LEAven Blog

As Lutheran teachers, we should be on the lookout for those who might follow in our footsteps, with a new generation.  We should always be ready to give testimony, in word and deed, to the joys of teaching in a setting where we can proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  As I have mentioned before, teaching has been a “second career” for me, as I was pastor of an LCMS congregation for twelve years before going back to school and getting an MAT degree and being certified to teach.  However, there were seeds planted and watered all along the way; people were, under God’s direction, watering and planting without some of them even knowing it!  I want to briefly remind us of some of the situations where we can plant and water  in the lives of others.

First, be aware that you can influence your students in their eventual following God’s call into teaching.  God can use you and me in our classrooms to help our students see the joys of teaching.  Perhaps they see us as I saw my first Lutheran school teachers, in my middle school years.  I knew they enjoyed what they did, and I knew they joyfully loved and served Jesus!  When we live our faith, others will certainly see and be influenced by us.

Second, although I was on vicarage as part of my Seminary training leading to the pastoral office, the teachers at my vicarage congregation’s school were a part of my decision, a number of years down the road, to enter the field of education.  Their joy in Christ, and the friendships we developed stuck with me, and were part of what God used to turn my head in the direction of teaching. Any of us can exude a consistent enthusiasm for what we do which those we know can’t help but see, and by which they might be influenced. 

Third,  I had many Christian friends who encouraged me to take the leap of faith and make the transition from the pulpit to the classroom.  Who are our Christian friends and peers in our churches, neighborhoods, organizations, who could use a bit of encouragement to look at teaching as a possibility for them?  Is God tugging at our sleeves to go talk with somebody to whom we can help provide encouragement and clarity for making the transition into the classroom?

Thanks be to God for those who have been His agent in our lives, moving us into the teaching ministry in Lutheran schools.  Thanks be to God that He can use us to be His agent in the lives of others!