Recently, I had lunch with David Sternberg, the chief operating officer for Bible in the Schools. For over 100 years, Bible in the Schools has helped students in Hamilton County schools have access to court-approved, value-neutral elective courses that examine the Bible from a literary and historical perspective.
I participated in those courses as a student in the 1980s, and they not only enhanced my understanding of one of Western Civilization’s foundational texts but also my appreciation for religious believers outside my own denominational tribe.
As an adult, I’ve been honored to partner on occasion with this wonderful organization.
David surprised me with some interesting statistics. The church I serve directs most of its charitable giving through our denominational channels, but from time to time we have directly financially supported the unique work that Bible in the Schools does in our community. That much I knew.
What I did not know was that during the same period, individuals affiliated with our church gave Bible in the Schools an amount nearly 10 times what our church gave collectively.