Schools are also a mission field

Ever since the beginning of man the human heart and mind has been a place for spiritual battle. Satan knows if he able to manipulate the heart and mind he is able to control whole person. In Gen 1:28-29, God educates humans on the way they are suppose to live but in Gen 3 we see Satan already fighting for the heart and mind. Since neither Adam nor Eva fully trust in God's word, Satan was able to win the battle. Ever since then humans have natural followed the desires of their heart which is self seeking and meaningless (Eccl 2:8-9; Prov 29:18b, NKJV). God knowing this fact sent His only begotten son, Christ Jesus, to redeem the heart and mind so that we can live the life God has intended humans to live. To have the freedom to live this way, humans need to be freed from the fear of punishment so Jesus Christ needed to first restore the human spirit, which has been dead and separated from God ever since the fall of man. When Jesus overcame death and the consequence of being separated from God, he gave this command to his followers,

"All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be)." (Matt 28:18b-20, Amplified)

A lot of times church have emphasized verse 19 but forgot that Jesus' commandment also include verse 20. When Christians think about the Great commission we should not only think about evangelism but also education. If we associate the Great Commission with mission then schools are also missionary fields. Therefore, we should be praying for our teachers and supporting them like how we support missionaries.

My church just went to a country near the border of China for a mission trip to equip teachers and help students have a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Having taken Christian Education for 10 days, I see a need to go back to help the teachers over there provide quality education. It is only through quality education people are able to have the skills to live the life God has intended.