Mission and Values

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell (hades); the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick (living) and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
(The Apostle’s Creed, above, is found in Luther’s Large and Small Catechisms and the Book of Concord.)

† We believe in God’s covenant of marriage between one man and one woman.

† We believe God established the family as the primary means by which children will grow in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Gen. 2:18-25; Deut. 6:4-7; Eph. 6:1-4).

 † We believe the Bible to be the verbally inspired and only infallible, authoritative, inerrant Word of God (II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:21).

† We believe that man is sinful by nature and that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is essential and an absolute necessity for his salvation (Rom. 3:19, 23; John 5:24; Eph. 2:8-19; Titus 3:5,6, John 3:16-19).

Grace Alone: God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve his love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly (Eph. 2:8; Gal. 2:21).

Faith Alone: By his suffering and death as the substitute for all the people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him (Rom. 1:17, 3:22a, 3:28, 5:1, 2).

Scripture Alone: The Bible is God’s inerrant and infallible Word, in which he reveals His law and His Gospel of Salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian believers (Psalm 119:105; II Peter 1:19-21; II Tim. 3:16; Hebrews 4:12).

Thirty-two students attended the first year. For the first six years the school used rented facilities. In 2001, FFCS moved to its current location in Battle Ground. The school’s program grew to include preschool offerings in 2002. God provided the means to complete an additional building in the fall of 2006. The first high school class began their freshman year in September, 2006, as the founding Firm Foundation Christian High School class. The high school continued to add one class each year, with the first senior class graduating in the spring of 2010.

The school’s enrollment indicates the tremendous growth the school has experienced, from 32 students the first year of operation to over 330 from preschool through grade twelve. The student body represents nearly seventy different local churches. This current year we have over forty staff members, including 21 certified classroom teachers for grades pre-school – twelve, including a music teacher, PE teacher, technology teacher, and librarian, as well as a full-time nurse, and seven part-time teacher aides.

In order to accomplish this in an educational setting, we will first provide a Christ-centered education for the qualified children of the greater Clark County area without distinction to race or color.

Our aim is to provide an education:
That is in accord with the sixty-six books of the Bible, which we believe to be the verbally inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God, the only rule of faith and practice;

That promotes academic excellence, spiritual growth and moral integrity, and to see it demonstrated in the lives of our students and;

That prepares students for Godly participation in the American society.

FFCS exists as a nondenominational, coeducational, preschool through high school. It is operated as a non-profit, educational ministry of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of Hockinson, WA and is governed by the School Board.

The goal of the school is to lead each student to a voluntary commitment of his/her life to the Lordship of Christ. We desire to develop each student’s God-given spiritual, physical, mental, social, and creative gifts to their fullest potential; and thereby glorify God.

1. The human role in Salvation: Synergism or Monergism. Monergism: God justifies the sinner purely out of His grace through faith without works. Just as no one raises himself from the dead, so no one makes himself a Christian. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him. God, who brought Jesus back from the dead, alone brings believers to Christ and declares them righteous.  We as Lutherans, along with many fellow believers, hold that justification is “monergistic”, a Greek derivative, which means that a thing has only one cause.  God alone converts Christians.  He alone justifies believers. He alone makes us holy. SPECIAL NOTE: The position of Monergism is taught by the ALCA and upheld at Firm Foundation Christian School.
2. Human will: Freedom of the will or Bondage (to our inborn corrupt nature) of the will. Lutherans teach that all descendants of Adam are by nature totally corrupt in spiritual matters. People do not have freedom of the will to turn to God in faith or cooperate in their conversion.
3. Nature of the sacraments: Sign of a covenant with God, Obedience to God’s ordinance or Means of grace. Lutherans believe that there are only 2 sacraments ordained of God through Jesus (Baptism and The Lord’s Supper) and that through them, grace (forgiveness) is conveyed to those who believe.
   1. Baptism: Seal or sign of covenantal relationship to God, Outward sign as an act of commitment and obedience to God’s ordinance or a Means of grace. Lutherans believe that baptism (offered to infants as well as to adults who have not previously been baptized) is not merely a sign nor an act of obedience but that it works forgiveness of sins to those who believe what the words and promises of God declare.
   2. The Lord’s Supper: Covenantal supper, Obedience to God’s ordinance or Means of grace. Lutherans believe in the real presence, that the body and blood of Christ are present in, with, and under the bread and wine by the power of the Word and that forgiveness of sins is offered and received by faith.
4. Security of the believer: Perseverance of the saint, Loss of salvation due to our weakness or Living in the promise of the Gospel. Lutherans teach that perseverance is the sole work of God and we can have complete assurance through faith in Jesus Christ. However, we confess that some do depart from the faith, and lose their salvation.
5. Sinless perfection: Progressive sanctification through works and/or personal experiences or Positional sanctification (made holy in Jesus Christ). Lutherans teach that Christians do not attain perfection in this life because of the remaining effect of original sin. The Holy Spirit sanctifies believers in lives of greater service to God and others.
6. Baptism of the Holy Spirit: Holy Spirit given as a second work of grace subsequent to justification or Holy Spirit given at new birth. Lutherans believe that the Holy Spirit comes with faith as Paul writes “anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” Conversely, it follows, that if one does have the Spirit, he does belong to Him (Christ). The office of the Holy Spirit is to proclaim and reveal Christ and His salvation.
7. Manifestations of the Spirit: Tongues (and Interpretation of), healing, miracles, or discerning of spirits. Lutherans believe that God gives talents to all people (believers and unbelievers) for the service to mankind, and subsequently to God. They do not believe that special, miraculous gifts are necessary to prove one’s salvation.
8. End times (eschatology): Dispensational Premillennialism, Postmillennialism or Amillennialism. Lutherans bear the label of amillennialists; we believe in a “realized millennialism”, that is, that Christ reigns currently through his Church and that he will return on the last day for judgment, will raise up all the dead, give eternal life to the believers, but condemn the unbelievers to eternal punishment.
9. 9. Church government: Congregational, Presbyterian or Episcopal. Lutherans vary in polity; however the major synods (LCMS, ELCA, WELS) are episcopal in nature. The ALCA is a blend of congregational and episcopal as each local congregation is autonomous while still under the guidance of a Federation Central Board.

In honoring this desire concerning the purpose of the school, there shall be no attempt by school personnel to promote specific denominational positions listed above. Firm Foundation Christian School’s goal is to remain united in the salvation and love of Christ, avoiding the dissension that may be caused by denominational distinctions.

Issues of denominational comparisons may be discussed during high school courses. Teachers will, however, adhere to the FFCS Doctrinal Position by refraining from the promotion of viewpoints held by particular denominations.

We support FFCS in its desire to seek eternal salvation for our child(ren) through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We accept that FFCS is committed to a thoroughly Christ-centered and Biblically integrated curriculum. We understand that any verbalized philosophy, personal conviction, or theology which contradicts or conflicts with the Bible will not be tolerated in any school setting (II Tim. 3:16; II Peter 1:21).  We understand the school reserves the right, within its sole discretion, to refuse admission of an applicant or to discontinue enrollment of a student if the atmosphere or conduct within a particular home or the activities of the student are counter to or are in opposition to the Biblical lifestyle the school teaches.  This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, participating in, supporting, or condoning sexual immorality, homosexual activity, or bisexual activities; promoting such practices; or being unable to support the moral principles of the school.  (See Leviticus 20:13 and Romans 1:27.)

2. We give our child(ren) our permission to be involved in all school activities, including school-sponsored trips away from school, and we absolve FFCS of liability to us or our child(ren) because of injury occurring at school or at a school function. We understand that FFCS carries liability insurance on every student covering activities on and away from campus; FFCS carries liability insurance during the transporting of students on field trips when students are transported by bus. There is no liability coverage provided in such cases where parents, guardians or other individual drivers are transporting students on field trips. If individual drivers are transporting students, liability coverage must be the responsibility of the individual owners of the vehicles involved, and information on current insurance coverage and driver’s license must be provided to the school office.

3. In case of emergency, we give FFCS our permission to obtain appropriate medical care for our child(ren) unless specific previous arrangements have been made.

4. We recognize that our participation in volunteer parent activities is essential to the success of the school. Each parent agrees willingly to be held accountable for active involvement in at least one area of parent-supported activity each year. We also agree to make a sincere effort to attend Parent-Teacher conferences as an effective means of staying informed and communicating our ideas.

5. We agree to uphold the academic goals of FFCS within the family setting and assist with completion and accountability of homework as required for our individual child(ren). We recognize the need for sustained open communication with our child(ren)’s teacher(s).

6. We agree to have our child exposed to instruction in the Bible and Biblical integration in all other subjects according to the FFCS Bible curriculum and FFCS Statement of Faith.  The staff agrees to make specific information regarding Bible curriculum available to parents if desired.

7. We pledge not to grieve the Holy Spirit or God’s people with idle words of complaint or dissension. Rather, we agree to attempt to swiftly and scripturally settle grievances according to the Matthew 18 principles of discretion, mercy, and forgiveness in love (Matt. 18; Eph. 4:29-32).

8. We understand that tuition payments are made through FACTS and are due on the 5th or the 20th of every month unless tuition is paid in full. We will consult our agreement for the terms of our contract. We agree to be timely in our financial obligation to FFCS and to notify the school should any situation arise which makes this commitment difficult to uphold.  Should our account become past due by two (2) payments, we agree to clear our account within ten days or withdraw our child(ren) unless a mutually agreeable arrangement is made with the administrator and the school business manager.

9. We agree to support the FFCS Discipline Policy and that FFCS has authority to discipline our child(ren) when necessary at school.  We agree to communicate to our child(ren) the need to respect school authority and comply willingly with school classroom rules.

• We understand that FFCS will not tolerate abuse of school property, disrespect to staff, or profanity in any form.
• We agree to work with our child(ren), teachers, and aides on minor problems as they occur, particularly with home follow-up.
• We acknowledge that correction or suspension may be deemed necessary by FFCS.  If such action is necessary, we will be notified by the school.

10. We understand that FFCS will not tolerate abuse of school property, disrespect to staff, or profanity in any form.

11. We agree to work with our child(ren), teachers, and aides on minor problems as they occur, particularly with home follow-up.

12. We acknowledge that correction or suspension may be deemed necessary by FFCS. If such action is necessary, we will be notified by the school.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” III John 4