As a member of the FLY 2011 Committee, there are several convention areas that I am responsible for. The first three areas weren’t necessarily chosen because of my interests or aptitude, though some fit better than others. Then there is Evangelism... Uff da. This is the one area that I really, really want to fit me.
If there is one thing I am learning about evangelism right now, it is that evangelism is a visceral, often painful process that might often seem to be absolutely fruitless. However, that hasn’t always been my experience.
Though it was a bit of a culture shock transferring from a conservative Bible School to a liberal university for college, I’d say my faith thrived there. As editor of the conservative student publication, each month I wrote an article from a Christian perspective that both atheists and Christians found highly thought-provoking, and as a student leader, I often had random members of the campus community approach me to get the “definitive” Christian perspective. Mixed in with that oh-so-human pride and that oh-so-divine humility was just plain elation that I had finally “gotten it,” had finally learned how to live out my faith in my daily life and reach close friends and acquaintances alike!
That was until God took me to my current location. When I knew God was calling me to be a teacher I expected it to be a ministry, especially when I got a job offer to come to the Cheyenne River reservation in South Dakota. Because of my unique position at an alternative school, I actually have tons of opportunities to share my faith. When kids ask me what I do on the weekends, I tell them. When they ask me why in the world I’m smiling while my broken-down car is in the shop, I tell them.
Regardless, I am learning that evangelism in some situations is much more painful than in my earlier experiences. Evangelism means “the act of sharing good news.” However, the good news can only come after the bad: that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) The meaning of law and gospel doctrine is that one message is empty without the other, but together, the two make a beautiful change inside someone’s life. Here’s the twist in my life on the reservation: my kids all know the bad news already. They all know that people are messed up and that they have no hope on their own. As the evangelist, I am the one being continually reminded of the bad news, and being continually overcome by the beauty of the good news. Now if only my kids would believe that second part, too!
Before you get pictures in your head of me (or any other Christian) being the conquering Christian warrior, I have one more thing to tell you: besides being gut-wrenchingly painful, I’ve also discovered that the rewards of evangelism are very rarely of this world. In all my seed-planting, I can’t tell you one story about someone coming personally to me and asking for help in giving his or her life to Christ. That’s OK, though. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:5 that those who pursue earthly goals receive their full rewards on earth. Think of the blessings we have waiting for us in Heaven, those treasures which we know will be utterly worthless to us there, compared to seeing His face!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Summary of NCTE trip!
I know this is lame, but here is my blog post for November, which doubled as my trip report to the tribe. I will report on December next. Maybe this weekend... And pictures will be up here soon!
From November 18th to November 20th, I had the privilege of attending the Annual Convention of the National Council of Teachers of English in Orlando, Florida at Walt Disney World’s Coronado Springs Resort. The theme of the convention was “Teachers and Students Together: Living Literate Lives.”
My travel day began at noon on November 17th, when I left the E.A.G.L.E. Center to drive to the Rapid City Regional Airport. Since my plane had been delayed I was put onto an earlier flight, and from then on my trip to Orlando, with stops in Denver and Dallas, was uneventful. I arrived in Orlando close to my 9:45 AM ETA, and had just enough time to check-in at the All-Star Sports Resort and receive my luggage before the shuttle departed for the first featured session at Coronado Springs. Disney provides shuttle service from the airport to all of their resorts, which was very convenient!
The program schedule was extremely full, with one general session per day and a long list of elective options throughout each day. Some sessions that I especially appreciated included “Using Books to Ban Racial Stereotypes,” “Taking Risks With ‘At Risk’ Learners,” and “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Censorship But Were Too Chilled To Ask.” There were approximately fifty options for most elective slots, which made my decisions quite a challenge, but every session I attended applied directly to my personal and professional interests. I took note of several new strategies and activities that I hope to use in the future, and may have uncovered some new ways to challenge and motivate my students.
The remainder of the time I had at the convention was mainly spent in the Exhibit Hall, where I gathered information about programs, curriculum, and assessments. I kept my eyes open for enrichment activities and for some practical help with our EC yearbook, finding a great “reader’s theatre” collection and two affordable student publishing programs. Some other things of interest were a Bible literacy curriculum and a few fun children's book merchants. I also spent some time at the book merchants, finding an anthology to use in seventh and eighth grade and other great literature on sale.
As for the final purpose of professional conferences, while I did not take advantage of any extra recreational opportunities provided at Walt Disney World, I got what I wanted most: a nap in a hammock under swaying palm trees and a few opportunities to swim. I also had tasty, though very expensive, food, and had one particularly nice dinner out of my per diem allowance at Kouzzina by Cat Cora, a Mediterranean restaurant. The Convention was refreshing and reinvigorating in many ways, and I look forward to incorporating some of my new ideas and new materials into my instruction.
The biggest thing I learned is that next time I'm taking a buddy, so if you're an English teacher who wants to go to NCTE in a few years, let me know!
Love you all! Sorry I have gotten so far behind! Christina
From November 18th to November 20th, I had the privilege of attending the Annual Convention of the National Council of Teachers of English in Orlando, Florida at Walt Disney World’s Coronado Springs Resort. The theme of the convention was “Teachers and Students Together: Living Literate Lives.”
My travel day began at noon on November 17th, when I left the E.A.G.L.E. Center to drive to the Rapid City Regional Airport. Since my plane had been delayed I was put onto an earlier flight, and from then on my trip to Orlando, with stops in Denver and Dallas, was uneventful. I arrived in Orlando close to my 9:45 AM ETA, and had just enough time to check-in at the All-Star Sports Resort and receive my luggage before the shuttle departed for the first featured session at Coronado Springs. Disney provides shuttle service from the airport to all of their resorts, which was very convenient!
The program schedule was extremely full, with one general session per day and a long list of elective options throughout each day. Some sessions that I especially appreciated included “Using Books to Ban Racial Stereotypes,” “Taking Risks With ‘At Risk’ Learners,” and “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Censorship But Were Too Chilled To Ask.” There were approximately fifty options for most elective slots, which made my decisions quite a challenge, but every session I attended applied directly to my personal and professional interests. I took note of several new strategies and activities that I hope to use in the future, and may have uncovered some new ways to challenge and motivate my students.
The remainder of the time I had at the convention was mainly spent in the Exhibit Hall, where I gathered information about programs, curriculum, and assessments. I kept my eyes open for enrichment activities and for some practical help with our EC yearbook, finding a great “reader’s theatre” collection and two affordable student publishing programs. Some other things of interest were a Bible literacy curriculum and a few fun children's book merchants. I also spent some time at the book merchants, finding an anthology to use in seventh and eighth grade and other great literature on sale.
As for the final purpose of professional conferences, while I did not take advantage of any extra recreational opportunities provided at Walt Disney World, I got what I wanted most: a nap in a hammock under swaying palm trees and a few opportunities to swim. I also had tasty, though very expensive, food, and had one particularly nice dinner out of my per diem allowance at Kouzzina by Cat Cora, a Mediterranean restaurant. The Convention was refreshing and reinvigorating in many ways, and I look forward to incorporating some of my new ideas and new materials into my instruction.
The biggest thing I learned is that next time I'm taking a buddy, so if you're an English teacher who wants to go to NCTE in a few years, let me know!
Love you all! Sorry I have gotten so far behind! Christina
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