Isaac Stough

INTR 614
My Philosophy of Ministry as it Relates to English Language Teaching
Introduction:
I believe that the chief end in life is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Through faith
in Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, my principle goal as an English teacher is to spread the
light of Christ by testifying to him in word and deed. My main purpose in teaching English is to
reconcile my students to the material they learn, to themselves, and to the world.
My Principle Goal as an English Teacher:
Testifying to Christ in word and deed is different in every situation. Sometimes it is by
talking about Jesus. Sometimes it is by working in such a manner that reflects the life of Jesus.
Either way, the end goal is always to be gracious as God has been: particularly in regards to
being respectful and diligent.
The first principle in testifying to Christ in word and deed is to be respectful. I want my
English teaching to always be done with respect towards others as well as myself. This means
that how I treat my students and colleagues will always be with honor and integrity, full of
patience and understanding. This also means that how I treat myself and what I have found to be
true (the message of Christ) will always be done with honor and integrity, full of patience and
understanding. Therefore, in talking to one about Jesus, it will always be done with the utmost
respect for both the hearer and myself. Conversely, in not talking to one about Jesus, it will
always be done with patience and understanding. When it is appropriate to talk or not talk will be
left up to me to discern, but in any given situation, the goal will be to be respectful.

The second principle in testifying to Christ in word and deed is to be diligent. No matter
the context, testifying to Christ and ultimately glorifying God always looks like hard work. This
means that I will not settle for mediocrity in my teaching. For Christ has not be mediocre with
me. This also means that I will always teach English to the very best of my ability. For Christ has
given me his very best at the cross. Christs life and death are my model for respect and
professional excellence: which is diligence.
My Main Purpose in Teaching English:
I believe that teaching is reconciliation. My main purpose in teaching English is to
reconcile my students to the material they learn, to themselves and to the world.
Reconciling a student to the material they learn is to reconcile them to the English
language. My role as a teacher is to put on friendly terms the learner and the material: to
reconcile them to each other. Sometimes the task of learning English can be seen as an opponent
because it can be difficult and frustrating. My role as a teacher is to help the learner see that
learning is possible when effort is exerted. If the effort is there, I will do my very best to help the
learner learn.
Reconciling a student to themselves means that I desire not only to teach English content,
I desire to teach understanding of oneself. It means that I believe in a holistic view of the person.
Humans are more than just a mind and a body. Humans are complex even to themselves.
Beginning to understand who one is and how one fits is invaluable knowledge. Learning another
language can reveal these things to the student. Teaching English can cause one to become more
familiar and more of a friend to oneself.
Lastly, reconciling a student to the world is to put on friendly terms the student and the
reality in which they live. One must understand that my worldview assumes that the world is a

hostile place and needs to be properly understood as such. Therefore, one has to work in order to
begin to see the friendlier aspects of it. How the world becomes a more friendly place is by
understanding how it is organized. One such way that the world is organized is by language. A
predominant language used in the world is English. By learning English one is learning to
understand more thoroughly the world in which they live, giving them a skill that is widely
transferable to a multitude of situations. The reconciling power of learning English should not be
underestimated.
Conclusion:
My chief end in life is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Through faith in Jesus and
the power of the Holy Spirit, my principle goal as a English teacher is to spread the light of
Christ by testifying to him in word and deed. My main purpose in teaching English is to
reconcile my students to the material they learn, to themselves, and to the world.