While the national media focused on D.C.-based controversies and character smears last week, at least 650,000 students were busy setting a different kind of example in their schools.
Courageous youth—kindergarten through college age— celebrated Bring Your Bible to School Day, an annual, religious-freedom event for students sponsored by Focus on the Family on Thursday, Oct. 4.
They shared their faith by highlighting its source—the Bible, sharing God’s Word with classmates throughout the day and talking about their experience on social media using the hashtag #BringYourBible.
While their actions might have been overshadowed by political chaos, they had a powerful impact nonetheless. Because they represent the hope of our nation’s future leaders, and they remind of us of the freedom that unites, rather than divides.
“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” I Timothy 4:12.
Here are some examples of kids putting that verse into action:
Sophia, age 12, shared: “I made an announcement at my school. I brought 12 Bibles, plus three Spanish language Bibles, and 100 pocket Constitutions. I gave away all Bibles except two of the Spanish language ones. Six more kids requested a Bible . … I’ll deliver them next week. I have done this for the third year in a row.”
Judah and Jaedyn made this awesome social media announcement for their #BringYourBible to School Day! Their mom shares: “Judah brought his Bible to class in third grade and my daughter brought hers to middle school. … Jaedyn came home telling me that she was able to talk to several kids about Jesus and the Bible.”
In this video, 7-year-old Luciana shares her experience getting ready for the event. Her mom shared that it was a bit of a challenge at first: Luciana’s mom commented that school officials initially told her that, while her daughter could take her Bible to school, she couldn’t share it with anyone on school property. In response, she told school officials that it was her daughter’s “right to share her faith” and equipped Luciana with a legal memo clearly explaining that right. See the “Know Your Rights” section: https://www.bringyourbible.org/know-your-rights/
Melissa, a parent, shared that her 12-year-old daughter was recently baptized and was excited about Bring Your Bible to School Day being an opportunity to share God’s love with friends. After the school was notified of her participation, her daughter and a best friend “put up a few posters to remind people.” But the day before the event, “she was pulled outside of her classroom and told she had to take them all down and that it was against the law.” But Melissa shared she was staying calm and trying to address the matter in a way that allows “my kids to see the importance of standing up for your faith even in times like these.” There was good news the morning of the event: The principal acknowledged that “he could have done things differently, he does realize that now and there will be a different response next year and from now on. … I told my daughter how proud I was that she was bold enough to start the event in her school.”
15-year-old Libby shared: “For the Bring Your Bible to School Day event, I asked two of my friends to bring their Bibles to school with me. In the morning, all three of us met up and read through a Psalm together and discussed it. Later, at lunch, one of my friends and I read a little bit of Esther and started talking about that, too. Me and that friend are planning on keeping up with doing devotionals and reading at lunch from now on.”
Katelyn, a 24-year-old youth leader shared: “Our youth group wore their T-shirts to represent our church, brought their Bibles and passed out [Bring Your Bible Conversation] cards. It is so important for our youth to be active and vocal about their faith. We live in a lost world and it is imperative people see God’s light in us.”
If you’d like to see more comments like these, visit Bring Your Bible to School Day’s Facebook page, where you can see students’ and their families’ posts.
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