If the Mission Were a Song, Would Your Faculty and Staff be Singing in Harmony?
Working at a university where music permeates so much of the campus and community, while listening to one of the choirs recently, something occurred to me. The mission of a Christian school is, in a way, like a song. Each person at the school is a member of the choir, playing an individual role, but for the sake of the whole. When people are signing or acting in harmony, it is beautiful…even inspiring. So, what does it take to build a school that sings in harmony? It is not complex, but it does take effort and intentionality.
Defining a Clear and Compelling Mission
First, you need a mission that is clear and compelling. A school without a mission is like a choir without a song. Or, worse, it is like a choir of people where each person is singing a different song. This clarity begins with knowing why the school exists, what is distinct about the school, whom it is called or best-positioned to serve, and how it will serve them with Christ-centered excellence.
Embedding the Mission in Daily Practices
Second, the mission must be more than a quote on a sign or a statement at the beginning of an accreditation report. It is a guide and inspiration for everything. A mission can only thrive when it is actually alive in the day-to-day activities. It doesn’t work to just have chapel and devotions; and then everything else is just like the local public school. Mundane moments matter to the mission. Simple daily tasks matter. It also matters that this perspective is embraced by as many people as possible, ideally every faculty and staff member. High-impact schools focus on helping individuals see how their roles contribute to the bigger picture, and encouraging them to work and act in ways that support the mission.
Finding Motivation and Meaning
I know from experience that work can sometimes feel overwhelming or meaningless, especially when tasks seem disconnected from something bigger than the tyranny of the urgent. Yet, when people understand how their contributions fit into the broader mission, even the most routine tasks take on a sort of spiritual significance. This is what helps people see their work as a calling, a chance to use their time and talents to love God and neighbor while advancing the mission.
Building Community
In a Christian school, the diverse roles of faculty and staff mirror the parts of the body of Christ. Just as God’s Word emphasizes the value of each part playing an important role, so flourishing schools recognize and honor the contributions of their partners in the Gospel. When people understand their role (along with the roles of others), a culture of collaboration can emerge that is very much like hearing a beautiful harmony.
I’ve been honored to witness schools like this in action, and it is stunning…even beautiful. When every member of the school community embraces their role in the mission, the result is a musical / missional masterpiece that glorifies God and blesses many. Like that choir performing in perfect harmony, each person’s contribution, no matter how small, adds depth and leaves an impact. A school that sings its mission in harmony becomes a testament to what Christ-centered excellence sounds like, inspiring others to sing along.
Disclaimer: Do you use AI to write the articles on Substack? If you read something from me on Substack, it was written by me. If I ever use AI for anything beyond basic editing, grammar check, or spellcheck, I will indicate it clearly at the beginning or end of an article. Or, if it is an AI-generated image, you will see the noted below the image.