By David Freeze 

For the Salisbury Post

Roxanne Johnson is glad she found her calling.

“If this organization did not exist, then many students would not have had the chance to study the Bible and its impact on our world,” Johnson said.

At one of her organization’s banquets, Johnson collected marbles to represent the number of students who took Bible history in South Rowan schools over the years. Each table had a pitcher of marbles. One person sitting at each table poured the marbles in a large bowl at the front of the room.

“The total number of marbles was around 4,000. It made quite a racket,” she said.

Johnson has been teaching Bible history as an elective in the South Rowan area for 29 years, and it’s currently available as an elective at South Rowan High School and Corriher-Lipe and China Grove middle schools. Her position is funded 100%, including salary and benefits, by the South Rowan Public Schools Bible Teaching Association. No tax money is used, as the funding comes solely through the contributions of local churches, individuals, civic organizations and fundraisers.

The class is taught from a nondenominational stance and biblical literacy is the goal, given the impact that the Bible has on western civilization’s culture, art, literature and music.

The rule of thumb established by the Supreme Court’s ruling on teaching the Bible in a public school is “you can expose but not impose.”

“As a public school teacher, I am an agent of the state and am not to ‘espouse or denigrate’ any viewpoint,” Johnson said. “I am allowed to state my opinion, if asked, as long as I state it as my opinion and don’t seek to convert anyone from one religion or belief to another.”

The class focuses on the books of the Bible containing historical narrative.

The Bible 1 class is “Survey of the Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures” or the history of the nation of Israel as seen through their literature. Bible 2 is “Survey of the New Testament,” with emphasis on the life and teachings of Jesus.

Johnson has an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of South Carolina.

Before she became a teacher, she was a television news videographer at WIS-TV in Columbia, Channel 36 in Charlotte and WTVF in Nashville, Tennessee.

“While working in Nashville, I believe God led me to quit my job and go to Columbia International University,” she said. “I had no idea what I would do or study but began my master of arts there.”

At Columbia International University, Johnson said, she discovered Bible history was taught in public schools and thought, “Nothing would be more awesome than to teach this great book there.”

So she completed the Bible teaching program and student taught at Central Cabarrus High School.

“There were two jobs open in the county teaching Bible history in a public school when I graduated,” Johnson said. “One was at South Rowan High School. Principal Jim Donnell hired me, and I have been here ever since.”

June Woodall was the first Bible teacher at South Rowan High, completing 10 years before Johnson took over.

During the fall semester, Johnson taught 110 total students at South Rowan in three classes. She also taught two more at Corriher-Lipe Middle School that covered the Old and New Testament surveys. In the spring semester, she’s teaching six classes and 89 students at Corriher-Lipe and China Grove middle schools about the Old and New Testaments as well as additional topics including the Divided Kingdom, Life of Jesus, Esther and Daniel.

The L.D. Gray South Rowan Public School Bible Teaching Association Spring Banquet in memory of the charter president of the association, who worked tirelessly to promote and obtain funding for the program, will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at First Reformed Church in Landis.

“Personally, the spring banquet is always encouraging to me because it reminds me of all the people who make this possible, who believe that teaching the Bible and its impact on our world to young people is important, who care about them and their future,” Johnson said.

This year, Johnson will share some of her students’ work from their “Final Reflection Project.”

A silent auction for cakes and other items is planned and music will be provided by Grace Baptist Church Trio featuring Tommy Welch, McKenzie Hooks and Joshua Welch. The meal includes barbecue chicken with sides and dessert.

Churches, community organizations and individuals can sponsor a table at the banquet. A donation of $100 will receive two tickets to the banquet and a sign on one of the tables.

For tickets or for more information, call First Reformed Church in Landis at 704-857-7119. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by mailing a check to Lynn Furr, PO Box 384, Landis, NC 28088. Tickets are $10 each.

Any additional donation to the South Rowan Public School Bible Teaching Association can be sent to the same address.