ODESSA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, INC.
ODESSA, FLORIDA

Odessa Christian School is the result of a God-given vision to provide to students a strong academic education through a Biblical world view, and to instill in our students a heart for serving others and proclaiming the love of Christ to all. The Holy Spirit is coequal with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, making people aware of their need of salvation in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation, regenerates the believing sinner, and baptizes the believer into the Body of Christ, which is called the Church. The Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts upon each believer for the edification of the Body of Christ and empowers believers for effective life, witnessing, and service. He is the believer’s Comforter and Teacher (John 14), and He seals the believer with Christ. [Acts 1:8, 5:3-4; John 15:26-27, 16:7-13, 14:16-17; I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16, 12:4, 7-13; II Corinthians 3:17; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30, 5:18-20; Galatians 5:25] OCS teaches and believes that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Ps 139) We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Odessa Christian School as a Christian ministry, and to provide a biblical role model to the students, families, and faculty of Odessa Christian School, and to our community, OCS teaches, upholds, and abides by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality. (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:22) Any alternative views or teachings on marriage, gender, and sexuality will not be taught as acceptable in a biblical, Christian sense. Faculty and students will be held to this statement in order to be employed/attend OCS. Parents are to expect and support this perspective that will be held to in all teaching and standards of conduct. We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11) We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31) Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Odessa Christian School. Any student or faculty member who does not adhere to this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality, or any other portion of this Statement of Faith, Conduct, and Ideology will not be able to continue employment/attendance at OCS. This Statement of Faith, Conduct, and Ideology does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe and perspective from which we teach. For purposes of Odessa Christian School’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Leadership is OCS’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning. Mission Statement Philosophy of Education Odessa Christian School seeks to assist parents and families in training up their children in the way they should go. Our emphasis is on sowing the seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ in each and every student through teaching of the Word, by Christian example, through authentic worship and the utilization of a biblically-based educational focus by teachers and staff who love and revere God. In addition, Odessa Christian School seeks to encourage learning through classroom instruction as well as through hands-on and experiential learning and exposure to and appreciation of Creation as the work of God’s hands. At the heart of Odessa Christian School is the desire to bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ in everything we do as we carry out the work God has called us to do, always seeking to make ourselves available to his leading and instruction as we lead and instruct our students. Within this all-encompassing framework, it is our goal to provide the very best education, from a steadfast and bold biblical worldview, to each and every student with whom we are entrusted. Philosophy of Education Odessa Christian School seeks to assist parents and families in training up their children in the way they should go. Our emphasis is on sowing the seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ in each and every student through teaching of the Word, by Christian example, through authentic worship and the utilization of a biblically-based educational focus by teachers and staff who love and revere God. In addition, Odessa Christian School seeks to encourage learning through classroom instruction as well as through hands-on and experiential learning and exposure to and appreciation of Creation as the work of God’s hands. Odessa Christian School also has an emphasis on respect, manners, and lovingkindness. We see as integral parts of this school: provision of a strong, college–preparatory education to our students; relationships with our families; seeking of strengths in every student; high behavioral expectations; and staff who are devoted to the Lord, to their callings, the school, and their own families. We seek to serve our families by educating children with a focus on Christ in all things, and in modeling what it means to be a Christian to each other, to our students, their families, and the community. All of this we endeavor through the unique and interesting testimonies, personalities, strengths, talents, and victories in Christ of each staff member of our school, in conjunction with the student, family, and community of believers. We consider OCS a helper to the family in providing a sound education, strong moral character, and Christian example.