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“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Each school year brings new faces, new excitement, and new opportunities to connect with others and “build one another up.” As a member of the Liberty Christian School community, I am grateful for these opportunities and look forward to our annual return to campus. As we begin the 2023-24 school year, I’ve taken some time to reflect on the unique nature of our community and the ways in which we can enrich one another’s lives as members of the collective church.

While Liberty Christian School is not, and does not, try to be a church, we do have an opportunity we must take seriously to display the type of unity God calls all believers to, embracing the biblical truth that we are “members one of another” (Ephesians 4:25) and the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14) as part of the corporate body.

As members of our community, we are blessed to have innumerable opportunities to be bold for Christ without significant fear of persecution – something we should not take for granted. We can be an encouragement to each other and to our community daily.

To renew and grow my own appreciation for our Christ-centered campus environment and the joy and blessing it is to experience life in fellowship with other believers, I spoke with several new(er) staff members across our campus to hear what they are already experiencing and appreciating at LCS that makes our campus a special place to work.

In Pre-K, Diane Lesh shared, “The most valuable thing to me about teaching at Liberty is the opportunity to teach truth; not a curriculum or passing fad or opinion. I also find a much healthier classroom community culture which, I think, comes from having common values and goals. I feel genuine partnership with the parents of my students.”

Just next door in Primary School, 2nd grade teacher Nicole Harris told me, “The way campus leadership from the top-down pours into all staff members professionally, spiritually, and personally is unmatched. Liberty truly cares about the whole teacher, just as they do for the whole child. In turn, I am able to be my best self for my students, parents, and co-workers.”

Down the hall in Middle School, Cori Harris said, “I love the ability to encourage, allow and make known connections between God's incredible design of and for life to mathematical truths, problem solving.”

Karen Bland, also in the Middle School, added: “The teaching profession should never be done alone, and I love that I have a team at LCS who are like-minded in terms of their faith and trust in God working in the big things and in the details.”

In the Upper School, English teacher Brandy Gutierrez explained, “It is a breath of fresh air to be on a campus that has high expectations for every student taught to achieve their full potential and be the best there is for the glory of God.  Liberty encourages developing and maintaining a holistic classroom knowing the importance of not only cognitive growth, but physical, emotional, social, and spiritual development.  I have the honor of teaching the whole student and discovering who God has created them to be and this makes my heart happy.”

It was a joy to hear from Taylor Hart in Fine Arts: “Working with students who are passionate about theatre and excited to grow in their talents and faith has been an answered prayer. Being able to integrate our biblical worldview themes and values through our theatre productions has been exceptionally freeing and fulfilling.”

In Athletics, coach Antonio Griffin said that what makes Liberty Christian School special is “the opportunity that we have daily to shed light on the Lord’s Kingdom and His work in our lives. One of the most impactful things that I love is that as a coach I’m able to use my platform to bridge the gap between athletics and ministry at a high level and on a consistent basis.”

Finally, I had the opportunity to hear from new Vice President of Advancement Ryan Barnhart, who shared, “It has been so neat to hear staff praying together and students leading praise and worship for the entire school and at staff devotions. It has been a great experience hearing students talk about being saved at school and/or growing in their faith in Jesus Christ.”

Whether you are new to the Liberty community, considering joining it, or have been part of it for many years, I pray you have been as encouraged in reading their words as I have been. I look forward to partnering with you this year to build each other up in our faith. How will you edify someone in our community and display the unity to which we are called this year?

Michael White serves as an Upper School Bible teacher, Bible Department Chair, and varsity tennis coach at Liberty Christian School.