UCCF: The Christian Unions launches the Teaching Network
On my first day as ‘Miss Shaw’, on teaching practice in a school just outside of Reading, I discovered quickly that I carried responsibility in several different forms. I had just become a type of parent, a justice declarer, a wisdom bringer and needing to make a decision on whether or not to teach a morally challenging text to a Year 12 English Lit class. By the end of that placement I had taught that book. I’d also learnt through plenty of mistakes and had found some great opportunities to chat church, life and Jesus with colleagues and fellow students in the day-to-day of being in a school community.
UCCF Teaching Network is brand new this year. We’re going to gather Education and Teaching students from all over the UK to think, pray and grow as Christian teachers as they prepare to enter the profession.
Our hope is that the many Christians who train to teach will boldly live as salt and light as they walk into their classrooms, staff rooms and back to their desks to write research essays. They’ll be able and ready to speak of Christ when they can, the firm foundation God is is so needed and felt to be needed by many in the profession.
As many teachers will know, the training and early years in our profession can be some of the most challenging. Not only are there skills to learn but a whole education culture to understand and all while balancing passion and achievement with the need to rest and live whole, human lives.
UCCF has existed for over 100 years to help students to see Jesus as Lord of their whole lives; worthy of living for and speaking about. Students are sent by local churches, join CUs on university campuses and live alongside those they find there. These students share their lives and of course therefore their faith. And for 100 years many, many bold students have called many, many more to consider following Jesus.
Wouldn’t it be great to have Christian teachers, studying at our universities, who are determined to honour God with their work? They have an opportunity to reach their campuses as they dive into their learning. They can approach the world of Education knowing Jesus is Lord and thinking critically about how that makes a difference to practice. Not only that, but wouldn’t it be wonderful grow crops of distinctive professionals each year who are loving, living and speaking as ambassadors for Christ in schools and beyond?
I’m excited to imagine what beautiful, fresh-air breathing change they could bring to hearts and lives in this ever-hopeful, ever-stretched profession.
So what will this look like? This autumn term is the start of the Teaching Network. Head to our website to sign up to hear about all that is happening and how you can pray. There’ll be social media sites, a website being built and, in time, a podcast and resources will spring up. Do keep your eyes out and pass the message on.
What can you do?
Do pray for us as we begin that God would use this network to help student teachers and bring many more to hearing about Jesus and knowing his goodness.
Do sign up, have a look round the site and pass the message on to any training teachers you know.
Do stay connected with us – let’s see God change the teaching landscape together.
Katie Shaw is UCCF’s Teaching Network Coordinator. UCCF: The Christian Unions supports Christian Unions across the UK as they seek to reach students with the good news of Jesus.