By Mary Brown

CHESS is pleased to add to our great staff of instructors, Derek Moore. Derek will be graduating from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi this spring. Following his graduation, he and his wife, Clara, will move to Laramie, Wyoming, in order for Derek to begin Chaplaincy duties with the National Guard as well as an Assistant Pastors’ ministry at his church. Mr. Moore will be teaching the following high school classes at CHESS on Mondays beginning fall 2015:

Christian Worldview I
OT Survey
Logic

Derek was raised in a Christian home under the leadership of his father who was an active duty Army Chaplain. Derek was guided in his Christian walk through family devotions and the discipleship of his parents. He came to faith in Christ at an early age. While in college as a Army ROTC student, he was actively involved in Campus Outreach through his church and did an internship with his pastor for a semester to gain experience with church ministry. A long-time desire to pursue pastoral ministry was clarified during this time. By the end of his junior year at college, it also became clear to him that ROTC was not just a path to general military service, but that God was calling him to the Chaplaincy as well.

Mr. and Mrs. Moore will celebrate their two-year anniversary on May 14, and on May 23 their first child, a boy, is due. Clara Moore is a Colorado native and a graduate of “Green Pastures Academy”--- that is, her mom’s homeschool program for her 13 children (6 to go…). Clara graduated from Nursing School at the College of the Ozarks in 2013 and worked as a Pediatric ICU nurse until she found out she was pregnant. Mrs. Moore is going to be a stay-at-home mom. She believes her main calling is to support her husband in his callings. Clara also enjoys cooking, sculpting clay, painting and all outdoor activities.

Mr. Moore’s goal in his teaching ministries is stated best in his own words: “I love the privilege and responsibility of handling God’s truth as seen in His word. This truth pervades all concentrations of study. In my Bible classes I intend to disciple students to love Christ more by opening God’s word for them in such a way that they can own it and love it for themselves. Studying the Bible cannot be reduced to academics, even if it is done in an academic way. It is first and always an opportunity to love and worship God. In my Logic class, I will also aim to disciple students in the faith as it relates to this subject. I want my students to learn much and to think well, but as they do those things, I want them to experience the joy of doing academic work to the glory of God.”