Hope in Darkness

Engaging Local Schools with the Gospel of Christ

We want to encourage our Christian teachers to share their perspectives from the classroom.

Andrea Mathews teaches ESL & Spanish at North Henderson High School in Hendersonville:

“I admit that I am distracted. As I write, a beloved student is fighting for his life after a drowning incident over the weekend. Anthony is an ESL student from Nicaragua who I have taught in four different classes. I keep replaying fond memories I have of him like when he came to school wearing his “hecho nuevo” t-shirt after he was baptized. He was so excited to tell me about it. Or when another student told me that Anthony invited him to church and led him to Christ. Recently he played the thief on the cross at his church’s Easter play. He showed me pictures and we had a good laugh about how there weren’t enough costumes so he hung from the cross wearing his Dale Earnhardt t-shirt.

Our school is grieving. But because God saved Anthony, I can tell his friends (and myself) that when the doctors say he likely won’t open his eyes again, we don’t have to believe them. Anthony will either open his eyes soon in the ICU or later with his resurrected body. Because of the hope we have in Christ, we aren’t waiting on if he will open his eyes, but when.

Public schools get a bad rap in some Christian communities. Sometimes it’s for good reasons. But I want to push back against the instinct to retreat and instead encourage believers to engage with local schools, taking note of the many opportunities that exist to shine the light of Christ to those who are hurting and walking in darkness.

I wish churches could see what I’ve seen and hear what I’ve heard this week: Students, teachers, and Anthony’s family huddled together in prayer, crying out to the Lord for help. Unbelieving teachers flipping through pages of the Bible to look for encouragement, finally open to talking about faith with their Christian coworkers. Heartbroken teenagers expressing faith that God is in control in the midst of this tragedy as they hand out Gideon Bibles to their friends who are hurting. Believing teachers counseling students who can barely look at Anthony’s empty desk without tears streaming down their face. I cannot imagine our school going through this tragedy without the hope of the gospel that believers have brought to those who are grieving.

But we need more laborers for the harvest. Likely, the schools near your church are filled with people carrying their own unique burdens. They may or may not know Christ. How might you meet their needs and bring hope to their darkness? If you need guidance, reach out to principals and teachers this week. And pray that the Lord would use your congregation to fulfill the great commission in the hallways and classrooms near you.”

{Since this story was written, Anthony has passed away.}

Many of you have contacted us to see about getting a plan together to reach out and establish connections with local public schools. We have a team of teachers who will pray for you and encourage your church. Please contact us if your church would like to get a plan together to reach out to your local public schools.