ShannaKooistra
LivingFaith
Toherstudents,Ms.VisaBibleteacherwhobringslove,passion,andenthusiasminto theclassroom.Recentlyshesharedameaningfulmessageatchapelthatofferedaglimpseinto thejourneythathasshapedbothherlifeandteaching.Fromherearliestexperienceswithfaithto thechallengesthatstrengthenedit,herjourneyreflectsafaithlivedout,notjustspokenabout.
Fromanearlyage,Ms.VgrewupwithanunderstandingoftheBibleandoffaithdueto herfather’sroleasapastor.However,itwasn’tuntilherfamilyfacedchallengesinadoptingher siblingsthatherfaithbecameimportanttohernotjustasabelief,butasawayoflife.Itwasa timeofmajortransformationforherfamilythatpushedMs.Vtomakefaithanactivepartofher dailylife.Throughthisexperience,shelearnedwhatitmeanttorelyonChristashereverything asHegivesusthestrengthtowalkthrougheachday
Ms.Vbelievesherfaithhaschangedasshenaturallylearnedmoreovertime,butlife circumstancesandstrugglesarewhathavetrulyshapedthewayshelivesoutherfaith.Inthe past,shesufferedfromsevereanxietyandpanicattacks,whichtaughtherwhatitmeanttotruly puthertrustinGodandgiveHimcompletecontrolofherlife,ratherthanrelyonherown strength.ShefacedabigconflictoffaithwhenshefelttheLordaskinghertodosomethingshe didn’twanttodo,butlaterlearnedhowexperiencesthatmayseemnegativeatfirstcanbe lessonsinobedience.
Ms.Vwastoldsheshouldbeateacherevenfromayoungage,butsheneverexpectedto beaBibleteacher.WhenshefirstworkedatFoundationasasubstitute,shetoldtheLordshe wouldgowhereverHeplacedher.Shesharedthatalotofherfaithhaslookedlikesurrendering toGodandsaying,“DowithmylifewhatYouwill.”ShetrulybelievesthatGodhasplacedher asaBibleteacherforapurpose,andherpassioncomesnotonlyfromherfaith,butfrom obediencetoGod.Andwhileshecarefullypreparesherlessonsandstudiesscripturebefore teaching,Ms.ValwaystrustsintheLordtogivehertherightwordsasshe’sspeaking.
Ms.V’schapelmessagewasareflectionofwhatshefeelsGodisteachinghernow.She hopesstudentsunderstandthatfaithisnotaboutperformanceorcheckingboxes,it’sabout drawingclosertoChristandlovingHimmore.ShefeelssomanypeoplemakeChristianityseem likearestrictiverulebook,wheninrealityfollowingChrististhemostfreeyou’lleverbe.There isworkrequiredinfaith,butitisafreedomtodothatwork.Hergoalisforstudentstoknowthe freedomthatcomesfrombeinginChristandknowinghowtowalkinHisways.
FaithalsocompletelyshapesthewayMs.Vviewsherstudents.Sheacknowledgesthat asateacheritcanbetiringtogivesomuchofherselfeachday,butlovingJesusandfollowing Himhasmadeherabetterteacher,onewhotrulycaresabouttheheartsofherstudents.Ms.V hopesthatallherstudentsfeelsafeandlovedinherclassroomanddesiresthateachofthem encounterJesusinsomeway,whetherthroughher,anotherstudent,orinadifferentclass.
Ms.V’sadvicetostudentsisstraightforward:neverbeafraidtoaskhardquestionsor strugglewithdoubts;scripturetellsus,“Seek,andyouwillfind.”Pickafewsimplepracticesof faithandtryyourbesttodosomethingeachandeverydaythatwillhelpyoutoknowGodmore.
Lookingback,Ms.Vbelievesherlifeandcareerwouldbedrasticallydifferentifher faithwasnotatitscenter.Forher,faithisnotjustsomethingsheteaches,it’ssomethingshelives outeachday.Herdesireisforherstudentstoexperiencetheimmeasurablelove,mercy,and freedomthatcanbefoundinChristalone.Throughherwordsandheractions,Ms.Vcontinues tobeaninspiringexampleforherstudentsofwhatitlooksliketowalkinfaithwithChristdaily.