Brittany Smith (’12)

Teaching the Truth of Jesus

For Brittany Smith (’12), a graduate of Lancaster Bible College’s Family & Children’s Ministry program, the education she received at LBC was paramount to the work she’s doing in her community.

“The role that LBC played in my life is one that offered opportunities I never could have imagined,” Brittany shared. “Because of my education at LBC, I have spent years on the missions field in Africa, worked at multi-site churches, as well as small church plants with no permanent location.”

While the Lord led Brittany in various directions within ministry after graduating from LBC, she currently finds herself writing Christian curriculum for a daycare center for infants through fifth-graders.

The center is a faith-based academic program, however, about 75% of the children and families Brittany works with do not have a relationship with Jesus or are part of a church community.

“My role is important for bridging the academic and ministry worlds,” said Brittany. “My current role is vital so that more families can engage with Jesus on a personal level inside and outside the church.”

To reach these children and families, Brittany starts with Sunday school curriculum and reshapes it into a five-day Bible curriculum for the daycare center, keeping in mind the center’s academic curriculum and philosophy regarding how children learn according to their age development.

“Those experiences [at LBC] all gave me hands-on opportunities to flesh out all that was learned through the classroom, relationships with professors and following God leading,” said Brittany. “LBC set the path forward and opened doors of opportunities that led me to where I am now.”

As she creates this important curriculum, Brittany keeps each child’s development in mind, considering what they can understand and articulate based on their stage of development—both biblically and academically.

“My goal is to help teachers intertwine the truth of Jesus into our everyday learning so we can see and understand how powerful and big our God is,” Brittany explained. “In return, our kids can begin to see Him in everyday things in their lives and creation around them as they grow and discover who He is for them personally.”

Brittany also coaches teachers to effectively engage children while creating activities and writing curriculum that teaches the truth of Jesus. She creates environments for the students to learn about worship, whether it’s through singing, dancing or being creative artistically. Her motto is “You can’t be rich, except by enriching others.”

“When I first started this role, my prayer was that God would use the curriculum I wrote to not only reach the children but the teachers,” Brittany shared. “He has done exactly that, as we have seen teachers come to know Jesus, accept Him as their personal savior and be baptized—all because of their role as the teacher in using the curriculum on a daily basis. Our teachers are coming to know Jesus while interacting with the messages and growing in their faith as they interact with the curriculum on a child’s level.”

The goal of Brittany’s curriculum draws an interesting parallel to LBC’s 90-year mission: To teach students the truth of Jesus not just during Bible story time, but throughout their entire academic experience, whether they are learning math, fine motor skills, science or social studies.

“LBC gave me the knowledge and opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus,” said Brittany. “Without my education and experiences at LBC, the depth in which those hands and feet have reached would not be a reality. I am grateful for the education, friendships and knowledge LBC has given me to continue being obedient wherever God calls—and in whatever capacity!”