Page 19 - CC Life 15 2016 Spring

TESTIMONY SECTION
Student Testimony –
My Experience with Christian Education
Kai Lin
Christian Liberal Arts Department
English Major, Class of 2018
What is Christian education? I believe there are three
basic elements to Christian education that cannot be
neglected: love, discipline, and Christian role models.
These three elements are interconnected and inseparable.
Love without discipline is foolishness; discipline without
love leads to exasperation. In addition, any attempt at
Christian Education without role models will collapse.
I was influenced by Christian education during my
primary and elementary school years at Concordia
International School Shanghai (CISS). Those years set
the foundations of my English language ability. More
importantly, it was there I started to learn the importance
of respecting others, including those who are different.
One of the most profound memories of my time at CISS
is how they handled a situation with a student who was a
little retarded. Students often made fun of her. Our teacher
disciplined such behavior, showing us that people who are
different must still be treated with respect. I learned about practicing Christian education wherever I
religious tolerance by listening to one of my teachers
talking to a Buddhist classmate. The teachers there spent
time not only loving us and preparing us academically but
also building our confidence and disciplining us to grow
in the right way. Those few years of Christian education
planted seeds inside me which have grown over the years.
My experience with Christian education was expanded
when I became a freshman at Christ’s College Taipei
(CCT). My dorm room was not the ideal environment, but
God put me there for a reason. Even though I complained
to Him and to others about how agonizing it was for me
to stay there, I cannot deny the fact that God was the One
who guided me every step of the way and even dragged
me at times! One of the valuable lessons God has taught
me is that I must learn to trust Him in times
of suffering, for God will bring good out of
bad experiences.
Christian education does not always come
in the form of academics. Although it was
extremely beneficial for me to attend classes
that were integrated with Biblical teachings,
the biggest benefit of the Christian education
at CCT has come through a select few
students who never cease to amaze me and
through teachers who love us. The clearest
picture of Christian Education has been the
people of faith, character, knowledge, and
competency who model Christian Education
daily. Being at CCT has changed me.
Yet, it would be a great error to think
that Christian education can only happen
in schools. After all, what is Christian
education? It’s teaching others to become
more like Christ. As a Christian, I am
go, whether it is in my home when I become
a husband and a father, or in my workplace
when I start working. I am practicing
Christian Education when I live the life
Christ lived, enjoying and glorifying God
and helping others to do so, so that together
we become more like Christ.
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