As a Christian educator, I am often led to think I am here to serve Christ by making a difference for everyone I meet. I hear stories of how a fellow Christian or pastor leads hundreds to Christ, serving in faraway places to spread the Gospel. Even though we cannot overtly preach the Gospel in schools, I feel we can impact countless students in education. Most of our students come into our classrooms willing to trust our guidance and follow almost everything we tell them. We have an enormous responsibility for so many others. However, consider this thought for a moment. What if we are here for the one?
The one student whom we may never realize our service has impacted.
The one staff member who works alongside us on a day-to-day basis.
The one lost sheep Jesus tells us about in Luke 15.
Growing up, I was the son of an Army soldier. Traveling around the world from Army base to Army base was my way of life. What I did not know was one final stop in my father’s career would make such a profound impact on my life. Unable to find a home on or near Ft. Riley, the decision was made to move to Abilene, Kansas, where I would attend Abilene High School. This was a small farming and tourism community in the middle of Kansas with residents who mostly remained there for generations. I was a big city kid, having just arrived in the United States from Berlin, Germany. The culture shock I would face was overwhelming. What did my father get me into?
My grades were not the greatest, and having just arrived, I had few, if any, deep friendships. The hard truth was I really did not care about much in life. Having never attended church as a family, I was never given the opportunity to learn the grace of Christ. Although I did not know it at the time, it all began to change when one Christian teacher was more concerned about me than I had experienced in years. Sitting with my parents at conferences, she explained how I could do much more. She felt I was smart and could excel in class if I put my mind to it. She saw through the rough exterior to the potential within.
When my parents explained this to me after arriving home later that night, I could only look at them and agree with what she said. I could do more; I knew it. This conversation was all it took to spark a newfound determination in my life. Looking around at my incredibly talented classmates, I realized I needed to catch up. They talked about college and what they would do in life while I was too busy trying to avoid homework and studying. At that point, I understood I must make a change.
Hard work, college prep classes, and a dedication I had never seen before took me to new heights. After graduating high school and watching my parents move back overseas, I began to attend college and eventually major in education. I would like to say I became a Christian immediately, but that would come later. I feel the Lord had more growth planned for me to make me a stronger man and eventually have a deeper relationship with Him. He wanted all of me, but at the time, I was still more enamored by the things of this world.
What I thought at the time was a chance meeting in a college class turned out to be the first step toward finding Jesus. Meeting a strong Christian woman and watching how she lived her faith caused me to rethink my life. She had no doubt that Jesus was her Savior, and her faith in Him directed her everyday life. I watched as her faith directed her in every decision.
After beginning to attend church with her, I did not know it then, but my salvation became the focus of so many in that little church. They were dedicated to the one lost sheep who needed Jesus. I am sure they all had so many more worries they could have focused on, but they were faithful in praying for me. After constant prayer and support for about six months, I accepted Christ. I know there was a celebration in Heaven that day because there was outright joy in the little church for the one lost sheep that was found.
This year marks my thirty-second in education. I have understood during that time I am in this position for one reason, and that is to serve Jesus. He directs every aspect of my life, including at school, often allowing me to be in situations that help me grow. I have had the opportunity to serve as a principal for the last seventeen years, leading from a Christian perspective. I quietly pray for my students, teachers, and staff whenever the Lord directs me. This also means taking every opportunity to honor Him through serving my school family. I have spent many days celebrating with my students and staff; I have also had times when we had to work through broken hearts and tears. Through all of this, I know He has been with me. The one thing He asks me to do is be obedient and serve, and through that service, I can only continue to pray that He uses me to reach the one lost sheep.
Today, I spend much of my free time on my hobby of writing stories. Even though I grew up unable to write or spell, the Lord has blessed me by turning these stories into four Christian fiction books. My philosophy in my books is the same as being a Christian educator. If my hours of work impact just one person, it is all worth it. That single lost sheep could be the only reason I am here. In reality, I may never know what will come of my serving Him. It may lead countless others to Christ, or it may be for just one. The human side of me would love to say my life has been one of leading others to Christ and filling church pews full of those who want to know more, but the truth is, in everything I do, I feel led to serve the one lost sheep.
For the record, I emailed that one high school teacher and thanked her for the time she gave me in her class. She was not afraid to risk leaving the ninety-nine and guiding the one. Would she ever have known at the time her service would be blessed by the Lord to further impact others?
Jesus calls us to serve Him. It is not up to us to determine what that will look like. We are only called to be obedient and follow His direction. When we are frustrated and tired, wanting to know if we are making any sort of impact, know that the Creator of the universe has placed you in that specific place and time to serve Him. You may never know the impact of your obedience, but He can see it. So, pray for guidance, go out into the world, and be willing to serve Him. You may never know the impact you make by leaving the ninety-nine and tending to the one lost sheep.
Jesus told them this story: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” Luke 15:3-7