As I write this, I am sitting with colleagues from across the country who have come together in Richmond, VA to discuss classical and Christian education. It occurs to me that we are here as a direct result of an event that we will celebrate on Monday, October 31. No, it’s not Halloween. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther released his “Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences,” also known as “The 95 Theses” in Wittenberg, Germany setting in motion the Protestant Reformation. It was a catalytic event that we still feel the reverberations from today, specifically within education.
Since then, education has been viewed as one of the most powerful tools available to influence culture. Prior to the Reformation, education was reserved for the intellectual elite. As a response to the Reformation, the Jesuits were the first to seize upon this strategy for a broader community when they began to form primary and secondary schools, and eventually colleges. Their motivation was to educate young men in the Catholic faith who would faithfully fight against the Reformation. Every significant cultural movement since then, from Protestantism to the Enlightenment to Rationalism to Secular Humanism has sought to gain control of the educational landscape to inculcate their worldviews. They all believed, rightfully so, that “the hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world.”
As you no doubt have heard in discussions around our school, we do not believe education is neutral. It never has been and never will be. By its very nature, it is the attempt to sway thinking, which places a heavy burden on the one seeking an education to understand in what direction that education is taking you. At Heritage Preparatory School, we are transparent with that direction: towards the cross of Jesus Christ. We seek to prepare students who possess an informed passion for Christ, His church, and the work of His kingdom. These students realize that the education they receive is not ultimately for her own personal advancement but should instead be employed to live purposefully and intelligently in the service of God and man in this city and beyond.
When you have this type of foundation on which to build, people with like minds and desires will gather together to support that endeavor. We simply could not do what we do without the support of this community – without your prayers, your hours spent laboring alongside us, your partnership in raising up a generation of students who know the Lord and are equipped to impact the world around them, and your financial support of our mission. That truth was in full view last Saturday evening as we gathered as a community for our Fall Auction. It was an incredible night of fun, food, and fellowship. On top of all of that, it was yet another record-breaking evening:
I am thrilled to report that this year’s Fall Auction netted over $470,000!
I cannot begin to thank Mayer Buisson and Amaris Landis enough for their leadership of this outstanding event. Their tireless efforts, along with those of Kate Flanary and our beloved Sue Hampel, as well as an army of parent volunteers, put together an unforgettable evening that provided this community an outlet to express their generosity. Well done, ladies! We had a photographer on site to capture the evening, and we’re pleased to share a gallery of downloadable photos with you. Click here to access the link, and please note the required password to view the photos is heritage.
The words “thank you” do not adequately convey the depth of my gratitude for how this community continues to come together to support our school. It is an absolute joy to be part of what God is doing here at Heritage Prep.
Thank you.
In Christ,
Matthew H. Skinner
President