If you’ve been to your familiar department store lately, you’ve seen the plethora of “Back to School” displays. I’m usually a passive observer, but this year’s display struck a different chord with me. This month, I’m about to become the father of a school-age child for the first time. My wife, Lindsay, and I are sending our eldest child, Quinn, to kindergarten, so to say I had different feelings when I saw this display would be a massive understatement. Our little girl, who turns six in September, is preparing for the rite of passage that all young people go through. Standing on her own two feet and figuring out who she is, away from the friendly circle of the family that has raised her up to this point, is one of the first steps toward independence.

Of course I’m biased, but I believe Quinn will do fantastic in school. She was able to attend a wonderful preschool program at First Baptist Church Lumberton Early Childhood Ministry, which has given her the skills she needs to get off to a great start. She is inquisitive, curious, and detail-oriented. I’m not worried about her. I have my reservations about her parents.

Still, I am very happy for her that she has the opportunity to begin her formal education. Admittedly, I loved school as a child and have remained a student as an adult, earning my bachelor’s, master’s, and now my doctorate. I believe that education can open doors for people, not only financially or professionally, but also to better understand who God created them to be.

For me, a life of curiosity and a life of faith go hand in hand. From the beginning, God emphasized the importance of teaching the young people of the church so that they could grow in their faith (Deuteronomy 11:18-21). We hear references to the pursuit of wisdom throughout Scripture, such as in Proverbs: “Smart people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open to knowledge” (18:15); in Psalms: “I believe in your commandments; now teach me discernment and knowledge” (119:66); and in the New Testament through mentor-mentee relationships, such as the apostle Paul with his young students in the faith like Timothy. The most prominent example of this teacher-student relationship is, of course, Jesus and his disciples. In his teaching, especially in his parables but also in his other discourses, Jesus liked to take people’s everyday experiences, such as farming, and use them to make a point about the human condition and the truth about who God is. This allowed them to expand both their knowledge of the world around them and the Spirit of God within them.

So when I think about educational opportunities, I don’t see much difference between seeking knowledge and seeking one’s faith. Sometimes people try to portray the two as being in opposition to each other, but I think if we don’t expand our knowledge of the world around us, we inhibit the potential knowledge we can gain about ourselves and, in turn, about the variety of ways God created us.

For example, I worry that the increasing decline of the creative arts (theater, dance, visual arts, choir, band, etc.) in so many of our schools may prevent a child from discovering the gift of music that God has placed within them. I worry that without the necessary support of school personnel such as bus drivers or teaching assistants, a child may not have the chance to grasp the intricacies of God’s creation as seen in photosynthesis and thus discover the joy of working with the earth that God created. I am frustrated that our teachers and educators often have to reach into their own pockets to purchase materials to help a child learn the joy of telling beautiful stories, not just about fictional characters they dream up from the breadth of their God-given imaginations, but may also limit their ability to tell the story of God’s goodness in their own lives.

People of faith and their respective worshipping congregations are in a unique position to support our local schools and educators, no matter what form the educational process takes. This support can go beyond simply purchasing materials and can include supporting and advocating for the work of our teachers and staff. We can be their cheerleaders when so much tries to tear them down. We can be their voice to the leaders of our communities and political chambers to ensure they have everything they need to do their jobs. As followers of a Lord whose earthly ministry was built on teaching, we can highlight the importance of this role and the brave servants who take on the office of educator, rather than devaluing it as something that can so easily be dismissed.

As so many residents of our community prepare to return to school this month as students, teachers, coaches, administrators or staff, I invite you to pray for each of them. From our community colleges to child care centers, pray for them. Perhaps educate yourself on the needs of our various educational communities. Take the opportunity to speak to the educators in your respective congregations or communities and thank them for what they do. For remember, we are all students, aren’t we? Hopefully, each day we place ourselves at the feet of our greatest Teacher, Jesus of Nazareth. For as Jesus himself said, “He who loves me will obey my teachings” (John 14:23, NIV). May we all be faithful students of our divine Teacher.