Why is discipleship an essential part of Christian education?

[Austin]

I think that disciple ship is taking time to invest in the life of another person for the purpose of encouraging them in their walk with the Lord. As a Christian Educator, if we are living out our Biblical World view and our Christian Philosophy of Education then we will be discipling those believers that are sitting in our classrooms. They will be witnessing every day our testimony of giving our time and talents to help each of them grow to be the best student and follower of Christ they can be. For those students who have not trusted the Lord as Savior. Our daily walk and talk with them should make them thirst for what we have. We need to be purposeful in presenting the Gospel, repeating Biblical principals, presenting the Gospel, and repeating scripture, to the point that our students expect to hear it, can recite it, and eventually trust it for their own lives.

So, as I am contemplating all of this, my view is changing a bit on mentoring my students. As a High School teacher, I saw my role clearly as a mentor, fostering growth in the older students that I was ministering to. Preparing them for life beyond High School and giving them the tools and support to walk humbly with our Lord. Now, I am starting to see that even my 7-8 year olds are being mentored. It is in a different way and age appropriate level, but I am doing more than just planting seeds in their hearts and minds.