Noted pollster George Barna states that America’s youth are largely unfamiliar with the Bible’s basic teachings, inviting a host of social and personal troubles.
5 in 10 students have had little or no exposure to the wisdom and knowledge of the Bible.
“God helps those who help themselves” is the most widely known Bible verse among churchgoing teens, though it appears nowhere in the Bible and conflicts with its message.
8 in 10 people cannot say who preached the Sermon on the Mount.
One might be ask, “Can these statistics possibly be real–-in Signal Mountian?” Actually, statistics like these are quite real, both in our nation and in our community. For this reason, 10 Signal Mountain area churches signed onto a voluntary initiative to rally around a special opportunity to invest in their community.
A Community Event
On Sunday, September 20, 2009, friends gathered at the Signal Mountain Middle/High School gymnasium for a community meal, a service of prayer and a show of support for our public school students.
Attendance: 850+
Committments Made: $395,000
New Donors: 204
Teachers Funded: 2 (one at Signal Mountain Middle/High School in their own backyard, and one at Howard School of Academics and Technology as a gift to their neighbors)
Mr. Jesse Bankhead began teaching at Signal Mountain, and Mr. Exavious Farley at Howard in August 2009 (due to partial commitments received in advance of the event). The Signal Mountain Gathering aimed to raise the balance of funding, in order to ensure three uninterrupted years of Bible history at both Signal Mountain and Howard.
Thank you, Signal Mountain, for helping to ensure that Bible history will continue to be an enriching and voluntary part of Hamilton County’s education program, at no cost to the taxpayers.
• Community Baptist Church • Mount Carmel Baptist Church • Signal Crest United Methodist Church • Signal Mountain Baptist Church • Signal Mountain Bible Church • Signal Mountain Church of Christ • Signal Mountain Church of God • Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church • Signal Mountain United Methodist Church • Wayside Presbyterian Church
Enrollment, 2009-2010: Middle School: 493 High School: 338
Teacher: Mr. Jesse Bankhead
Courses Taught: Middle School:
6th-Genesis
7th-Exodus
8th-Luke
High School:
Old Testament Survey
New Testament Survey
Enrollment, 2009-2010: High School: 726
Teacher: Mr. Exavious Farley
Courses Taught: High School
Old Testament Survey
New Testament Survey
Goal: $150,000 per year for two full time teachers.
