Faithful Foundations
Being a Christian teacher is different to the world’s way of being a teacher—or at least it should be. We all know that don’t we? But defining what ‘different’ looks like in practice can be challenging.
As salt, Christians are to permeate, preserve, and enhance their surroundings, and as light, they should shine with integrity and hope. However, in a largely secular or nominally Christian environment, it can be tempting to blend in—yes, being a good employee, avoiding gossip, but perhaps staying largely under the radar—speaking of Jesus only briefly or hesitantly.
In Education, being salt and light is also surely more than just avoiding unbiblical ideologies or taking opportunities to talk about Christianity- as crucial and important as these things are. That’s why, at ACT, we’ve been thinking about what it might look like for Christian teachers to integrate their faith into all aspects of their teaching practice. We’ve been wondering how faith can become an integral part of how we teach. We’ve been asking if it is possible to embed biblically informed principles and pedagogy into our work in a way that remains professional and doesn't manipulate lesson content?
And with analysis of DfE data revealing that a third of teachers who qualified in the last decade have left the profession, and nearly half of current teachers plan to leave within five years, how can Christian teachers buck the trend, take hold of the Bible’s promises and truly flourish as educators despite the myriad of challenges?
Maybe you’ve thought about these questions. Would it help to have someone who listens, encourages, and walks alongside you as you explore them? Or perhaps you have the experience to share with a fellow Christian educator—someone newer to the profession. Perhaps you could join us?
At our church, we often refer to this kind of activity as ‘one anothering’—intentional fellowship and biblical encouragement in pairs or groups. Whether it’s through organised settings like home groups or more informal chats with a Christian friend, these relationships work best when approached as a shared responsibility—an opportunity to grow together in faith. ACT's mentoring scheme, Faithful Foundations, is designed to connect and support Christian education professionals as they explore four topics: the purpose of our work in schools, a Biblical view of the pupil, how to create a classroom environment that embodies the fruit of the Spirit, and impacting school culture for the sake of the gospel.
Our aim is not to replace church-based discipleship but to connect mentors and mentees in small groups to focus on mutual encouragement and growth in our understanding of a vocation in education, grounded in Biblical teaching. Work in schools really matters to God, serving His mission of reconciliation and restoration. Through this mentoring course, we pray to foster a spirit of ‘one anothering,’ helping each other embrace the call to “work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).
Will you join us? The mentoring sessions start in late January and we’d love to welcome you to a group.
Email executiveofficer@christian-teachers.org.uk for more information