Train a child in the way they should go...

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” -- Proverbs 22:6

It is with that question as a starting point that I approach my days at King’s. How can we help the students become connected to the God of the Universe who desires an on-going, intimate, all-encompassing relationship with each of us? How can we encourage them to walk through life with an awareness of God? How can we spiritually train, in such a way that they won’t turn away?

The responsibility to bring spiritual guidance and direction to children is an important role and essential to their future. The school vision is “Educating for Life.” This means caring for the whole person; academically, relationally, emotionally, and spiritually. Each of those areas comes with a unique responsibility and a different degree of interaction.

This year at King’s I have been invited to be a part of the spiritual development of the students as the Christian Life Facilitator. My four main areas of responsibility are: chapel co-ordination, small group facilitator, soul care (spiritual counseling), and community outreach organization. It has been really great to come alongside the staff in helping students consider their spiritual lives. And really, at a Christian school, the spiritual development of the students should be (and is) a key area of interest.

I started with a very popular verse from Proverbs. It speaks of the lasting benefit of investing in the lives of children. For a moment, however, let’s consider the alternative to the above verse:

I can’t imagine the thought of leaving a child’s future to chance. Of turning them loose in a world without giving them the tools needed to succeed in that world. We already teach them about hygiene, honesty, responsibility, manners, Math, athletics, Science, Literature, the environment, and so on. But in so many ways I wonder… what can we really do spiritually that will help them for the rest of their lives?

As a parent and pastor, I am eager to invest in the lives of those whom God brings across my path. The promise of Proverbs is that our efforts will not return empty. So let’s make it our mission to breath spiritual life into these students. To help prepare them for a world which seems to suck the life right out of them. We are all encouraged to be faithful with the time He has given us with these precious, and impressionable young lives. God help us as we do our best to “Educate for Life.”

Kenny Toews is the Christian Life Facilitator at King’s Christian School. He is an ordained minister who works full-time in the construction industry. Feel free to contact him if you have comments, questions, or concerns about the spiritual component of KCS.