| God-centered curriculum in the 70's 1973 saw the beginnings of a gold mine in Christian education. God
revealed to certain individuals a particular approach to Christian education, placing God
at the center of learning. This approach was founded on the character and nature of God.
Prophetic insight…
The initial prophetic insight was given in 1973 to a pastor in a church in Alaska.
He was seeking God for understanding regarding the curriculum for the Christian school
that was being set up in his church. God began to give him prophetic revelation, so he
wrote it down as God gave it to him. Later he shared it with his staff. Two of these
teachers shared it with other teachers when they attended a course run by Youth With A
Mission in Hawaii, 1978. The course was 'Crossroads Discipleship Training School'.
The prophecy stated: "I, the Lord God, am calling my people out from the world,
calling my people to separate themselves and sanctify themselves that they might do the
work of the ministry…In regard to education, I would have my people to put away old
forms; I would have them seek Me concerning not what is good, but that which is perfect in
my sight, and that which proclaims My Son, Jesus Christ as Lord. I would have as the
basis, at the foundation of any educational endeavour, that rock, the Lord Jesus
Christ."
"Therefore, let my people know that it is no longer acceptable in the Lord's sight
to bring My truth into the curriculum, but the Lord is now calling for My truth to BE the
curriculum.
Just as every name of Christ reveals a portion of truth: Comforter, Saviour,
Healer….so I would have Science reveal Jesus as Creator and sustainer of Life;
History, a revelation of God working through men to achieve His divine purpose…Each
subject should reveal the Holy Spirit as teacher…"
"Those with this vision must end their perception that academic disciplines are
secular and Bible disciplines are spiritual. Both, when functioning properly involve the
whole person, body, soul and spirit."
"The school, through its administration and teacher, and through its curriculum,
is to be a haven for My children. The presence of the Lord should be so strong as to be a
shield. The healing and comforting presence of the Lord should work through the anointing
of the materials. Many blocks to spiritual growth, to academic growth, to physical growth,
to social growth, will quickly dissolve. My word goes forth to heal and preserve. "
The Lord is therefore requiring the Christian school in these days to be a center of
Christian ministry, and a nurturing place for children. This can only be done when
teachers are Holy Spirit-led, dependent on God's direction in everything they teach. The
curriculum must be living and exciting, not static or steeped in humanistic methods
emerging from universities and colleges."
At the conclusion of the Crossroads DTS, four of these teachers met to pray about the
form the Christian School curriculum should take. Previously God had shown 27 pegs
reflected in a mirror. Through prayer, this group gained understanding that there were to
be 27 attributes of God used in developing the curriculum and the reflection in the mirror
indicated that there were would be a response in and from the teachers and children to
each character quality of God.
Margaret McIntyre - Australia
In the 70's. Margaret pioneered Christian primary school curriculum thematically based on the character and
nature of God
Margaret, an Australian primary school teacher, was
one of the teachers who attended the Crossroads DTS in Hawaii, 1978. She returned to
Australia and developed a curriculum based on the 27 character qualities of God that had
been given to the group in Hawaii.
Margaret McIntyre's work is based on 27 attributes of God:
GOD IS: Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent. (Only God can express these
attributes)
GOD IS: Creator, Shepherd, Protector, Preserver, Provider, Father, Healer, Light,
Servant God has these attributes in full measure. God can also express these qualities
through the lives of people who allow God to work fully in their lives)
GOD IS: Love, Joy, Peace, Good/righteous/Holy, Self Control, Grace, Justice,
Patience, Mercy, Forgiveness, Resourcefulness, Kindness, Humility, Truth, Wisdom (These
are fruits of the Holy Spirit in the lives of God's children. As we come to know Him and
allow His character to be expressed in our daily life experiences we grow these qualities
to greater maturity).
The next stage was to develop the units of study -e.g. the theme, "God is
Provider". The following steps were used for developing the units:
First : Select the Scriptures and Bible characters that will be the basis for the
studies over a period of say, 2 weeks, (Can be more).
Next: Ask - "What aspect of God is Provider will we study? e.g. a Loving Provider,
a Caring Provider.
Next: Integrate general studies around a theme. e.g. When studying the theme, "God
is Provider", a study could be made of food. When studying "God is Healer",
a study could be made of the human body.
You can find Margaret McIntyre's original character studies here. |
