ONE TEAM, ONE PURPOSE: Celebrating Our Calling as Christian Educators

As we approach Teacher Appreciation Week, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to be a Christian educator. For many of us, teaching is more than just a job; it’s a calling and a ministry. It provides an opportunity to make a difference not only in the minds of our students but also in their hearts and lives. Thankfully, we don’t have to do this alone.

VEM’s theme this year for Teacher Appreciation Week is One Team, One Purpose. It reminds us that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves. We are a team. We are united by a shared purpose—to honor God through the way we teach, lead, and love.

Micah 6:8 has been a verse on which I have reflected often. "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." It’s such a clear, yet profound reminder of what God values and what He calls us to live out. For Christian educators, this verse feels like a spiritual job description, one that should guide not only how we teach but also how we live and love in our schools. What might that look like?

We Act Justly – Together

Justice in education is so much more than simply being fair. It’s about seeing each student as having been made in the image of God. Justice requires making sure every child knows they belong. I remember one day on the playground a student was sitting alone while the others played a soccer game. One of the teacher assistants with whom I was working noticed and gently encouraged a group of kids to invite him in. Not only did they include him, but they also made sure he scored a goal!

That moment of intentional inclusion shifted the dynamic of the whole group. It reminded me how small acts of justice can create a culture of belonging. That’s what it means to act justly. As a team, we should hold each other accountable to this standard. We should lift one another up when the work gets hard. We must commit to being just in our actions and attitudes.

“Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!”  Psalm 106:3, ESV

We Love Mercy – Together

Mercy is the heartbeat of Christ, and it should be the heartbeat of our teaching and interaction with others. Mercy shows up in the small moments (e.g., when we choose grace over judgment or when we give that extra bit of patience or understanding). I once witnessed a powerful example of this when a colleague found out that another teacher had been speaking negatively about her. Instead of retaliating or holding a grudge, she prayed about the situation and decided to forgive her peer. She approached the other teacher with kindness, had a respectful and honest conversation, and extended grace.

Their relationship slowly healed over time. What began as tension turned into mutual understanding and even collaboration. That kind of mercy doesn’t just change situations—it transforms hearts. I’ve seen it firsthand, and what better time than Teacher Appreciation Week to extend that same mercy to one another through encouragement, prayer, and kindness!

Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36, ESV

We Walk Humbly – Together

Humility means recognizing that we don’t have all the answers—and being okay with that. We walk humbly when we pray before we plan, listen before we speak, and trust God with the things we can’t control. In this work, we lean on each other and on the Lord, knowing our true strength comes from Him.

Across the country, Christian educators are gathering—before the bell rings or after the day winds down—to pray together, study His Word, share their struggles, lift each other up, and remind one another that God is in control. These sacred moments create a bond that runs deeper than curriculum or a classroom strategy. In a profession that often pressures us to have it all together, humility is a quiet, powerful act of faith. I believe nothing honors God more than a humble heart, simply doing what is right one day at a time.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:10, CEB

One Team. One Purpose. One God.

During this Teacher Appreciation Week, let’s remind each other of the incredible work we’re called to do. Let’s celebrate not just what we do, but who we are—beloved children of God on a mission to love, serve, and teach with excellence. Let’s behave in a way that brings Him honor. Let’s uplift one another not only with gifts and kind words but by living out Micah 6:8 in our classrooms, our meetings, and our everyday moments. Together, we are more than educators. We are ministers of truth and ambassadors of grace. We are one team with one purpose: to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.

Thank you for every prayer whispered before class, every word of encouragement spoken, and every moment you chose grace over frustration. You are doing Kingdom work, and you’re never doing it alone. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! We here at Victorious Educator Ministries are so honored to be on this journey with you. Please join us in our Facebook Group next week as we celebrate you with fun posts and giveaways! One Team, One Purpose!

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