Whenever I hear the terms “Christian” and “education” together, I can’t help but think of the scene from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off where the teacher is taking roll call. It reminds me of my early experiences learning about the Christian faith in a classroom where the teacher’s delivery was monotonous and dull, the students seemed to prefer anything else over being there, and the material appeared irrelevant. If you are unfamiliar with the clip, click here and close your eyes. Think back to when you may have sat in a similar setting as a teacher droned on and on.
I am being facetious to make my point.
Many individuals who have been Christians for a while may have encountered a disappointing experience with Christian education. Their disappointment can stem from having a dull teacher. However, I suggest that the disappointment likely stems from a misunderstanding of how theology and social sciences can work together to prepare students for living out their faith.
At this level of education, the approach is rooted in Christian principles, merging theology with social sciences to serve the church. This integration aims to create a comprehensive and transformative educational experience grounded in a worldview shaped by evangelical theology. Theology and social sciences work together to enhance each other’s insights, influencing the educational process in a meaningful way.
In James Riley Estep’s article titled “What Makes Education Christian?” he suggests that Christian education should be paradigmatic. This approach is rooted in Christian principles, merging theology with social sciences to serve the church. This integration aims to create a comprehensive and transformative educational experience grounded in a worldview shaped by theology. Theology and social sciences work together to enhance each other’s insights, influencing the educational process in a meaningful way. Estep helps readers understand that “Education is indeed simultaneously Christian and educational in nature due to the thorough integration of the two [theology and social sciences].”[1]
At Revive Wesleyan, we have historically prioritized theological teachings in our Christian education, often neglecting the social science aspects. Revive Wesleyan has effectively shared information but has not traditionally addressed our congregation’s diverse learning styles and educational needs. However, we’ve seen positive changes in recent years.
For example, our Children’s Ministry now provides opportunities for differently abled children to be discipled. Our Mothers of Pre-Schoolers (MOPS) program also creates a supportive community for moms in similar life stages, fostering discipleship. We also offer healing ministries through Revive, aimed at helping individuals recover from life’s challenges. Click here to learn about the available opportunities.
After further review of Revive’s ministries, we recognize the need to improve our men’s and women’s Bible studies. We aim to move away from the current one-size-fits-all structure and adopt a more holistic approach that leans into the social sciences. This new model will combine experiential learning with theological training. We have seen the positive impact of this approach in our MOPS and healing ministries, benefiting those who participate.
[1] James R. Estep, Michael J. Anthony, and Gregg R. Allison, A Theology for Christian Education (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing, 2008), pg. 7, digital version.