An urgent call to a school that needs to stay alive during the last days of earth’s history. [Photo Courtesy of Unión Peruana del Sur]

South America

Being an Adventist Educator for the First Time

An urgent call to a school that needs to remain standing during the last days of the history of the Universe.

Brazil | Josney Prado

After so many biblical accounts and exciting character narratives that made a difference where they were, it is not until Acts 11 that the disciples are called Christians for the first time. And that phrase is not found at the beginning of the chapter, but in the second part of verse 26. This indicates that what comes before verse 26 is possibly the explanation of why they have given that moniker.

Qualified as Christian

There are at least four elements that tell us, according to theologian Amim Rodor, the reason why those who were dispersed based on the death of Stephen were classified as Christians:

1. "And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord" (v. 21, NKJV).

Principle: to believe means to be converted daily.

2. "When [Barnabas] came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with a purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord" (v. 23).

Principle: remain in Christ under any circumstance.

3. Barnabas “was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord ”(v. 24).

Principle: the presence of the Holy Spirit transforms people.

4. “Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people ”(v. 25, 26).

Principle: be in church and teach.

With due differences respected, now thinking about Adventist Education, we could ask the following question: When can you and I be called, for the first time, Adventist educators?

And I add that these characteristics or attitudes should be part of all Christians who, in some way, in their respective spheres of action, help and teach others about the message of the gospel.

Essential Principles

Perhaps you already identify yourself as one, just as the disciples believed that perhaps no other "title" corresponded to them. The fact is that, although the stories are different, the principles for me to be called a Seventh-day Adventist educator is the same:

Principle 1: To believe means to be converted daily. Actually, our school plaque already indicates we are believers, so we don't need to do much to convince people of that. However, only our attitudes within the school can indicate the dimension of our conversion. Being an Adventist educator requires a daily conversion.

Principle 2: Abide in Christ in any circumstance. We are being heavily tested in the last days. Abiding in Christ in the face of so many challenges is the practical phase of conversion. Being an Adventist educator requires staying in Christ and encouraging anyone under His influence to do so as well.

Principle 3: The presence of the Holy Spirit transforms people. The catalyst for the transformation of our students is the presence of the Spirit in the teachers. It goes far beyond whatever pedagogical stream or innovative classroom strategy is being preached out there. Being an Adventist educator requires starting the day by talking and consulting with the greatest Model, the One who will bring light and discernment in the most difficult moments of the day.

Principle 4: Be in church and teach. We are a church before we are a school. It seems contradictory, but the best educator is primarily grounded within the church, not in one’s own classroom collecting the best experiences. Being an Adventist educator requires a church life before a school life.

We can be teachers or employees, just as the world of work sees it. However, we have an even more special invitation from our Master: to be Adventist educators—perhaps in the depth of performance that that title deserves, for the first time.

There is an urgent call to a school that needs to remain standing during the last days of earth’s history—a school that, through its educators that are inspired by these four principles, will become one of the greatest havens established by God for the conversion of humanity.

This article was originally published on the South American Division’s Portuguese news site

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