Meet Mario & Sharon Cannavo
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In 1993, while raising their two young sons, Mario and Sharon Cannavo were searching for an educational environment that would place biblical instruction and the training of children's hearts at its center.
When they couldn't find exactly what they envisioned, they joined three other like-minded couples to establish Cornerstone Community School (CCS). The school opened in 1994 and served families for 20 years, until 2014.
From the beginning, their desire was not simply to educate children's minds, but to help parents and teachers work together in raising children who would grow in godly character, moral responsibility, and love for Christ. To accomplish this, the school made biblical parenting and classroom training a priority for its families and teaching staff.
From the beginning, their desire was not simply to educate children's minds, but to help parents and teachers work together in raising children who would grow in godly character, moral responsibility, and love for Christ. To accomplish this, the school made biblical parenting and classroom training a priority for its families and teaching staff.
Through years of studying and teaching biblical parenting, Sharon developed a 14-week course drawing upon the principles taught in Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp and Child Training Tips by Reb Bradley, together with her own biblical study and practical experience.
Training Hearts for Jesus was first taught in 2006. What began in a classroom setting eventually expanded online, allowing parents beyond Southern California to participate.
Over the years, Mario and Sharon have had the privilege of helping more than 1,500 families grow in their understanding of biblical parenting. Their desire remains the same: to equip parents to guide their children's hearts according to God's Word, trusting Him for the spiritual fruit.
Mario and Sharon also serve in various ministries within their church, and Sharon is a member of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors.
Their guiding Scripture is Matthew 6:33:
“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”
About the Ministry
Training Hearts for Jesus Mission Statement:
Training Hearts for Jesus Vision
Training Hearts for Jesus Vision
We recognize Training Hearts for Jesus as a ministry entrusted to us by God and are committed to faithfully following His Word and seeking His guidance. Our vision is to expand this ministry's reach and resources so more parents can benefit from the wisdom of God's Word as they raise their children.
Declaration regarding Marriage as the Basis of Family
- We believe marriage between a man and a woman is ordained by God (Genesis 2:18-24)
- We believe marriage is a spiritual and physical union of a man and woman of which God Himself is the author (Mark 10:9)
- We believe marriage between a man and a woman is sacred (Matthew 19:4-6)
- We believe marriage between a man and a woman is honorable (Hebrews 13:4)
- We believe marriage between a man and a woman is a gift from God (1 Corinthians 7:1-40)
Declaration regarding parenthood
- We believe God has entrusted parents with the responsibility of teaching their children the gospel of reconciliation through Jesus Christ, calling them to repentance and faith while trusting God for the work of salvation (2 Corinthians 5:18–20).
- We believe parents are responsible for bringing up their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, faithfully teaching God's Word and applying its truths to everyday life (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4; Deuteronomy 6:7–9).
- We believe parents are responsible for training their children's hearts to understand and practice godly respect in four areas:
- Respect for Elders
- Respect for Authorities
- Respect for Peers
- Respect for Property
- We believe the duty, hope, and goal of Christian parents is to raise children who grow in moral responsibility, learn to live according to God's Word, and reflect the love of Christ, while prayerfully trusting God to bring them to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ (Proverbs 1:1–7; 8:33; 9:9; Micah 6:8; John 13:34–35).
Statement of Faith:
The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Bible is the authoritative Word of God, verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit, inerrant in its original writings, and infallible in all that it teaches. We believe God has faithfully preserved His Word through the ages, providing a trustworthy revelation of His character, His will, and His plan of salvation.
The Triune God
We believe there is one true and living God, eternally existing in three distinct Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three Persons are co-equal, co-eternal, and one in divine nature.
Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, He came to reveal the Father, redeem sinners, and establish His kingdom.
We believe Jesus Christ accomplished redemption through His substitutionary, atoning death on the cross, shedding His blood as the sacrifice for sin. He rose bodily from the dead, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and serves as the one mediator between God and mankind. We believe He will return in glory to judge the living and the dead.
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, fully divine and equal with the Father and the Son.
We believe the Holy Spirit sovereignly brings about regeneration, unites believers to the body of Christ at conversion, and indwells, sanctifies, instructs, and empowers them for godly living and service. He distributes spiritual gifts to believers for the equipping of the saints and the building up of the body of Christ.
Creation and Mankind
We believe God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. His creation reveals His power, wisdom, and divine nature. We believe God created mankind in His image, giving every human life inherent dignity and value.
Sin and Salvation
We believe all people are sinners by nature and by choice, separated from God and deserving of His righteous judgment.
We believe salvation is the free gift of God's grace, received through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone. Sinners are justified before God solely through the righteousness and finished work of Christ, not by their own good works or merit.
We believe regeneration is the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit, bringing spiritual life to those who were dead in sin. Genuine saving faith produces a growing desire for righteousness, obedience, and good works as the Holy Spirit sanctifies the believer.
The Church
We believe all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are united by the Holy Spirit into one spiritual body, the Church, of which Christ is the Head.
The Church exists to glorify God through worship, the teaching of and instruction of Scripture, fellowship, discipleship, and the fulfillment of Christ's Great Commission.
The Resurrection and Eternal Destiny
We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost: the saved to eternal life in the presence of God, and the lost to everlasting punishment.
Our Commitment to Christian Unity
The curriculum and staff of Training Hearts for Jesus seek to maintain unity among believers who affirm the essential doctrines of the Christian faith.
For this reason, we avoid taking positions in our teaching on secondary doctrinal matters that commonly divide evangelical Christians, including the mode of baptism, differing understandings of communion, the manifestation of spiritual gifts, and interpretations of end-times prophecy.
We encourage parents participating in our classes to extend the same consideration to one another.
Legal Notices and Disclaimers
Copyright and Course Materials
Training Hearts for Jesus uses certain teaching materials with permission from authors Tedd Tripp and Reb Bradley.
The Shepherding a Child's Heart video series is copyrighted by Shepherd Press and is used with permission from Tedd Tripp for instructional purposes in conjunction with the book Shepherding a Child's Heart and the Training Hearts for Jesus curriculum.
These materials are provided exclusively for the personal study and participation of students enrolled in Training Hearts for Jesus courses. Access to course videos and other restricted materials is limited to authorized students and may be discontinued at the conclusion of each course session.
Unauthorized reproduction, recording, downloading, distribution, or sharing of copyrighted course materials is prohibited without prior written permission from the applicable copyright holder.
Nonprofit Status
Training Hearts for Jesus, Inc. is a California nonprofit corporation recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our ministry is dedicated to helping parents grow in their knowledge and application of biblical parenting principles for the glory of God.
