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Principal's Pen - September 2024
Last June, while watching the 80th Anniversary of D-Day festivities on television, I was reminded of my grandfather John’s incredible story. Just after graduating high school, at only 18 years old, he too landed with the second wave of U.S. troops on Omaha Beach. Later, he drove a tank through the perilous terrain of Normandy and fought in the freezing forests of the Battle of the Bulge, doing his part to rid the world of tyranny. As I watched the programs honoring those who fought that historic day, I was struck by how common it was for teenagers, some as young as 15, to take on unimaginable responsibility and show extraordinary courage. This made me reflect on the remarkable capabilities of young people throughout history.
Pictured above, my grandfather John (eighth from the right), under the Arc de Triomphe, Paris 1944.
Consider the bravery of Calvin Graham, who enlisted in the United States Navy at just 12 and fought in the Battle of Guadalcanal, or Jack Lucas, who joined the Marines at 14 and earned the Medal of Honor at 17 for heroism at Iwo Jima. At 14, George Washington began his career as a surveyor, mastering the rugged wilderness of Virginia, a role that honed his discipline, resilience, and understanding of the land he would one day defend and lead as the first president of the United States. Louis Braille invented his revolutionary reading system at 15, while Joan of Arc, at 17, led French forces during the Hundred Years' War. Anne Frank, in her early teens, gave the world a poignant account of her experience during the Holocaust, while Jordan Romero climbed Mount Everest at 13, and Taylor Wilson built a nuclear fusion reactor at 14.
These stories remind us of what young people can accomplish when given a chance, guidance, and encouragement. They inspire us to see teenagers, especially those we work with every day at Berean, not just as the leaders of tomorrow, but as capable changemakers today.
The Bible also speaks to the incredible potential of young people. In his letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul encourages a young pastor in Ephesus: Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12, ESV). Paul’s words remind us that age should never be a barrier to spiritual leadership or making a meaningful impact in the world. He challenges Timothy to lead by example, demonstrating that young believers are fully capable of living out their faith in ways that are both profound and transformative for all who witness it.
At Berean Christian High School, we embrace this same perspective with the young people entrusted to us. We believe they are capable of extraordinary things, and therefore, we expect extraordinary things from them. It is a profound compliment to communicate to our students that they are capable of much more than they might imagine for themselves or than what society often tells them. High expectations shape individuals, calling them to rise above what is easy or comfortable and strive toward their fullest God-given potential.
In light of the incredible capabilities of our teenagers and the high expectations God has placed on them and our school, we are committed to creating an environment that nurtures their growth and fulfills our mission to develop lifelong followers of Jesus Christ. To achieve this, the Lord has charged us with instilling two foundational biblical principles—two commissions—into the hearts and minds of our students, principles that will guide them throughout their lives.
The first and most well-known is the Great Commission found in the book of Matthew: And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:18–20, ESV). This Commission calls our students to become instruments through whom God’s story of redemption is shared with the world, ensuring that the next generation not only hears the message but learns to follow Christ faithfully, living out His teachings in every aspect of life.
Yet, there is another, earlier commission that is equally central to our calling as a school—the very first commission given by God to humanity in Genesis: And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth (Genesis 1:28, ESV). This command defines a key aspect of our role as a Christian school: teaching students to recognize and understand how God intricately designed the world with its natural laws, complexities, beauty, and order, and how He entrusted humanity to shape it into new and beneficial things. To fulfill this calling, students must learn how the world works, drawing out its potential to serve others and promote human flourishing in a way that honors God and reflects His character as Creator.
However, due to the Fall—the entrance of sin into the world—this original commission was corrupted. Sin distorted humanity's ability to fulfill this mandate as God intended, introducing brokenness into every part of creation. This is where the gospel comes in, restoring and enabling humanity to fulfill the first Great Commission in an uncorrupted way, returning to our original calling. The second Great Commission is essential because it calls us to participate in God's redemptive plan, to restore what was lost, and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ as the hope for all creation. It is, in essence, God's answer to the corruption brought by the Fall, inviting us to partner with Him in His mission to redeem, renew, and empower us to steward His creation once again.
Looking ahead, we envision a generation of young people prepared to step into the world with confidence, faith, and purpose. At Berean Christian High School, we are committed to sending out young men and women who are not only academically prepared but spiritually equipped to live out both Great Commissions—proclaiming the gospel, making disciples, and stewarding God's creation. We believe they will rise to the challenge, working to restore what has been broken and pointing others to the hope and redemption found in Jesus Christ.
We see extraordinary potential in our teenage students to be faithful image bearers of God in the world, and we are honored to help them realize this potential. As they leave our halls, they will carry the light of Christ into every corner of darkness, serving others selflessly, influencing their communities, and fulfilling God's calling on their lives. In doing so, they will also bring out the potential God has placed within creation, shaping it for His glory and the good of others. It is a privilege to walk alongside them on this journey and witness the incredible ways God will work through them.
Nicholas Harris
P.S. After the war, my grandfather John married my grandmother, MaryAnn, and they started a family that grew to five children. As an entrepreneur, he pursued various business ventures, including construction, an Italian restaurant, and several retail stores. In his early 50s, he came to faith in Christ and later founded a prison ministry, which he called 'Good News Ministries.' He devoted nearly 40 years to this work as the primary chaplain at Madison Street Jail in Phoenix, Arizona. I vividly remember his funeral, where the room was filled to capacity—standing room only—with people whose lives he had touched through his love and ministry. His story continues to remind me of the incredible impact one life, redeemed and dedicated to God's calling, can have on the world.
My grandfather, John, just before heading to the war in Europe in the spring of ’44.
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