“Many a time, we can be busy with a lot of responsibilities. But let us not forget, we are not teaching the syllabus, we are teaching people.”

Pastor Zac Zhang of Hearts Alive Church, who spent over a decade as a teacher before going into full-time ministry, said this to some 400 educators at the National Christian Educators Conference (NCEC), held last Monday (December 23).

The second iteration of the conference saw teachers, ranging from early childhood educators to university lecturers, coming together to be encouraged to live out their God-given calling as Christians in the sphere of education.

Acknowledging that being a teacher is exhausting work, Ps Zac, who is part of LoveSingapore’s Winning the Youth sub-committee, urged participants to go back to the reason they first entered the service, and offered three ways they can press on when the going gets tough.

Here is what he said, in his words.

A passion to impact lives

Like many of us, I entered into the profession because I felt like God had called me to impact young lives.

Previously I was in the music industry and the Lord called me out of that and told me to go into teaching. So when I went into teaching, I knew that the Lord wanted me to impact lives. I believe that’s true for many educators.

I went into teaching and started to interact with different students, different parents. I realised that many a time, what they need is so much more than just education. What they need is so much more than what the textbook syllabus can offer.

The National Christian Educators Conference also saw participants breaking out in groups to pray for one another.

The school that I was posted to was quite a neighbourhood, heartland school. Many, many fragmented families. Many, many youths with many, many issues.

I came to know of the situations they faced and got to know their families, and one thing led to another, by the grace of God, I had opportunities outside school to share the life-changing love of God with them.

It was just amazing to see how, when they experienced the love of Christ, their lives and their families, their studies, everything changed. Everything really can change.

“Stamp eternity on my eyeballs”

Friends, I want to say this to all of us here: I believe you went into the service with great passion, to touch lives for Jesus. No matter how you feel about your situation, I want to ask you to not give up.

It was very difficult. You know what I’m talking about. But I remember time after time, like many of you, I’d pray for my students. 

The voice of the Lord spoke to me on so many occasions, and I began to ask myself: “What is the most important thing that I have in my own life that they would benefit from?”

So that’s what I would pray for them. “Lord, let them experience your love.” And I was so happy to see many of their lives transformed. 

Ps Zac closed his sharing by singing a song, Alpha and Omega, to encourage teachers to find strength in God when the going gets tough.

I want to take this opportunity to remind you educators of your first love for Jesus, and your first sense of mission when you entered this profession.

Sometimes I know the work, the tight deadlines and all these things can get the better of us. We are so tired, the last thing we think about is the mission that God has given to us.

I’m always inspired by Jonathan Edwards, sometimes recognised as America’s greatest theologian. He said some very profound words. One of the things he said that really impacted me was: “Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs.”

That really got me thinking. Am I going through my life and prioritising the things in my life properly? I would if I understood them in light of eternity.

In light of eternity, why do you think God called you to be an Christian educator while you are here on Earth? What impact should you have on every student in your classroom?

How to keep going

I want to leave you very quickly with three key points that really helped me when I was a teacher.

1. Keep fanning your fire

Don’t lose your fire for Jesus. I know in the midst of the busyness, it’s so easy to feel tired and give excuses for ourselves. But I believe the fire of God can keep us going. Don’t lose your fire for Jesus. Keep fanning the fire.

2. Keep forging meaningful relationships

Many a time, we can be busy with a lot of responsibilities. But let us not forget: We are not teaching a syllabus, we are teaching people.

There is not one student whose eyes you look into, who doesn’t matter to Jesus. There is not one student that you will ever teach that Jesus didn’t want to go to the Cross for.

Keep forging relationships. Even better if you can forge meaningful relationships with the parents.

3. Keep following the Spirit of God

Wherever the Spirit of God leads you, whatever the Spirit of God tells you to do, will you dare – will you be willing to say – “Jesus, here I am. Use me!”

I believe that when we see our work in light of the mission that God has given to us, it will bring new life, it will bring new vitality, it will bring new purpose, to everything that we do.

Sometimes in the journey it can get lonely and it can get discouraging. I want to take this opportunity to encourage all my fellow brothers and sisters here, my fellow teachers here: No matter what you’re going through, God is with you. Jesus is walking with you.

He is with you in every classroom. He’s with you in every counselling session. He’s with you in every late-night marking time. He’s with you.

Do not be discouraged. You are never alone!

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