Gathering to Grow: Reflections on the 2025 Educators Conference

"Discipling Our Students in This Digital Age"

This was the theme for both of our MACSA Teacher's Conferences recently held in PA and NJ.  What a time of "convening" (that sounds too official!), well, gathering together around this ministry we share!  We hosted 330 educators, from 15 regional Christian schools, who attended for some "needed & necessary" professional development, sharing, and great instruction from gifted speakers.  Professors from both Cairn U. and LBC presented their expertise, along with other noted ministry leaders who brought a specialty which was vital to our understanding of the educational world we live in today, and how our Biblical worldview forms the basis for the education we must present to our students.  Every seminar session was "chocked-full" of wisdom, and practical applications, not only relating to technology, but to our classroom instruction and management.  Our theme verse was from Proverbs 2: 10-11,

         "For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be 

         pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and 

         understanding will guard you."

Dr. Keith Plummer, Dean of Cairn U. School of Divinity, addressed, "Putting Technology in Its Place," and Kevin Macki, Director of School Relations for Schools United in FL, addressed the theme in their keynotes.  

A special addition to our day together was the two "Facilitated Discussion Groups" (FDGs), where teachers attended a small group interaction, led by a colleague who...well, facilitated.  It was a rich time of conversation and interaction around various topics & issues centered around either grade level (elementary), or subject areas (middle/high school).  Many teachers voiced their enjoyment of this time to share with other teachers, from other schools, around common joys & trials of teaching...and praying for God's discretion & understanding to enter our students' hearts & souls in these days 🙏. 

"It was good to be together" was an oft-quoted comment of the day.  With our world being pretty much virtual in nature, we might see the pendulum swinging back toward the center in gathering for that instruction, which is also refreshing as Paul wrote, being face-to-face.  We are already making plans for next year, with even more teachers and schools joining the "gathering to grow" by rubbing shoulders with like-minded folks in this faith-minded ministry we hold so dear.

Bill Stevens

MACSA Director   

P.S. If you attended the New Jersey Educators Conference and enjoyed Dr. Keith Plummer’s keynote, you’ll be glad to know he’s shared a link to additional resources for teachers related to his talk: https://tinyurl.com/2trr8c25