North Hills Christian School - A Christian School In Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

The athletic program at NHCS is an important element of the overall NHCS program. It is important to the students, the parents, the administration, and the staff. It must find its proper place among the other school programs with respect to how important it is. Society in general, and many Christian schools in particular, have given sports an improper place in the value of a child’s education.

First, NHCS believes that sports are a means and not an end. Sports are tools to help us test our spiritual development and a means of “perfecting the saints” Ephesians 4:12). The pressures that come from athletics will reveal the depth of our Christian development. They provide a spiritual “magnifying glass” by which the students and staff can examine how well the application of biblical principles that are being taught in the classroom is translating into real life experience. Many Christians are willing to tolerate actions and attitudes at sporting events that are unacceptable anywhere else. Our goal is to use sports to help students “be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29a).

Next, we believe that sports provide Christians with the opportunity to be “salt and light.” Christians should strive to do their best on the playing field, but we cannot always win. Regardless of the outcome, Christians should be able to handle the game, its pressures, the fans, the referees, and other factors in a Christ-like way. Visiting teams should be treated with respect as our guests and never feel that we are “the enemy.” Anyone attending our games should leave feeling that Christ has been honored and His banner held high. Referees should recognize the difference between our games and what they must endure at other games.

Athletic activities, players’ and coaches’ actions and reactions, uniforms, games, practices, and relationships should all reflect a spirit of “striving to do our best” while upholding the testimony of Christ. Athletics should never usurp the importance of the spiritual and academic components of the school.

Philosophy Statement for the Athletic Program