This year, our theme has been “My Life – God’s Story.” The term “God’s Story” is used to describe God’s grand narrative and work of creation, humanity’s fall into sin, the redemption offered through Jesus Christ, and the restoration of God’s kingdom.
Teaching with intentional faith integration means students learn more about God and His story in every discipline. Academic excellence allows students to pursue deep content knowledge and skills with a purpose and meaning. For example, in geometry class, students’ objective is to recognize and appreciate the geometric design and structure in God’s creation. In English class, students learn to analyze how the narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration is represented in a fictional novel in order to discern this narrative more clearly in the world around us.
We also recognize this narrative is not merely contained in past events. Our immense privilege is to be “God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). God is still creating in and through us, and we fall short of His glory daily. Christ continues His redeeming work in us and our community, and the Holy Spirit works to restore our relationships and our efforts for God’s glory.
Living out God’s story means learning is active and connected to the world beyond the classroom.
Our vision is to equip students with skills and competencies to help them practice living their role in God’s grand narrative through formational learning experiences that go beyond the classroom. Some examples of these experiences are described in this March 2020 edition of the Pilgrim Journey. As we continue to transform our teaching, students are given opportunities to live out their role as they engage and transform the world with and for Jesus Christ.
by Andrew Kleyn, Middle School and High School Principal
