving, supportive, and constructive.

Generosity is often seen as an act of kindness, but it’s more than that — it’s an overflow of gratitude. When we look at generosity through a Biblical lens, we see that it begins with thankfulness. God created a continuous gratitude-generosity loop in us. In simple terms, when we are thankful for kindness shown to us, that gratitude inspires our own compassion and generosity. The Bible beautifully illustrates this truth in Proverbs 11:24-25, showing us that a generous heart leads to abundance in return. Gratitude prepares our hearts to give and live generously.

As parents, we feel pressure to prioritize our children’s future — enrolling them in the best SAT prep courses, hiring the perfect pitching coach, and encouraging them to be involved in numerous clubs and activities. But do we place enough emphasis on opportunities to grow in faith and service? As we raise a generation of Christ-followers, we should empower students to become servant-leaders, following the example of Jesus Christ. One great way to accomplish this is through short-term mission trips.

It is evident by data collected and records received that MPCS alumni are continuing to be servant-leaders beyond graduation. Alumni are adhering to the mission of MPCS, one that seeks to “prepare servant-leaders to honor God, love others, and walk in Truth.” In a recent alumni survey, 72% indicated that MPCS played a significant role in preparing them to be servant-leaders while all agreed MPCS was an important part of their foundation. 

A growing body of research supports the importance of small classes in K-12 education. A 2011 study by the Brookings Institution found that students in small classes outperformed those in larger classes (22 students or more) by a rate equivalent to three months of additional schooling every four years. This means that students who begin kindergarten in small classes are nearly one year ahead of their peers in larger classes by eighth grade.

 

Christmas season is upon us and celebrations are in full swing. Among the growing piles of presents, party invitations, Christmas card orders, and letters to Saint Nick — not to mention the travel plans and the arrival of visitors — the Christmas message can be difficult to keep in the forefront of our minds. 

Arts education in students and how it shapes their academic, social, emotional, and maturational development is within the context of a well-rounded education. This is also a truism for all schools, but more importantly, the arts plays a critical role in Christian education as it applies to creating servant-leaders who will glorify God through the use of their talents. 

Social skills are an essential part of a child’s development, but for many children and their parents, navigating social situations can feel like a daunting challenge. Whether it’s making friends, managing conflicts, or expanding social circles, these skills play a crucial role in a child’s emotional and social well-being. Some of the counselors at MPCS gathered to discuss what social skills look like at various stages of development, the common struggles children face, and how parents can help nurture these skills at home. Here are some key takeaways.

I imagine by now you have seen all the negative political ads you care to see. According to presidential campaign finance trackers, the Democratic and Republican candidates will likely spend more than $1 billion each on their campaigns, much of it on negative ads aimed at each other. Unfortunately, research shows that negative political ads increase voter cynicism, contribute to declining voter trust in elections, decrease participation in politics, and contribute to increased societal incivility.

 

How do you define "culture?" Does today's associations with the word influence its true meaning? When the waters are muddied by stereotypes and slanted conversation, how are Christians to view what is meant by the culture of an individual? What is the biblical context and how should we define the meaning as God intended in order to celebrate our unique backgrounds? Let's investigate.

The teaching profession appears headed for a crisis. According to the National Association of Independent Schools, the number of bachelor’s of education degrees awarded fell from 176,000 in 1971 to only 90,000 in 2021, a 49 percent decrease in 50 years. Of the approximately four million K-12 teachers in the US, about 8 percent (320,000) leave the profession annually. A quick subtraction equation yields a stark reality: each year far more teachers leave the profession than enter it. 

Jesus’s greatest commandment comes in Mark 12 where he teaches to love the Lord our God with all of our hearts and then to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). As Christians, service is not optional, but an act of obedience. How then are children and students taught to develop a love of serving one another? Any preschool teacher can probably verify that sharing is not an innate human instinct. 

We are at a pivotal time in parenting communities where there is a notable shift between parents who didn’t grow up with a super computer in their hands and parents who did. Some current preschool parents in our society grew up with cell phones in their childhood, and parents (or soon to be parents) in their early 20’s grew up with a cell phone and posting pictures to document their lives. So there is a significant chasm of understanding between those parents who grew up with technology, and those parents that did not. The older generations remember being able to survive without technology at their fingertips, the younger ones never had that experience. So how can both groups of parents partner together with administrators and their own valuable life experiences to come up with real solutions to the technology challenges of today? 

The creation of art dates back to the creation of the world — all the way back to Genesis in the Bible. We can read the story of Genesis and witness the beauty of creation all around us and everything that God created, in all his artistry. As humans created in His image, it isn’t a stretch to realize that we have that same yearning as He does for creating beautiful things. We see a continuation of this biblical alignment of creation and art within the story of Exodus when the tribes of Israel built the temples and began to use the word “artisans” and skilled workers. 

When the final bell rings for summer break, students and parents everywhere take a collective sigh. Time to refresh and recharge. Students definitely need a break, but, as most will agree, vegging out on the couch to Netflix or Disney streaming isn’t completely productive or replenishing to the body and mind. However, there are ways to keep your student’s mental, physical, and personal development going while still giving them that much needed downtime.

Dr. Alvin Rosenfield, author of The Over-Scheduled Child states that unscheduled time with family without goals or plans is key to character development. Most parents agree that character development is most important to them, but unfortunately, the packing of schedules or zoning out to television or gaming often counteracts that desire. So what are the best ways to carve out time for that much-needed downtime to recharge while developing healthy relationships and values? Experts at Mount Paran Christian School have some great creative strategies to share.