As a Christian school leader, do you ever wonder how you find yourself in certain complicated conversations? I do. A lot of these conversations can be emotionally charged and have layers of misunderstandings in them. Obviously, we do not always leave these conversations with a settled spirit and thanking God for the opportunity. However, I am working on considering these moments as a privilege—a chance for a positive exchange.
When I think of conversations with families I have had at our school about Covid and/or vaccinations, LGBTQ complexities, parenting styles, theological/doctrinal viewpoints, politics, playing time for their child, bus routes, teachers, the problems with “other” students, tuition rates, etc. (side note: does anyone care about pedagogy or instruction anymore?), it can become disheartening that we have so many ways in which we can be misaligned. Sometimes I become grumpy about the position the school, represented by its leader, finds itself in. I even say things like, “What does it matter what I think?”. However, God has recently reminded me that it does matter what I think and how I interact with those around me. He has challenged me with the idea of Christian schools being like trading posts or cultural centres along people’s journey.
This made me reflect on historical trade and culture setting paths, like the Silk Road. The Silk Road was a network of trade routes used for around 1500 years that allowed for trade and cultural exchange between China, the Middle East, and Europe. When people stopped to do business it was not simply an exchange of items but there was also a cultural/ideas exchange as people interacted with those who looked and believed differently than they did. These moments would provide a traveller an opportunity to solidify their thinking and/or be challenged to think more broadly.
I believe our Christian schools are uniquely positioned to do just this in our day and age. Our schools can be echo chambers of thought and tribal in their practices. They can be open to dialogue filled with wonder and curiosity about the issues of the day. Or they can be somewhere in between as they wrestle with their positions along the trade route of life. No matter where your school finds itself in the spectrum this next statement is true: You will have a Kingdom impact on the people that experience your school. What would you like that exchange to feel like or look like?
Josiah Queen has a song called “Garden in Manhattan” that provides some great phrases to answer that exact question. Christian schools should be the juxtaposition to our current culture. People should notice that an exchange with your school is very different from everyday culture. Our interactions, with all who come into contact with us, are a window into our relationship with Jesus Christ. People will see Jesus through us…what a responsibility! I urge you to listen to this upbeat song and pray to God that He allows your school to reflect the chorus of this song in Jesus’ name:
I'll be a garden in Manhattan
Be a river where it's dry
When my friends can't find the road
I'll be a roadside welcome sign
Sunshine in Seattle, be a cool breeze in July
Light in the darkness, I'll be a garden
A garden in Manhattan
A garden in Manhattan
A flower in the concrete
If that's where You want me
Ken VanMinnen is the Bluewater cohort leader for Edvance, and Principal at Chatham Christian School.