Our History
In 1935 Mr. Walter Jensen, a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, founded Children’s Bible Mission (CBM) for the purpose of reaching boys and girls in the public schools with the gospel. His method was to go into the public schools and teach God’s Word, motivating the children to learn to memorize Scripture by offering as an incentive the opportunity to attend a Christian summer camp. Today, Children’s Bible Ministries has regional affiliates in nine states, including Oklahoma. Our national office is located in the Tuckaleechee Retreat Center in Townsend, TN.
Our Mission Statement and Vision
The mission statement of CBM Ministries of the Great Southwest is, “Reaching future generations for Christ, one child at a time.”
Our vision is “to communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ to all children without distinction in public schools throughout Oklahoma and the surrounding states, resulting in transformed lives that bear fruit for the kingdom of God for generations to come.”
Our Method
Our primary method of reaching boys and girls for Christ is what’s known as “Released Time.” This ministry, which began in 1914, is a nationally-recognized program that allows students with written parental permission to be “released” from school for a specified period of time, either monthly or weekly, to participate in an off- campus, non-denominational Bible class. During these classes there is singing, Scripture memorization, and a Bible lesson by which children are taught the wonderful truths of God’s Word by CBM workers.
The first Released Time class in Oklahoma was held in Wanette in November 1993. A class in Byars was begun a few days later. George Warrington, affectionately known by his students as "The Bible Man," organized and taught the classes. In 1996, George contacted Harold Ball in Ponca City to discuss the possibility of starting Released Time there, and more schools followed. Today, CBM of the Great Southwest sponsors Released Time programs in 16 communities and 21 schools in Oklahoma and southwest Missouri, with a total enrollment of over 1,600 students.
Is Released Time Legal?
Yes! The constitutionality of Released Time
was affirmed in the Supreme Court case of Zorach v.
Clauson (343 U.S. 306). In the majority opinion,
Justice Douglas wrote:
We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a
Supreme Being. We guarantee the freedom to worship as one
chooses. We make room for as wide a variety of beliefs and
creeds as the spiritual needs of man deem necessary. We
sponsor an attitude on the part of government that shows no
partiality to any one group and that lets each flourish according
to the zeal of its adherents and the appeal of its dogma. When
the state encourages the religious instruction or cooperates
with religious authorities by adjusting the schedule of public
events to sectarian needs, it follows the best of our traditions.
For it respects the nature of our people and accommodates the
public service to their spiritual needs. To hold that it may not
would be to find in the Constitution a requirement that the
government shows a callous indifference to religious groups.
That would be preferring those who believe in no religion over
those who do believe.
Released Time is legal in all 50 states. Currently, 19 states have specific statutes in their educational codes that specify the circumstances under which Released Time classes may be conducted. No state has a law prohibiting such a program. In states that do not have a specific law concerning Released Time (such as Oklahoma), local school boards may adopt a policy permitting such a program.
Schools have the discretion to dismiss students to off-
premises religious instruction, provided that the schools do
not encourage or discourage participation or penalize those
who do not attend. Schools may not allow religious
instruction by outsiders on premises during the school day.
(From Religion in the Public Schools: A Joint Statement on Current Law. This document has 35 organizational signers, including The American Civil Liberties Union, The American Humanist Association, American Jewish Congress, American Muslim Council, Americans for Religious Liberty, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, The National Council of Churches, and People for the American Way).
What Are the Benefits of Released Time?
- Ministers to children from non-Christian homes as well as Christian homes.
- Provides a biblical foundation for the moral, social, intellectual, and spiritual development of children.
- Enhances the spiritual development of Christian children and encourages them to share their faith with their non-Christian friends.
- Provides meaningful opportunities for non-Christian children to see and experience Christian love firsthand.
- Helps facilitate an awareness of and appreciation for God and His truth in the public schools.
- Helps young people from diverse backgrounds gain a theistic (God-centered) understanding of themselves and others, in contrast to the humanistic (man-centered) philosophy of the world.
- Enhances student discipline and cooperation in the classroom as children are “sanctified” through the influence of loving, caring Christian adults.
- Benefits local churches by assisting them in fulfilling the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20).
- Promotes fellowship within the Christian community by encouraging believers from different churches to work together in a common endeavor – the evangelization and discipling of children.