Micah Hughes grew up with a basic understanding of worldviews and religious beliefs, but he often felt stuck and unprepared when answering hard questions or having meaningful conversations. That uncertainty made him hesitant to share his faith or approach those with different perspectives. It wasn’t until he began studying at Eukarya Christian Academy and using Summit’s curriculum that everything changed. What started as a foundation of knowledge grew into a deep confidence, allowing him to speak thoughtfully, share answers, and reflect Christ’s love with grace and understanding. Today, as a graduate of Eukarya, Micah credits much of his growth and ability to connect with others to the tools and wisdom gained through the material of Summit Ministries.
Summit Ministries is a Christian educational organization founded by David Noebel in Manitou Springs, Colorado. In 1962, David recognized the need to educate the rising generations to embrace God’s truth and champion a biblical worldview. This mission can be found in the apostle Paul’s letter to Jewish and Gentile Christians in Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Nearly 2,000 years have passed since Paul wrote this, and the impact of both conforming to the world and renewing the mind remains evident.
In obedience to God’s commands, Summit Ministries helps young people navigate a world that often positions itself over its Creator.
Through student conferences, gap year programs, summer staff, internships, and curriculum development, Summit equips young people to engage with the world in a way that aligns with God’s will. These tools have been implemented in schools like Eukarya, enabling faculty and students to approach the world from a biblical perspective.
Eukarya Christian Academy in Stephens City, Virginia, has used Summit’s curriculum since 2021, incorporating it into its educational model to engage students’ critical thinking. The school was founded in 2010 and serves 480 students from pre-K through grade 12. Eukarya’s commitment to biblical worldview education is evident in its small class sizes (averaging 14 students), individualized learning plans, and Summit’s curriculum that presents biblical principles. Executive Director and Head Joanie Hughes, who had explored numerous curriculum options for Eukarya, initially faced several challenges. “Most Bible curricula written for schools make the assumption that students have a foundation of biblical principles,” she said. “We have desired for worldview instruction to be a pillar at our school for a long time . . . .” This desire was soon fulfilled when Jordan Belton, a former Summit team member, introduced the curriculum while teaching at the school. Joanie noted that Summit’s materials were “far more excellent than other Bible curricula” they had researched and “checked so many boxes” because it addressed questions from the youngest students to the oldest.
“It is not a boring, ‘dry toast’ curriculum,” she said. “It goes deeper to address cultural issues and various worldview ideologies so that students can compare and contrast ideas for themselves.” Over time, Eukarya gradually adopted more of Summit’s curriculum, beginning with Understanding the Times, a book designed to help students recognize and challenge opposing worldviews. The following year, the school added Building on the Rock and Walking in Truth for K–6 and junior high, focusing on worldview education and faith defense. Later, Understanding the Culture and Understanding the Faith were added, teaching students to defend and promote a biblical worldview; Understanding the Faith became mandatory for grades 7–12. “[The students] come out not with shallow knowledge and belief that Jesus is who He says He is and the Bible is truth,” Joanie said, “but with a deep understanding of why it is so and how it applies to every aspect of their lives.” While some students initially resisted, Summit gradually became an important part of their everyday lives. Senior Ezria Goddard is a testament to the impact of Summit’s work.
With some uncertainties, Ezria joined Eukarya in 2022 at the beginning of her sophomore year. “I did not know about other worldviews,” she said. “I knew Christianity, obviously, I don’t know everything about it, but I didn’t study postmodernism or new spirituality.” However, everything changed when she began taking Summit’s curriculum, starting with Understanding the Times in her first year, then Understanding the Faith in her second, and Understanding the Culture in her third. “It really helped me dive deeper into other people’s religions,” Ezria said, “so that I can better defend my own religion when that comes up.”
Ezria describes Summit as “very discussion-based” and “spaghetti learning,” where all the subjects tie together. One of the most impactful aspects of her experience with Summit boiled down to one notion: “The fact that God and school are not separate . . . the fact that you can literally go to school and know that I’m going to be talking about God today, I’m going to be talking about my faith, and that’s okay.” While students like Ezria benefit significantly from Summit’s curriculum, faculty members like Kim Hyland learn alongside their students.
It isn’t presented as ‘devotional’ but rather as factual and therefore a natural part of reality
Kim serves as the Worldview Director at Eukarya, where she has played an essential role in developing and expanding the worldview program. Under her leadership, the program has significantly benefited both students and faculty. Kim explains that one of the core strengths of the Summit curriculum is its structure: “It isn’t presented as ‘devotional’ but rather as factual and therefore a natural part of reality.” Additionally, she oversees worldview training for all teachers, ensuring they are equipped to teach every subject from a biblical worldview perspective.
Kim’s personal growth has been deeply intertwined with her professional role, particularly through her engagement with the Summit curriculum. She recalls how giving the Understanding the Faith textbook to her six adult children reflected the material’s impact on her own faith journey. “I was raised in the church since childhood, attended Christian elementary, high school, and college, and have been actively involved in various Christian ministries my entire adult life . . . and Understanding the Faith ranks number one,” she says.
The knowledge gained from teaching the curriculum has strengthened her confidence in her faith and fueled her passion to teach and share it with others.
Summit continues its ministry by working with schools like Eukarya to this day, shaping students’ lives and giving them the tools to confidently engage with the world from a biblical perspective. Micah summarizes, “What started as a foundation of knowledge grew into a deep confidence, equipping me to thoughtfully engage, share answers, and reflect Christ’s love with grace and understanding.” His story, along with those of Ezria and Kim, shows how Summit’s work doesn’t just transform individuals but also builds strong communities grounded in truth and grace. Summit’s ministry continues to equip the next generation to live out their faith boldly wherever they go.
By McAuley Tucker
Check out Summit’s two-week Biblical Worldview Conference & Camp for Young Adults. These conferences empower students to impact culture with truth while building lasting relationships. Summit’s Student Conferences create a space for teens to wrestle through their questions about life and faith, equipping them to become confident in their convictions and better ambassadors for Christ.
Also, be sure to look at Summit’s Understanding the Times High School curriculum. The Understanding the Times Series comprehensively covers the biblical worldview, the Great Commission, understanding competing worldviews, and how to engage today’s culture and defend the faith with sound biblical theology and powerful apologetics.