Pastor Matt Thompson at Trinity Lutheran Church in San Jose, California and his prayer group were praying for opportunities to connect with the principal, staff and children at Blackford Elementary School next door. As he set about following the seven proven steps to launching a Junior University and Lighthouse (JULI) program he decided to offer the first Quest Institute for Quality Education[1] Quest for Space Summer Camp.[2]
In his article Pastor Matt reports parent comments after the seven-day program.
“This is a great program for kids who love math and science. I recommend this program for kids who love a challenge.”
“My son says the program is perfect and that his favorite part was learning the circuitry.”
“Thank you for sponsoring this event. My son enjoyed it so much, he said he appreciated that it was advanced enough to be interesting.”
“I loved this program! My daughter came home daily excited about learning concepts and meeting new friends.”
“I liked this program and so did my child. I think that other parents should put their kids in this program, because the kids get to test and try to build items with instructions. My child came in not knowing anything about programing but at the end I could tell how she improved.”
“My son really enjoyed this program and learning new things. This program opened his eyes to see space and science in a different fun way!”
Pastor Matt continued, “In our Quest for Space Summer Camp, the students carried out an experiment in the classroom then ran it on the International Space Station via IoT. They learned … electronics and computer programming. Once the course was completed, they received a Certificate of Completion and were each given a video of their names as they appeared on the ISS manifest. We listened as several of the children spoke into the microphone to express how a whole new world of possibility had opened for their futures. We at Trinity Lutheran …were happy to hear and witness the positive difference we had made in the lives of these fifteen students.” He concluded, “No child was left behind.”
In a personal interview Pastor Matt explained, “The Quest for Space Summer Camp was a great opportunity to combine truly robust science instruction and often ignored scriptural truths about our Creator of the heavens and the earth. A Silicon Valley public teacher explained while his daughter was enjoying the Quest for Space ISS program, “My colleagues say belief in God and science is incompatible but this program is proof positive – that is absolutely NOT TRUE!
The optional Quest for Space integrated biblical curriculum helps kids discover that faith in our Creator and science are compatible indeed! The children learn He is the same God who made them and that He is with them every day.
A Hindu father and an engineering professional exclaimed, “We couldn’t interest our daughter to learn about circuits and programming, but doors will open wide because she is now really enthused about learning more!”
An Intel dad was so excited, he gave his business card to Pastor Matt and said he wants to volunteer and he even offered Intel support.
At the awards ceremony in the church sanctuary all families enthusiastically attended. Pastor Matt awarded a personalized Bible with each student’s name on the cover and a unique message written by his hand on the inside cover. A father said his son told him, “This is going to be my Bible now and I am going to read it.”
The reactions of parents remain positive and enthusiastic. Even non-Christian parents were in awe their children’s achievements and positive about their children receiving personalized Bibles.
[1] See www.TheQuestInstitute.com
[2] Matthew Thompson, Loving the School Next Door, Loving the School Next Door,
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/loving-school-next-door-matthew-thompson, Jun 27, 2018. Accessed September 8, 2018.