Defenders of Truth

Defenders of Truth Bible Curriculum is a non-profit, 501c3 organization supported entirely by the prayer support and donations of people who believe in its’ mission and vision.  All contributions are tax-deductible.

DTBC’s mission is to develop Godly young men and women who know what they believe, why they believe it, what distinguishes their beliefs from other systems, how to withstand and answer cultural shifts, and how to lovingly draw others into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Defenders of Truth Bible Curriculum (DTBC) is based upon the following 2 verses of Scripture:

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. (Ephesians 6:14)

Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is Christ. (Ephesians 4:15)

To answer this question, let’s examine 2 recent surveys.  In 2010, best-selling author Mike Nappa (Nappa, Mike.  The Jesus Survey.  Baker Books, 2012.  Print), conducted a survey of U.S. teens ages 12 to 18. All teens self-identified as “Christian” and were active in a church youth group at the time of the survey. All had participated in one or more missions trips and were considered the leaders of their youth groups.   In all, the survey sample represented 16 Christian denominations from 24 United States.  The first part of the survey was designed to measure what teens thought about four core doctrines of Christ:  1) The Bible is completely trustworthy in what it says about Jesus; 2) Jesus is God; 3) Jesus physically lived, died and came back to life; 4) Jesus is the only way to heaven.  The second part of the survey was designed to measure how a Christian teen’s belief or unbelief in those core doctrines affected his or her daily experience with God.  Nappa found that while 86% of those surveyed reported that they viewed the Bible as at least somewhat trustworthy, 70% expressed persistent, measurable doubts that what the Bible says about Jesus is true. One out of 3 (33%) of the Christian teenagers surveyed believes that Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha and other great religious leaders all lead to heaven.  Barely 5% of those surveyed reported that they study the Bible on a daily basis, with 67% reporting that they seldom or never study Scripture outside church—numbers that reflect a downward trend in Bible study from similar studies conducted 10 years ago.  Remember, these teens were considered the cream of the crop within their youth groups!

A second example is a 2006 Barnum Study survey (Barna Group.  “Most Twenty-somethings Put Christianity on the Shelf Following Spiritually Active Teen Years.”  Barna.org, The Barna Group, Ltd., 11 September 2006.  Web 01 June 2013) in which a majority of twenty-somethings—61%—had been churched at one point during their teen years but had become spiritually disengaged.  It further found that the disengagement continued into adulthood, with only one-third of twenty-something parents regularly taking their children to church, compared to 40% of parents in their thirties and 50% of parents age 40+.

These are only two of the many studies that send a clear message of needed change within the church curriculum world.  While there may be many reasons for these shifts, the age-old method of presenting interesting Bible stories and discussing how it relates to their lives is not enough.  Soaking up knowledge without arming them with foundational principles is not working.  Further, failure to think critically using those spiritual principles is yielding catastrophic results.

Basic Bible curriculum, comparing publishing company after publishing company, looks very similar and has not changed significantly in at least the last 60 years.  Yes, technology has provided a fancier and more eye-catching package, but the approach to learning is woefully redundant.  The DTBC Project is a worldwide mission’s effort aimed at producing high quality, free, Bible curriculum in multiple languages for Preschool-12th grade students.  The curriculum teaches them to think and to defend their faith.

The DTBC Project is a writing/authoring project that shifts how Bible curriculum is presented.  It begins with foundational concepts and presents Bible stories and activities as evidence of those concepts.  DTBC has a method for looping back to previously learned concepts and leading students into an increasingly deeper thought process as it applies them to real-world situations.  It examines culture, music, history, and belief systems in light of the Bible’s foundational concepts.

Paula Morales, founder and CEO of DTBC, was an educator and middle school administrator for 29 years.  Working within some of the nation’s best school districts she saw firsthand the cultural shifts and influences that often left Christian students without adequate foundation in battling the pull of Satan.  Concurrently as a Sunday School teacher, she was amazed that Christian curriculum failed to teach students to THINK, REASON, or DEFEND their beliefs.  DTBC was born out of a mission and vision to arm the next generation of Christian kids with the knowledge and skills needed to defend their faith.

DTBC is different in its approach, its scope, mission/vision, and cost.   Every lesson begins with a “meaty” overarching concept such as “There is only one true and real God.” Bible stories, activities, games, music, and memory verses are totally aligned with the concept and continually loop back to prior learning to explore the overarching concept in increasingly greater depth.  Students demonstrate their learning through higher level thinking skills with the capability of developing mastery portfolios.  Strategic character education is infused from a God perspective.  Parent education teaches parents which skills their child needs to master at what age and how they can easily support the curriculum.

DTBC is an ongoing project to provide FREE curriculum worldwide in multiple languages, available through the internet.  It is continually updated to address cultural pull and technological changes.  Thought-based assignments that apply knowledge provide demonstrations that students have mastered the concepts.  Numerous options exist for teaching students of varied abilities and understanding within the same learning environment.  DTBC provides free teacher training and conferences in exchange for travel costs.

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DTBC is founded on 12 foundational truths of Scripture, which are further broken down into numerous sub-concepts to greater depths of understanding as the student progresses through the program.  The truths are integrated rather than sequential, although the first 3 statements, accepted by faith, predicate the truth of all other foundation statements.

• There is only one true and real God.
• Our God never lies.
• The Bible is God’s Word(s) to us.
• Satan and his demons make it their mission to deceive mankind from following the true God.
• All people are sinners.
• God’s bloodline Son, Jesus Christ the Savior, provides the only avenue to a relationship with God (salvation and forgiveness of our sins).
• God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are distinct from each other, yet are one.
• The believers’ foremost mission is to tell mankind the good news of forgiveness and bring others into a relationship with Jesus Christ.
• All believers make up the “church” of Jesus Christ.
• The Bible foretells important events that should create in us a sense of urgency about our mission.
• Heaven is the eternal place of residence for believers.
• Hell is the future eternal location for those who reject Jesus Christ as the only way to God.

It is very different, and it goes way beyond doctrine classes.  First, DTBC is a comprehensive preschool to 12th grade curriculum that uses Bible accounts as evidence of the foundational concepts.  Concepts in the curriculum are continuously revisited to greater depth, which reinforces learning.  Second, knowledge of history, geography, and ancient customs provides understanding of present day events.  Third, DTBC students demonstrate mastery of learning through application of the concepts to real-life situations.  Fourth, DTBC lessons are highly interactive and require the students to process both internally and externally.  A fifth difference is that DTBC strategically integrates character training into its curriculum, based on the Word of God rather than “touchy-feely-do-the-right-thing” decision making.  Finally, all of DTBC’s concepts are taught with consideration of child readiness and when secular concepts which might challenge their faith are taught in public school systems.  This “arms” students with knowledge, skills, and answers.

DTBC integrates character training at natural, yet intentional times throughout the curriculum so that each trait can have the benefit of continuous visitation to greater depths of understanding.  Character traits include thankfulness, faith, honesty, responsibility (decisions, actions, time, money, abilities), love, giving (time, money, talents), compassion, Christian counsel, prayer, reverence, sacrifice, self-control, worship, perseverance, work ethic, and contentment without covetousness.

DTBC curriculum can be used as a traditional Sunday School program for preschool through 12th grade students, as a supplemental program for mid-week programs, for homeschoolers, in religious schools, or as an introduction to the Bible for any age believer.

There is no charge for our curriculum.  The entire program is available free of charge, downloadable from the internet or as computerized lessons.  Some of the supplementary “smart technology” applications may have associated costs, but these serve to reinforce skills already taught within DTBC.  All proceeds given to DTBC go directly to produce the curriculum and continually update the activities.

Current educational materials are quite costly and prohibitive for many.  DTBC believes that no one should have to pay money for the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Struggling churches, children’s ministries, Christian Schools, house churches worldwide, even tribal Christians do not always have money for quality materials that teach their children the foundational truths of Jesus Christ.  What a great missions project to be able to provide a high quality curriculum in multiple languages free of charge!

DTBC is truly a missions project, prayerfully and monetarily supported by people who believe in its vision and work.  DTBC is a non-profit organization recognized as a 501c3 entity.  All contributions are tax deductible.

DTBC can only move forward as people who believe in its mission provide prayer and monetary support.  The CEO is available to present the vision and needs to groups and organizations.  DTBC will seek specific grant funding where appropriate.

Imagine a day in time when large numbers of 15-18 year olds across our globe are so bold in their faith, who know what they believe and why.  Imagine these young adults who are so facile in what they know, understand, and demonstrate that they successfully defend their beliefs in any forum with any adult.  They compassionately and extemporaneously expound on Biblical truth relative to current world topics.  They properly evaluate scripture, comparing passage with passage.  They wisely gauge questions and responses when talking with people of differing religions and faiths.   They host religious blogs and video chats that provide challenge, hope, and mentoring world-wide.  They exude confidence, steadfastness, and a passion to win their world for Jesus Christ.

Imagine these same students a few years before as 12-14 year olds cementing their understanding of how their Biblical belief system differs from other faiths.  They ask questions and search scripture in order to align their beliefs with Biblical truth.  They enjoy synthesizing their understanding using on-line games, smart phone applications, student response systems, airliners, and other technology.  Truth, compassion, energy, and courage mark their daily spiritual walk.

Quickly rewind time to when these students were 3 years of age.  They comprehend that there is only one true and real God, that God does not lie, and that the Bible is God’s Words.  As 3-5 year olds, even before they can write their names or read, they distinguish a Bible from other look-alike books.  Without prompting, they verbalize how to know if another person’s god is the same as their God, and they can articulate appropriate responses if someone should try to convince them that any other book is God’s words.  They eagerly learn and apply their knowledge to essential tenets.  They memorize scripture in accordance with foundational concepts.

DTBC wants to achieve this goal worldwide by making it highly accessible in multiple languages.

The immediate need is to develop an intricate website capable of hosting the entire curriculum, auditory and visual presentations, Bible memorization music, interactive games, teacher and parent toolboxes, and all activities at every level.  The President and founder of DTBC is available to present the vision to groups or churches in order to raise the necessary funds.  DTBC will research private grant funds where appropriate.

The writing of the curriculum, understandably, is another immediate need, and DTBC seeks individuals with missions’ hearts to become involved by contacting us.  Curriculum will be available to the general public as soon as we complete each level with the highest level of excellence.

Additionally, funds are needed for equipment, computer hardware and software, legal advice, activity writing, graphic designing, music production, and development of all other phases of the curriculum.

The CEO, board members, and corporate officers receive NO monetary compensation for their roles.   However, reimbursement for travel expenses related to presentations and conferences is accepted.   Subcontractors may be paid for development of learning activities.

Contributors receive regular updates through newsletters.  DTBC has a dedicated telephone phone number for additional questions or conversations.

DTBC is not affiliated with any denomination.  The bases for the curriculum are the core principles found in the Holy Bible, the Word of God.

Defenders of Truth Bible Curriculum needs prayer warriors, monetary support, and people willing to devote their time, energy, and expertise to its mission and vision.  Interested individuals may call, e-mail, or write using the following information: