Flourishing Schools: A Vision for Christian Education

The Converge Conference: Stories of God’s Work Through Christian Education 

Attending the Converge Conference was an unforgettable experience. Not only did I have the chance to be with almost 800 school leaders from more than 20 countries, but I also had the privilege to reconnect with some school leaders from several parts of the world: Africa, Latin America, and Asia. As I listened to Christian leaders worldwide, I was deeply moved by the stories of God’s work in Christian education. This conversation renewed my commitment and encouraged me even more to be an active agent in expanding global Christian education with my role as a researcher. Every conversation that I had reminded me that despite all of the challenges that many Christian schools around the globe are facing, —political restrictions, financial constraints, educator shortages, and societal pressures, God is still working to expand His kingdom through His faithful people around the world. Amidst the challenges, these school leaders are still committed to not only leading their schools but also to help them flourish as God intends.  

This concept of flourishing is not only Biblical but also important for Christian schooling. Many different parts of the bible mention this concept of Flourishing, and in particular Psalm 115:14 says, “May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children”. Also noted in scripture, Jesus told His disciples to always bear the fruit as they remain in Him (John 15:5b). Since this concept of flourishing is important, it led me to reflect more deeply as to what it means to be a flourishing school especially among Christin schools in challenging areas around the world. How different can the concept of flourishing look from one context to another? What are some of the common threads of flourishing that we can observe in Christian schools around the globe? Or what are the essential characteristics that define a thriving Christian school? Does flourishing simply mean that schools have great academic outcomes for students, or does it go beyond that? All of these questions are important and sometimes hard to answer. But that does not mean that we cannot start a conversation about this important topic. When it comes down to the concept of “Flourishing” in Christian schooling, I believe there is no better place to start than looking at years of research that ACSI has been doing in the past decade.  

What Does It Mean for a Christian School to Flourish? 

The concept of flourishing in education extends beyond good grades or well-run programs. According to research by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), flourishing schools demonstrate excellence in five key domains: 

1. Purpose – This domain captures which aspect of Christian schooling fundamentally makes it distinctive from other forms of schooling (Hull, 2003). It grapples with several questions, such as, how does every aspect of Christian schooling contribute to the true purpose of Christian education? How is Biblical integration in Christian schooling reflected in the way the teachers teach the students? How does instruction in the classroom utilize holistic teaching that not only shapes the worldview of students but helps students with their questions about faith in the process of their spiritual formation? In short, Christian schooling can help students understand their calling in the context of God’s greater story. 

    

2. Relationships – This domain highlights the importance of a relational nature in Christian schools. Flourishing schools require comprehensive support and engagement from all Christian school community members in faithfully carrying out their calling to educate children. Even Jesus established a strong relationship with his disciples to do the Lord’s work while he was doing his ministry on earth. It is then understandable that this high calling through Christian education cannot be done alone, but rather through meaningful relationships within the school community. Therefore, relationships, mentoring, engagement, and broader community support should be a backbone for thriving and flourishing Christian schools. 

    

3. Teaching & Learning – Learning is a long-life process, and while school is a place to educate children––school leaders, teachers, parents, and all Christian school communities are also expected to learn and grow if we want Christian schools to flourish. This growth mindset of being open to feedback and learning is essential for a flourishing Christian school community. Therefore, schools that flourish emphasize professional development, encourage feedback among teachers, and adapt learning methods to meet diverse student needs. 

    

4. Expertise & Resources – Undeniably, we can all flourish if we have reliable expertise and enough resources. Studies have mentioned how one of the most common barriers for schools to grow and improve is the lack of qualified staff and educators and poor quality of instruction. Passion for teaching can help, but passion without skills can fall short, too. To effectively cultivate this flourishing culture in schools, we cannot deny that high-quality instruction, well-trained educators, and well-managed resources are some of the essential keys to creating a conducive environment for student learning and excellent outcomes. 

    

5. Well-Being – Whether we want to admit it or not, being an educator is one of the most demanding jobs in the world. Schools give educators a few months of summer break in a year for a reason. But in all seriousness, in this challenging field of Christian education, taking care of one's intellectual, emotional, and physical being is essential. Maintaining a work-life balance benefits educators personally and affects students' outcomes. Studies have shown how poor well-being among educators has led to a hostile school climate in schools, high turnover among teachers and school leaders, burnout, and poor student outcomes both academically and behaviorally. We do not want to take this lightly since the holistic health of students and staff plays a vital role in school success. Ultimately, ONLY a flourishing educator can help students flourish (Luke 6:40) and create a flourishing culture, which is important in Christian schools. 

    

While this pillar provides a framework for the characteristics of flourishing Christian schools, we cannot deny that what flourishing schools look like in different parts of the world can be slightly different. These differences can be attributed to cultural, economic, political, and societal differences. For instance, in a collectivist society where social cohesion is key, flourishing schools can be seen as Christian schools that have strong bonds with the communities, while in a more individualistic culture, that might not be the case. The point is that while this framework of flourishing is essential for Christian schools across the globe, the implementation of it should always be contextualized or localized.  

Reflections on the Call to Flourish 

As I reflected on stories I heard through the Converge conference, I couldn't help but realize that flourishing is not about achieving perfection—it is about continuous growth and faithfulness to God's calling. Our flourishing schools do not necessarily have the best teachers, the most qualified leaders, or the highest student test scores. Don't get me wrong, all of those are great. But I genuinely believe that truly flourishing schools are Christian schools that are committed to their calling, striving their very best to expand God's kingdom through education, serving their school community according to its needs, and stewarding all available resources to the glory of God. All of this effort to achieve flourishing schools takes commitment and intentionality. Flourishing is all about a journey that the school community walks in step with one another. God calls us to encourage each other and support each other in this journey. May God, the source of wisdom and strength, enable us to be faithful in uplifting one another as we strengthen our calling and work towards thriving and flourishing Christian schools within our own contexts across the globe.   

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To support schools in this journey, ACSI provides valuable tools to evaluate and enhance their flourishing school condition. Schools can assess their growth using the Flourishing School Culture Instrument (FSCI) and the Flourishing Faith Instrument (FFI) or their bundle here. These instruments offer insights that help schools strengthen their mission and impact. For more information or to purchase these tools, please email research@acsi.org.