Even if it takes 20 years...let's start!

“Many teachers keep asking us, is there a Christian curriculum? ”

As a teacher of teachers who serve Christ in Nigeria, I explore with my students what is means to teach Christianly.  At seminars and workshops that I lead, this is a common question that comes up. Is there a Christian curriculum? My answer to that is YES and NO. When we look at what is means to teach Christianly, we are talking about having a Biblical worldview.  We are talking about what it means to put on the eyeglasses of scripture – a prescription which allows us to see the world more clearly and make sense of it. 

As we look at the story of God and his people through these lenses, we see the unfolding of its chapters: creation, fall, redemption, restoration.  Our passion for teaching is reflected in this story. 

What does this have to do with curriculum?  Our eyeglasses challenge us to see this world from God’s perspective.  Learning about this world means learning math, science, English, and history.  It also means learning much more.  These subjects give us the tools to explore God’s created intent for cultivation and creativity, for relationships and ratios.  These subjects give us the tools to explore brokenness - how our world has been broken and what our roles and responsibilities are as children of God in restoring the brokenness we encounter.  We are empowered to ask questions like: “What is true?” 

 Here in Nigeria we have a “curriculum” put out by the ministry of education that we are expected to teach.  And so we ask…how can we view that curriculum in light of God’s story?  Or better yet, how does God’s story shape this curriculum?

We have a long way to go in thinking about these questions.  Our dream is to work with teachers to develop a “curriculum” that will assist teachers in this task.

Last week, I met with ACSI Nigeria to start developing an action plan for how we can make this happen.  Mrs. Akinyemiju, the director, shared: “We have a long ways to go in understanding and developing such material.  But even if it takes us 20 years, let’s start!”

There has been a teacher resource developed by ACSI Africa to assist teachers and schools with this process.  It’s called “African Occupation: A Manual for the promotion of Biblical Integration”.  We have decided to start there.  Last week we had teachers come together to reflect on Biblical integration in the area of English and Literature.  We expected about 35…and we ended the day with about 70! 

Teachers exchanged ideas and engaged in dialogue about biblical worldview;  teachers shared God’s story; learners talked about truth, about  God’s purpose for reading and writing, for listening and speaking. 

I was encouraged by this ‘start’.  Please join me in praying for teachers to continue to be challenged to think about how God’s story can be taught in their classrooms.  Pray for leaders in ACSI as they develop an action plan for tackling curriculum. Pray for me as I have the opportunity to train and walk with these leaders. And thank God for this beginning.

Called Home.

Today I want to remember with you a missionary who impacted my life.  His name was Joshua Adah. 

I first met Joshua here at my office in the Daniel Centre in Abuja about 6 years ago.  He was training to be a missionary at the Missionary Training Partners International program that has its office and classes here in the Centre. In the years that followed, I learned that Joshua was working as a missionary in a remote village in Taraba state.  He was working with an organization called WayMaker Mission.   WayMaker has a vision for holistic ministry for unreached communities.  Joshua reached out to the Kona people, in a remote location outside of Taraba state’s capital of Jalingo.

Joshua always had a smile on his face.  He was encouraging.  He would come into my office and share with me his ongoing missional work.  I was particularly interested in the school his ministry had started.  This was the topic of many of our conversations. Joshua and his team had secured funds to start a school and offer free education.   A seed took, grew in leaps and bounds, and now the school has 400 students!

A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to lead a training for MTPI on Christian Education.  Joshua was there, and I had the opportunity to catch up with him and talk about our shared passion for Christ-centered education.  Joshua helped to remind me that a village school of 400 children who wonder where their next meal is coming from is quite a different learning environment than a school in the city.  He sought ways to apply the biblical worldview I teach to the work he was doing for his school.  I also had the privilege of meeting his wife Ngozi, and they were able to come to Abuja to attend a leadership conference for teachers organized by ACSI Nigeria. 

I loved his passion for reaching for the unreached.  He was willing to sacrifice the world’s idea of a successful life to seek God's kingdom.  His actions followed his passion.  He moved forward in faith trusting that God would provide.  His life birthed amazing testimonies.  His passion brought people alongside his vision, brothers and sisters who support his vision and sustain it.

On January 23, God called Joshua home.  He was on his way from Jalingo to the village where he was living when his car broke down.  We don’t have details, but I understand that his body was found off of the roadside.  He had been attacked and killed.  A senseless act. 

I am deeply saddened.  I have many questions.  I must rest in the knowledge that God’s ways are higher than mine.  Please join me in praying for the Adah family – Ngozi and their two young daughters.  Pray for comfort in this difficult time.

Pray for the WayMaker Mission established among the Kona people.  The face of missions in Nigeria is changing.  Nigerian Christians are catching a vision and heart for missions.  Most of the front-line missionaries today are Nigerians themselves.  It is far more effective to have Nigerians with a heart for their fellow brothers and sisters serving in remote areas.  But it is not a call readily taken up by many.  Especially those who have graduated from university and have the potential for a successful career that promises wealth and comfort.  Pray that God’s vision that began in the Adah family’s heart would continue.  Pray for people who will rise up to continue the work.  Pray that more people would come to know God’s love for them – in word and in deed.

Pray that each of us will make the most of the time God has given us here on earth.  May we be seekers of His kingdom first.