Cultivating Belief and Brilliance at Longmont Christian

SPEAKER 01 : 0:00

It’s Mike Train with Crawford Media Group. We’re joined today by Lindsay Perkins. Lindsay is our expert about all things Longmont Christian School. Lindsay, thanks for taking the time with us.

SPEAKER 02 : 0:11

Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.

SPEAKER 01 : 0:12

Well, Lindsay, a lot of our listeners know this and some don’t, that we have a special relationship with Longmont Christian. We have done so for a number of years now. And I’ve been up to the campus of the school, had a chance to meet you and others there, do some work there, meet the kids, do some painting. Fun fact, about three or four or five years ago. Oh, I didn’t know that. Yeah. One of those walls was expertly painted by my wife and I. Oh, thank you. We just believe in what LCS is about, and we want to support Longmont Christian. That is my neighborhood, for people who don’t know that. I’m kind of up in that direction of the metro area. So, Lindsay, for people who don’t know, tell us about Longmont Christian and especially what makes the school special.

SPEAKER 02 : 1:02

Oh, I’d love to. So we are kind of nestled right in the heart of Longmont. And the school has actually been around for over 30 years, two different buildings. But the one we’re in now was a former school in Longmont. We have a desire to help disciple students for God’s kingdom and to help them grow spiritually, physically, academically, and socially and emotionally. And I think what makes us so special is the fact that we are looking for all of God’s family to educate. And that includes, you know, learners that may be neurodiverse or that includes students who are gifted in areas that need, you know, more of a challenge or that might include students that have sensory disorders or anxiety issues. And, you know, nowadays there is no typical student anymore. And God gives us all kinds of gifts and areas to be used for his kingdom. And part of our job is to meet the kids where they’re at, personalize their learning process, and help them to become the image bearer that God created them to be.

SPEAKER 01 : 2:20

Lindsay, I think as people hear you describe some of those things, they get a sense of it is a Christ-centered ministry. population of students and group of teachers first. And that’s pretty hard to find these days. So you guys have a really special need you’re fulfilling in Longmont, and I don’t think enough people know about you.

SPEAKER 02 : 2:42

I agree. We’ve often been told we’re the best kept secret, and I wish it wasn’t a secret, because I do want people who are seeking that Christ-centered education to know that we’re here. we can meet the needs of your student and minister to you as a family at the same time.

SPEAKER 01 : 3:01

You know, Lindsay, one of the things that has struck me about Longmont Christian is that you have these personalized learning paths for the students. I don’t know if you still do this, but I think at one time it was each student kind of gets their own plan. You talk to the student, you talk to the parents, you kind of figure out, okay, What does this student need to really grow? That’s, to me, super unique. I don’t know another school does that.

SPEAKER 02 : 3:29

I agree. It takes a lot of heart and time, and you really get to know the kids, and it changes with them as they grow. But we have sat down and created a learning profile for every student. And then this year is year two. And we start the year looking at their profiles, seeing if things have, you know, anything has maybe changed or we need to update anything. And it covers all four of those areas I mentioned, spiritual, physical, academic, and social, emotional. And it’s something to use as a resource for them if they’re, you know, struggling. But it’s also for us to learn our student body better and what else we can provide for them.

SPEAKER 01 : 4:17

Lindsay, I think we sometimes don’t even do that well at work. And to have a school that does that so well-structured so that these students have a chance to have a plan, it gets executed, we kind of see what worked, what didn’t work, and then you’re adjusting. That type of personalized care we think is very special. And we think even for someone that doesn’t have kids or grandkids, that are at that age where they can go to Longmont Christian anymore. There’s still reason to support Longmont Christian and what you’re doing. By the way, our company supports Longmont Christian, just for the listeners to know that, that we put our money where our mouth is because we want Christian education, in this case, our local Christian education, which is Longmont, to really thrive. What would you say to that person that doesn’t have kids or grandkids But still, there’s an importance of supporting Christian education, specifically Lamont Christian.

SPEAKER 02 : 5:20

I think we should really step back and look at the time that we’re in. These kids are inundated with information. We’re in the information age. And they are being bombarded with information, even if they don’t have a smartphone, but that makes it even ten times harder. Yeah. And they’re being bombarded with society’s norms and what culture says is okay at very, very young ages. And the Great Commission told us to go and make disciples. And you can’t make a disciple without getting into God’s word and living and breathing it and making it your own and forming that relationship with Christ. Um, so that is something that we can all contribute to whether our kid is at that school or not. Uh, because there is just an attack on our children these days. Um, and it’s getting harder and harder for them to stand up to it. There’s also, you know, some people say, well, we want them to be salt and light in the world. Well, you can’t be salt and light if you don’t know what you’re being salt and light about. Um, they need time to grow in his word. They need time with the curriculum. that has a biblical worldview to create that foundation. I do believe kingdom education starts in the home. I think the Bible is quite clear about that. But we want to partner with the parents in building up their biblical knowledge and understanding and what that looks like in the real world as a follower of Christ. So you’re not just supporting a school, you’re supporting an eternity of warriors for Christ.

SPEAKER 01 : 7:08

We’re speaking with Lindsay Perkins. Lindsay is the executive director of Longmont Christian School. And Lindsay, we know that Longmont Christian is one of the schools in our area and for us, the one that we support and know the best and believe in. You’re making sure that that next generation of leaders, like the kids I met at Longmont Christian, they were sharp. They were sharp kids. You could tell that they had a grounding in Christ. You can just kind of tell that by mannerisms, honestly, and the way they speak to you and the respect that they show before they even tell you, yeah, you know, I love Jesus. And then to see how that’s going to carry on to when they become our city council members, or they become involved in government or somehow throughout our community, whether it’s politically or not. And that’s something that you are helping them get prepared for.

SPEAKER 02 : 8:05

Right. In our middle school, especially, we’re not afraid to tackle tough questions that they may come across in life outside of these walls. And we’re going to talk through that. And we’re going to talk through what it looks like through a biblical lens and help them be prepared for whatever it is they plan on doing with God’s gifts that he’s given to them. We just want them to be prepared with the sword of truth as a foundation.

SPEAKER 01 : 8:33

That’s so good. And you have this ability to help kids with special needs too. And not all schools have that. Tell us about How long about Christian does that?

SPEAKER 02 : 8:47

Right. So that in my earlier part of my career, God really put that population in front of me to work with and really started tugging on my heart in that area. When I came to private Christian school, I didn’t think I’d be able to use it because a lot of private or charter, much less Christian schools, don’t often tap into that resource, mostly because money that comes for students with special needs is from the government and it goes into the public school. So the families are having to follow the money, so to speak, to get what they need for their child. And I just think that’s a travesty for Christian families who do want a Christian education, but their child learns differently. And oftentimes the siblings of that child will have to follow wherever that child’s needs will be met. So we want to make a way that, no, your whole family can come here and whatever your needs are, if we don’t have what can be, how it can be met, we’re going to figure that out and add it. So what I do is I take accommodation plans and I work through with my staff, here’s how we’re going to do it. We really have the philosophy and mindset that we all belong in God’s family, and we all have strengths and weaknesses in different areas, and we’re going to do that together. We’re not going to pull them out in a separate program. We’re going to teach them in the same classroom. And part of the reason we can do that is because we have an amazing staff. I can’t say enough about the people who work here in terms of, Just heart and soul on fire for God and kids. And just the number of adults that can come in and reach a student in a classroom is just phenomenal. At any one time, you can have four adults in a classroom at times. So we have the knowledge, the know-how, and the heart to make sure that those students feel included in our class population.

SPEAKER 01 : 11:02

Lindsay, we love that. And it does have a lot more of an intimate feel as opposed to huge high school, big classrooms. Again, nothing demeaning about the bigger schools. And maybe for some kids, the parents and the children, they make that choice and go that direction. But man, I would want to have my child or grandchild. And by the way, we did. So we, there was a Christian school that we, that we, you know, live close to. And before I even knew about Longwater Christian and we put them in, made that sacrifice. Yeah. Talk about that. The financial part. Why is it, why is it worthwhile? And what happens to the parent that says, I can’t quite meet the gap of.

SPEAKER 02 : 11:49

Right. I think it is, is faithful in provision for one thing that that’s a perfect place to start. Um, And you have to stop thinking about it in terms of a bill and look at the value of what you’re getting. You’re not just getting an education for a diploma or for a report card. You’re getting a student that’s being poured to as a whole child, a whole child of God. When you look at all the different aspects of their life that we’re trying to tap into and help them uncover that God created them to be, It’s such a great thing to have a school to partner with the parents to be able to do that. In most schools or big schools like you mentioned, you’re one of a number. And the bigger the classes, the more that tend to fall through the cracks and that’s just not going to happen in our settings.

SPEAKER 01 : 12:48

I was thinking of Lindsay Perkins with Longmont Christian School. And Lindsay, I’ve had the opportunity now to see different projects get started and completed, the technology project. And probably that’s an ongoing thing, right? Technology changes all the time. And what you’ve done with the gym and some of the spaces that needed to be renovated and switched up, what are you excited about that’s coming down the pike with the school that’s going to be new?

SPEAKER 02 : 13:19

I think right now our biggest project that I’m excited about is our sensory courtyard. We’re actually still looking for a name. We’re having families and students pitch us ideas for different names. But the purpose of the courtyard is to get kids outside in creation. It’s going to be at least four of the five senses will be integrated into it. We’re not so sure that taste is the best one at school. Right. We might have some raspberries, but we really want to create a vibrancy in nature that kids can connect with. We live in such a great state of outdoor activity and such a peaceful and solitude place to meet with God. So in this sensory garden, we’re looking at different things that create musical life. sounds like your wind chimes, and then we’re looking at different lighting pieces that the sun will hit and reflect upon, different grasses and plants that feel like sage to the touch or soft or just different things that they wouldn’t think about. But then we’re also going to do devotionals about God and creation. We’re also going to create science lessons that are integrated into the courtyard. And surely last but not least, by any means, we have a prayer corner that we want people to feel comfortable to go out there any time of their day, whether it’s parents coming in to volunteer or teachers on a lunch break, just to go and get away from the computer screen or the classroom and take some time to meet with God. So that’s been a great project of ours. Our community has really stepped up. in the first couple of phases. And we haven’t had to spend so far a lick of school money on it. It’s been donations and volunteering time and resources. And it’s just been a great project for all of us.

SPEAKER 01 : 15:31

I’ve noticed that the parents step up at Longmont Christian and others in the community because they see what the school is really about. And your staff’s work, your work, others around you, and they believe in what you’re doing.

SPEAKER 02 : 15:47

Right, absolutely. I think it feels like a small family. It really does. We get together. We have some great community events that our PTO puts on, and you’ll have preschoolers through eighth grade. We just had a movie on the lawn, and we were all camped out in the grass last Friday night watching a movie on a big screen. So We work hard together and play hard together, too. And it does feel like the body of Christ as it’s intended to be.

SPEAKER 01 : 16:15

That’s so good. And tell our listeners who you serve because it’s specific age groups. And I think your preschool, right, is blowing up as of this year or beyond now.

SPEAKER 02 : 16:29

Yeah, so we start with three-year-olds. So our preschool starts at three and four. And then we have kindergarten through eighth grade right now.

SPEAKER 01 : 16:39

So kindergarten through eighth. And there are other options. Once kids then move to ninth grade and beyond, you probably, I’m guessing, work a little bit with the Christian high schools so you can make sure they’ve got a good fit.

SPEAKER 02 : 16:53

Right. We can definitely refer them in the direction they’re looking for that.

SPEAKER 01 : 16:59

Now, tell us, we’ve got a few minutes left, so tell us about anything else with the learning paths that you think the listeners will want to know. And then, two, why do you feel like it’s important, even though you’re in there and you’re going to be, of course, biased towards Christian school, but why is it so important that we put our children and grandchildren, because I want to speak to the grandparents too, into Christian school, specifically Lamont Christian, but also too, why again, that support for someone that doesn’t have kids that are ready to go in, because the reality is, it is going to affect our community.

SPEAKER 02 : 17:41

Absolutely. So again, I think just the disciple making process, it’s not just something that can be done alone in the home anymore. There’s just an attack on our our kids, our nation, and some of the best ways that a nation or groups of people will try to sway kids is through the educational process. And so that’s been done throughout history. That is nothing new. in terms of Western and Eastern cultures. So at Longmont, what we’re doing, what we’re hoping to provide is that this is a place that I don’t consider it a sheltering, like we’re not trying to keep them from the world, but we want to make them effective in the world to create leaders for God’s kingdom that don’t waver on different issues, but they know solid, absolute truth. It feels like God’s word has just continued to be watered down and watered down and watered down, even sometimes within Christian youth. I heard a staggering data point recently that 7% of Christian middle schoolers make decisions based on the Bible. The other 93% make them make decisions based on context, and it depends on what’s happening, and it’s situational. And that’s just really terrifying to me as a mom, but also to God’s kingdom. That is not what we were created to do. We were created to spread the gospel, the truth that comes from his word, and youth need to be taught that from an early, early age, that it is the absolute truth. So as they’re learning that through their formative years, they’re learning who God created them to be, where their strengths are, where they sit in God’s purpose for their life in this world, in the kingdom. And those places, as they grow up, they are going to be our community leaders, our government leaders, our church leaders. And the Bible just continues to impress upon us and tell the next generation and the next generation and those who have yet to be born. So it is something that we must pass on and on for his word to be spread and for disciples to be made. And it doesn’t just have to stop with, you know, the ones that bear your last name. It doesn’t stop with your own. It’s meant for Christ’s kingdom.

SPEAKER 01 : 20:34

Well, Lindsay, we want to influence others for Christ. And I know people hearing you talk about Lamont Christian get a sense that Lamont Christian is deeply rooted in God’s Word. And I’m so glad you said starting young, because when they get to high school, big time, and then college, and of course, with Charlie Kirk’s assassination, everything that we’ve seen go on, I know I am learning more about what Turning Point USA was about with taking kids and saying, all right, in high school, we’re going to get you in the right foundation. And I mean the, you know, the grounding God’s word part of it. Right, right. And you’re doing that with kids well beyond that because when they get high school and then especially college, oh, my, gloves are off, right?

SPEAKER 02 : 21:24

Oh, yeah, right. And by then it’s almost too late. They’ve got who they are and what they think. Yeah. So I really believe in the younger, the better.

SPEAKER 01 : 21:34

Well, tell us how people can get in touch and then how can they take a tour? Because I highly encourage each of you take a tour. I don’t care if you don’t have grandkids or kids anywhere near the ages where it’s time to go into Longmont Christian. You just need to go and see what they’re doing.

SPEAKER 02 : 21:53

Yeah, we would love that. We welcome all kinds of visitors and guests. I spoke with a grandmother today whose kids graduated in 2002 and 2003, but she just wanted to come back by and see how the school was doing. So you can go to LongmontChristian.org. That’s our website. And at the bottom, there’s a place to sign up for a tour. Or you can email me, L. Perkins, like the restaurant, at LongmontChristian.org.

SPEAKER 01 : 22:23

What’s Lindsay Perkins? Lindsay, thanks for taking the time with us. We feel like Christian education is so vitally important. And that’s why from Don Crawford Sr., our company president, all the way down, we are supportive of Christian education. schools. And we’ve just been really grateful for the partnership with Longmont Christian because you’re our school. You’re it. You’re who we believe in from that three-year-old all the way up through eighth grade. And then with where you kind of point them for beyond high school and And then either trade school, which we love the trades, or college if that’s where they’re going. So lawmontchristian.org, lawmontchristian.org. And, of course, Lindsay Perkins. Get a hold of Lindsay. I found it very easy. You call. You push the right button. Lindsay answers the phone. It’s pretty amazing. So thanks again, Lindsay. So grateful to have the time with you.

SPEAKER 02 : 23:17

Thank you. And I am so very grateful for Crawford Media as well.