Cross Over the Hill offers program FAQ

Information submitted

As warm weather accelerates the progress of construction on Van Wert’s new elementary school building, so also is the activity speeding up at that beautiful brick home which sits just in front of the new school building along State Route 118.  As the school year begins this fall, that home will house the first Release Time Bible Classes to be offered to Van Wert Elementary School children.

An attractive sign clearly alerts passers-by that Cross Over The Hill has taken up residence there, and volunteer workers are faithfully laboring to prepare the facility to provide a comfortable learning environment for the over 750 children who will enter the halls of their new elementary school home.

With parents’ signed permission, every one of those children will be treated one hour a week to sound Bible lessons by a skilled and knowledgeable Bible teacher uniquely prepared for this ministry.

To more effectively provide area residents with a greater understanding of this new ministry, Cross Over The Hill is offering the following answers to the most frequently asked questions:

Question:  What Bible version will be used in the classes?

Answer: The curriculum utilizes the King James Version for the Biblical text of all lessons.  For greater ease in working with children, Cross Over the Hill will have a supply of readable New King James Version Bibles on hand in classrooms for use by the students.

Question:  What are “Release Time Bible Classes”?

Answer:  According to both federal and Ohio law, students are allowed to be “released” from class time for one hour per week of off-campus Bible instruction.

Question:  Do Release Time classes interfere with the student’s regular curriculum?

Answer:  No. The classroom teachers work their individual classroom schedules to allow for Bible classes.  Cross Over The Hill school relations’ personnel are currently working with classroom teachers and elementary principals to effect an orderly and stress-free transition to this new program.

Question:  What denomination sponsors these classes?

Answer:  The classes are non-denominational in scope. Cross Over the Hill is using an excellent, foundational Biblical curriculum developed for children by New Tribes Mission. This is not a “church-based” program.

Question:  How do children get to and from the facility?

Answer: They are escorted to and from the facility by two adult volunteers for each class.

Question:  What does my child do if I don’t want him/her to attend Release Time Bible classes?

Answer:  The classroom teacher stays with any children who choose not to go to Bible classes, and has activities for them to do until the other children return.

Question:  How much does Release Time Bible classes cost my child?

Answer:  Release Time Bible Classes are funded by donations so that there is no cost to any parent or child.

Question:  We regularly attend church. Why do my children need this program also?

Answer: This is a valuable opportunity to reinforce basic Bible education for all young people, in order to build future leaders for our churches and community, and to instill principles of character, integrity, and respect for others.

Question:  What happens when school is closed or delayed due to weather, or the school schedule is altered with parent/teacher conferences or testing schedules?

Answer:  When there is an interruption of the normal school day program, or when weather delays or cancellations may occur, Release Time Bible classes are cancelled for the day.

Question:  How are the teachers chosen?

Answer: Our Spiritual/Curriculum Committee and Executive Committee will receive applications, screen candidates, and perform background checks, etc., for all prospective teachers consistent with the policies followed by the Van Wert City Schools.

Question: Are parents allowed to sit in and observe Release Time Bible classes?

Answer:  Any parent/guardian is welcome to sit in and observe classroom activity, completely unannounced, at any time.

Question: Why will the curriculum chosen for Cross Over The Hill emphasize the Biblical account of creation, when our children have been learning that the theory of evolution is science’s answer to the question of origins, and the “Big Bang” and other explanations of the beginnings of the cosmos so pervade the teachings in the regular school curriculum?

Answer:  The purpose of the curriculum, which is titled Building On Firm Foundations: Creation to Christ, is to truthfully and clearly present the nature and character of God the Creator, and His message of personal salvation as He has progressively revealed these truths to us through His Word, The Bible.

There was only one Eyewitness to Creation, God the Creator, and there is only one true eyewitness account of Creation, the first two chapters of the Book of Genesis, the first Book of the Bible.

Both Moses, the human author of Genesis, the Psalmist David, Job, the Apostles Peter, Paul, and John, and other Biblical writers, and Jesus Christ Himself taught and reinforced the Genesis account of Creation of both the cosmos, all plant and animal life, and mankind himself.

Cross Over the Hill must declare to the precious children who enter its building these Biblical truths. It can do nothing less. If the curriculum denied or ignored the truths of the special creation of mankind, and the Creator’s passionate desire to have a personal relationship with every human being, organizers would be accomplices in perpetuating a lie that there is little purpose or value for life and living, and no hope for the future beyond this life.

Further information may be acquired about Cross Over The Hill by accessing its website, www.crossoverthehill.org, or calling 419.238.5963 or 419.968.2869.