Christ’s final instruction to His disciples and subsequently to the Church was not simply to proclaim and convert, but to go, baptize, and teach. Teaching here was about more than head knowledge: it was about obeying all He taught about life and holiness, about relationships and service. In short, it was about obedience to truth which was known and understood in all its applications. This is a profound teaching assignment, and it should be the highest priority of Christ’s followers. Across the centuries when the Church prioritized its educational mandate, it catalyzed personal transformation and cultural renewal; derivatively and consequently, it protected orthodoxy and birthed movements that benefited every level of society.
The current call for “education as mission” is far from being an auxiliary or modern fad; rather, it is a call to proven strategy which has been one of the most effective vehicles for furthering the work of the Church. By examining historical precedents across Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America, it becomes evident that both formal and informal education are closely associated the long-term flourishing of the Gospel.