Here are the insights I got from the conference. I will only focus on the keynotes which impacted me as an educator, although I also learned a lot from others which I won’t mention here. I trust this will encourage you!
ACSI-ICEC ASIA – Teaching Children God’s Truth!
It was a great privilege to be part of the ACSI’s International Children Educators Conference (ICEC) 2013 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. This gave me a rich opportunity to gain a wealth of knowledge about teaching in a Christian school and “Teaching Children God’s Truth,” as this year’s conference theme taken from the scripture of III John chapter 1 verse 4. I remember a question asked at a point early on by Dr. Brian Simmons, ACSI Ex-President, during his first keynote in Cebu, Philippines last October 29-30, 2012 which states, “Are you a Christian teacher or a teacher who teaches Christianly?” Most if not all of the conference participants stayed quiet for a couple of seconds. After the short silence, he clearly dichotomized these two types of educators by giving various concrete examples of how they are different. The Christian teacher just focuses on the label of “Christian” without actually demonstrating the characteristics required to show as an educator in a Christian standpoint. On the other hand, educators who “teach Christianly” passionately demonstrate a Christian standpoint. In his talk, he also emphasized that Christian teachers must not simply settle with the label, but must strive to be Christian teachers who really teach Christianly. In the same view, Dr. William Brown, President of Cedarville University, also emphatically pointed out the significance of a teacher who teaches Christianly to the life of the children. “Teachers are used by God to create students for them to see the world in a Godly-perspective”, if I may quote what he said. Indeed, teachers need to mentor, model for, and coach students things they need to learn academically or non-academically in a manner that honors and glorifies God. As a teacher, my focus is Jesus Christ and my goal is to share the fullness of Him to my students through the scripture and through the way I live out my life. The bible says that our moral obligation as educators is to draw students near to God. I have to instill in their mind and heart not only the Word of God but the God of the Word – His character, His goodness, His mercy, His grace, His love that have to be shown in and through my life! The scripture says we live not of our own but of God! While he was making some further explanations about teaching students in a manner that is Christianly, at the wake of my mind, I have been asking God about how I should start off leading my students to know Jesus Christ. Suddenly, Dr. Brown told a story of a teacher and a young boy student. I cried literally after hearing the story. The teacher showed a loving start by cutting a hole in his sock that led the young boy to know Jesus Christ and more of His love and grace. I realized, “If it takes for me to cut a hole in my sock, I will gladly do so for God in order that my students will come to know who God is through the way I carry out my life as a believer.” I learned that my life not just a teacher but also as a person contributes to my students‟ views about life, world, and God! In another keynote I attentively listened to was by Mr. Mark McCrindle, a Social Researcher and Trends Expert. He logically presented about Changing Time, Emerging Trends, and Timeless Truth. In his talk, he encouraged the teachers to be prepared and equipped in order to counter attack the wiles of worldviews. Students are vulnerable to the emerging trends of the world with views and values being conveyed through technology, demography, generation, society, and even education. As a teacher, I learned that I have to be equipped with Christian values and standards to effectively teach students the truth to attain academic competence, good character and Jesus Christ as the foundation of life. He suggested the 4Rs strategy to caution and win students for Christ. First, be real! Keep everything real as written in the scripture. Sincerity and trust come after truthfulness. Keep God real through your life. Second, be relevant! Show and demonstrate the relevance of the Bible – God’s word – in their lives. Third, be responsive! Allow students to express their opinions or views on things. Let them speak form their hearts. And fourth, be relational! Do things with love and sincerity to your students. Another awesome thought I learned is a keynote from Dr. Tim Stuart, Principal of Singapore American School, which states, “Help students to experience the pain and allow them to walk through it with your loving guidance and sincere care”. Relationship is indeed very important. It builds life; it affects dreams; it touches character; it determines destiny. According to Dr. Tim, “God’s salvation plan for our students is through relationship”. The Bible affirms that relationship is a real-life treasure that should be protected and cared for. God as well solidifies its importance by demonstrating it through his dealings with his disciples and with other people.
With all these wealth of thoughts I’ve learned, I couldn’t forget the idea Dr. Simmons shared during his last keynote in Cebu, Philippines and I quote, “A Christian educator who teaches Christianly helps cultivate a worldview in which God has His rightful place, and they look to the Bible for guidance in answering life’s big questions. These teachers enhance children’s spiritual development in an intentional and nurturing manner.” Additionally, I still remember a phrase Dr. Carl Palmer, an Australian Physics educator, said in one of his talks that certainly painted a smile on my visage, and I quote, “I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.” It’s funny because I usually hear these words in a court trial. In any case, without a doubt, as a Christian educator, it is my duty to tell the whole TRUTH to my students in a respectful and purposeful way. God has placed in my hands His trust for what He has commissioned me to do, and I will do it to the best of my ability. He always reminds me that His words should not depart from my mouth (Joshua 1:8). It is my desire that whatever I do, say, or think will tell to the world that God’s TRUTH is ultimately reliable.
On a final note, it is the cry of my heart (to God) that I may become a Christian teacher equipped with Biblical standards to teach and prepare the future of my students through teaching them the TRUTH, the WHOLE TRUTH, and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, so HELP ME GOD!
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