Multiplying Kingdom Impact in Indonesia Through Christian School Leadership

By Josh Worden 

When ACSI launched Paths to School Improvement (PSI) in 2017, the goal was to equip Christian educators with practical tools, biblical foundations, and sustainable systems that could strengthen entire communities through local leadership. 

Today, PSI operates in 14 countries, with three additional nations preparing to launch the program. PSI first took root across Africa and expanded into its second continent in 2025 when ACSI Asia Pacific introduced PSI in Indonesia. 

In the short time since, PSI has grown immensely in Indonesia. There are four cohorts being conducted, with 28 schools and 113 leaders in the training. There are 25 certified trainers leading the way. 

“These are incredible numbers given they've only started this past year,” said Dr. Debbie MacCullough, ACSI Senior Advisor of Global Credentialing and Professional Development. MacCullough helped start PSI and co-authored the training. 

A recent four-day PSI training in Indonesia brought together Christian educators seeking practical strategies for school improvement. Many left with something even more profound: renewed confidence in God's calling and a clearer vision for leading schools where Christ remains at the center. 

The experience felt deeply personal for Christian Ricky Berlian, an English teacher at Sekolah Kristen Masehi (“Masehi Christian School”) in Temanggung, Indonesia. 

"I am truly grateful to God because I believe this is not a coincidence," he reflected. "For me, this is God's plan—a plan He has prepared for me, as well as for the teachers and staff at our school." 

Rather than viewing the training as merely professional development, Berlian saw it as preparation for leadership that God had already ordained. 

"I believe that everything I have received has already been ordained by God for us as future leaders and current leaders in our respective schools,” he shared. 

One of the greatest blessings for Berlian was collaborating and discussing ideas with educators from other schools. 

 "We were able to exchange experiences, share stories, and talk about the challenges each of us faces in our own schools," Berlian said. “I realized I am not alone. There are other friends and colleagues who face challenges similar to mine, and in some cases even greater ones. I am so thankful that I could share with them. It was truly an extraordinary experience." 

Jessica Hostiadi attended the training from Rhema En Cara School in Sentul City, Indonesia. Her main takeaway was immediately practical. 

"Over these four days, I learned that many of the ideas I had been thinking about all along actually need to be documented," she explained. "I realized that I either didn't have those documents or that they were scattered in different places. Through this training, I came to understand that these materials should all be organized in one place where they can be easily accessed." 

That realization reflects one of PSI's central strengths. Rather than simply inspiring leaders, the program helps schools build organized, sustainable systems that outlast any one individual. Strong documentation and clear policies enable schools to remain healthy for years to come while supporting excellence in Christ-centered education. 

For Ocvalien Marien, Vice Principal for Curriculum at Sekolah Kristen Lentera (“Lentera Christian School”) in Ambarawa, Indonesia, the training reinforced both theological conviction and practical action. 

"I feel that I gained a great deal of inspiration, especially regarding the integration of faith and learning," she reflected. "We have Bible-based integration as part of our curriculum, and this training strengthened our understanding of it even more." 

As her team gathered to discuss next steps and implementation strategies, Marien was struck by how educators across various departments at her school all looked forward to putting the training into practice. 

"We realized how important it is to create a clear guide for our school, especially for parents as we prepare for the new school year," she said. "As we began developing it, we recognized that it is a major task—something we truly must accomplish. It cannot remain just an idea or a concept. It has to become a reality." 

Indonesia's four cohorts—two in Salatiga, one in Bandung, and one in Jakarta—demonstrate exactly what the program was created to accomplish. Local educators are strengthening their schools in ways that reflect their own culture and language while remaining firmly rooted in biblical truth. 

Since PSI includes a multi-step process, each participant has a practical roadmap ahead of them. Each educator returns to their school with a clearer vision for Christ-centered leadership that can multiply. 

A strengthened leader influences a faculty. 

A strengthened faculty shapes many students.  

A strengthened student body transforms a community.