LEXINGTON — Several students representing a Christian student group, teamed with a local businessman and pastor, presented framed posters that acknowledge GOD to the Lexington School Board last week. The collaboration believes that the philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of the government in the next.
The posters depict the national motto: “In GOD we trust,” and the state motto: “With GOD all things are possible,” and will be displayed in every classroom in the public school district thanks to a collaboration between Scott Sharrock and several congregations.
Pictured from L to R: Scott Sharrock, Adam Lieb, Savvanah Mattone, and Reverend John Harris (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Framed copies of the poster were donated on behalf of the local churches in the greater Lexington area.
According to senior Adam Lieb, a 2007 study conducted by researchers from the University of British Columbia found that merely thinking about GOD can prompt cooperative actions and generous behavior.
Junior Savannah Mattone emphasized that “the student body can benefit from being reminded that GOD is the Chief Cornerstone and the stability of our times.”
Both students are active with the Crusaders student group, which has been in existence since 1993 and meets weekly to pray for their school. The group’s past activities have included ministry to local nursing homes, raising funds for those starving around the world, and involvement with the “Meet you at the pole” prayer initiative.
“There has been an increase in corporate prayer by area churches for the school district and the local churches are now seeing the need to play an increased role in the local schools.”
Reverend John Harris
Lexington Covenant Church
Reverend Harris of Covenant Church who represented several local congregations commented that recently there has been “an increase in corporate prayer by area churches for the school district and that the churches are now seeing the need to play an increased role in the local schools.”
Along the same lines, Scott Sharrock pointed out that the display of the posters could have as far-reaching impact as helping troubled youth consider eternity, preventing another Columbine tragedy.
The group also pointed out that the Ohio Constitution states that “Religion, morality and knowledge, being essentially necessary to the good government, and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of instruction shall forever be encouraged by legislative provision.”
In 2006, the Ohio General Assembly passed House Bill 184 signed by Governor Robert Taft, requiring Ohio school districts that receive framed donated copies of the National and Ohio State motto posters to display them in classrooms.
