{"id":1009,"date":"2026-01-30T12:38:47","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T04:38:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cbsm.com.my\/?page_id=1009"},"modified":"2026-01-31T23:21:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T15:21:16","slug":"diakonia-2025-2-15-teaching-as-a-vocation-a-sacred-calling-across-every-stage-of-learning","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cbsm.com.my\/index.php\/diakonia-2025-2-15-teaching-as-a-vocation-a-sacred-calling-across-every-stage-of-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"Diakonia 2025 2.15 Teaching as a Vocation: A Sacred Calling Across Every Stage of Learning"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Diakonia 2025 Volume 2<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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<\/a>Teaching as a Vocation: A Sacred Calling Across Every Stage of Learning<\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Indranee Liew<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\u201cWhatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.\u201d \u2014 Colossians 3:23<\/em><\/p>

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Divine\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Calling, Lived Across the Seasons of Education<\/h4>

For thirty-five years, I have walked the halls of countless schools, stood before diverse classrooms, and witnessed the miraculous unfolding of potential in thousands of young hearts and minds. I’ve weathered the storms of national exams, celebrated the quiet victories of a lightbulb moment, and carried the weight of students’ silent struggles. Through all those seasons\u2014from the triumphs to the daily challenges\u2014my deepest lesson has been this: teaching is not merely a job you do<\/em>; it is a purpose you live<\/em>. <\/strong>It’s this enduring truth that transforms the often-difficult routine of the classroom into a powerful, sacred calling.<\/p>

To the world, teaching is a career\u2014a means to earn and progress. But to the Christian, it is a vocation<\/strong>\u2014a sacred invitation to partner with God in shaping lives, forming character, and illuminating truth. Each lesson, whether in a preschool classroom or a university hall, becomes an altar where faith and learning meet. The Christian teacher is not just a dispenser of knowledge, but a bearer of light<\/strong>. In every stage of education, God reveals a unique joy\u2014a glimpse of His heart for every age and season of human growth.<\/p>

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Joy of Teaching Youngest Learners: Seeing the World Through Wonder<\/h4>

To teach the youngest learners is to step onto holy ground. Every discovery\u2014a colour mixed, a seed sprouting, a song sung\u2014becomes a spark of divine wonder. Kindergarten teachers live out the words of Jesus: \u201cLet the little children come to Me.\u201d<\/p>

In their laughter, simplicity, and trust, teachers glimpse the kingdom of God. The joy of teaching at this level lies not in academic progress but in the miracle of beginnings<\/strong>\u2014where curiosity is sacred and every “Why?” is a doorway to creation itself. Each hug, each wide-eyed question, and each little prayer whispered before snack time remind us that the foundations of faith are laid in love and joy.<\/p>

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Delight\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 of\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Primary\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Education: Guiding Growth with Grace<\/h4>

The primary years are filled with questions, energy, and rapid exploration. Children begin to form concrete ideas about themselves and the world, testing boundaries, seeking approval, and needing models of courage and kindness.<\/p>

The Christian primary teacher delights in this stage, where minds stretch and hearts awaken. Lessons in reading or science quickly become lessons in perseverance and integrity<\/strong>. When a child learns to say, \u201cI can try again,\u201d they are also learning faith in action. Here, teaching is discipleship in miniature<\/strong>\u2014nurturing not only literacy but life skills, and not only knowledge but wisdom rooted in God\u2019s truth.<\/p>

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Privilege of Secondary Education: Walking Beside Their Becoming<\/h4>

To teach teenagers is to enter a dynamic space of identity, emotion, and purpose. It is a profound privilege to stand with them as they wrestle with the questions that shape their souls: Who am I? What do I believe? Where am I going?<\/em><\/p>

The Christian secondary teacher becomes a steady voice amid the noise<\/strong>\u2014not imposing answers, but embodying grace. They demonstrate that faith is not fragile, that truth still stands, and that hope endures. There is deep pleasure in seeing students find their convictions, use their voices, and begin to glimpse their God-given potential<\/strong>. The classroom\u00a0 becomes\u00a0 a\u00a0 community\u00a0 of faith-in-the-making, where guidance is offered through patience, humour, and prayer.<\/p>

5.\u00a0 The Bliss of Tertiary Education: Mentoring Mind and Calling<\/h4>

Teaching young adults in college or university brings its own kind of sacred satisfaction: the bliss of seeing independent thinkers <\/strong>emerge. These students stand at the threshold of the world, full of ideas and uncertainties.<\/p>

The Christian tertiary educator\u2019s task is to mentor more than minds<\/strong>\u2014to help shape conscience, compassion, and calling. Discussions move beyond textbooks into eternal truth. Faith is tested, reason sharpened, and values clarified. At this stage, the teacher is a witness to the unfolding of God’s plans in each life. There is no greater joy than seeing a student discover that their chosen vocation<\/strong>\u2014whether in business, science, or art\u2014can also be their ministry.<\/p>

6.\u00a0 One Sacred Call, Many Expressions<\/h4>

Whether one teaches finger-painting or philosophy, spelling or sociology, the call is the same: to teach for the glory of God<\/strong>. Every classroom, from preschool to postgraduate, is part of one grand narrative\u2014the story of redemption, wisdom, and human flourishing under the Lordship of Christ.<\/p>

Teaching as vocation means loving each learner as an image-bearer of God. It means sowing seeds <\/strong>of faith, courage, and curiosity, trusting that in due time, they will bear fruit.<\/p>

Indranee Liew<\/h4>

10 October 2025<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Diakonia 2025 Volume 2 Teaching as a Vocation: A Sacred Calling Across Every Stage of Learning Indranee Liew \u201cWhatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.\u201d \u2014 Colossians 3:23 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Divine\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Calling, Lived Across the Seasons of Education For thirty-five years, I have walked… Continue reading Diakonia 2025 2.15 Teaching as a Vocation: A Sacred Calling Across Every Stage of Learning<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"folder":[7],"class_list":["post-1009","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbsm.com.my\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbsm.com.my\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbsm.com.my\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbsm.com.my\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbsm.com.my\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1009"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/cbsm.com.my\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1009\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1180,"href":"https:\/\/cbsm.com.my\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1009\/revisions\/1180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbsm.com.my\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbsm.com.my\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/folder?post=1009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}