What Koinonia Means to Me
For three years I was principal of Cremona Koinonia Christian school, and for twenty years I was principal of Airdrie Koinonia Christian School. These schools were members of the Koinonia Christian Education Society, an organization whose mission is to support parents in providing Christian education for their children. For the last three years of my time at AKCS, I also served as one of two superintendents of this ten school system, and I continue to serve on the Society Board of Directors. These connections have taught me a lot about friendship and true Koinonia. I am indebted.
Koinonia is the Greek word for "fellowship." It signifies what we have in common. Variants are used to refer to the language of the common people, to the Lord's Supper, and the intimacy of husband and wife. It is a word that of both ordinary and extraordinary significance: from everyday conversation to Christ's death.
In 1980 a group of four schools banded together for support and encouragement and became the Koinonia Schools, sharing a common commitment to training children in a Christ-centered environment. It was tough in those days. Every school operated in a church basement. The teachers and parents were novices; the public was skeptical at best, and the government was hostile. But we worked together to overcome the obstacles.
In the summers of 1982 and 1983 five day seminars were held for parents, board members and teachers. Speakers were brought in from the States to train us. We knew we were ignorant and needed help, so we got it. Those early "pioneers" formed the backbone of an organization which has grown to ten schools across the province and has a reputation for spiritual and academic excellence.
Airdrie KCS began as another "church basement" school in 1987. And we faced all kinds of difficulties. We were almost prevented from opening on time due to problems with the facilities, but with hard work we did it. In 1995 we moved to our current location, and it was an unbelievable accomplishment. Groundbreaking was July 5th! This time we had to delay the opening for a week, but again we survived, and not only survived but flourished as the school had its largest ever increase in enrollment that year.
My prayer for our school is that we will rediscover the meaning of Koinonia: For me, that means we work together side by side. We put our shoulders to the plow together. We seek God for his favor together. We don't see the school as an institution which we pay to provide a service, but rather we see it as a living, breathing, body of people. It's OUR body. It's OUR school. They're OUR children. The problems are OUR problems. The obstacles are OUR obstacles. My prayer is that teachers and parents, board members and students will all together carry the burden.
When there are needs, we ALL must pray. When there is work to be done, we ALL must work. That's what makes Koinonia Schools what they are. That's why I love being part of it. The day that we simply become a "service provider" and the teachers become paid "care givers" and I am simply employed to do a job will be the day I resign. I am in this because I believe in what I am doing passionately. I hope that you share that passion or that you will come to do so over this year.
Certainly, it would be easier to simply charge more and never have a work bee. It would be more consistent to have paid Teacher-Aides rather than parent monitors. It would be more comfortable to have a large facility rather than unattached portables. But if those things meant the loss of the spirit of teamwork (Koinonia) which has brought us this far, then I'd rather do without.
Koinonia is the Greek word for "fellowship." It signifies what we have in common. Variants are used to refer to the language of the common people, to the Lord's Supper, and the intimacy of husband and wife. It is a word that of both ordinary and extraordinary significance: from everyday conversation to Christ's death.
In 1980 a group of four schools banded together for support and encouragement and became the Koinonia Schools, sharing a common commitment to training children in a Christ-centered environment. It was tough in those days. Every school operated in a church basement. The teachers and parents were novices; the public was skeptical at best, and the government was hostile. But we worked together to overcome the obstacles.
In the summers of 1982 and 1983 five day seminars were held for parents, board members and teachers. Speakers were brought in from the States to train us. We knew we were ignorant and needed help, so we got it. Those early "pioneers" formed the backbone of an organization which has grown to ten schools across the province and has a reputation for spiritual and academic excellence.
Airdrie KCS began as another "church basement" school in 1987. And we faced all kinds of difficulties. We were almost prevented from opening on time due to problems with the facilities, but with hard work we did it. In 1995 we moved to our current location, and it was an unbelievable accomplishment. Groundbreaking was July 5th! This time we had to delay the opening for a week, but again we survived, and not only survived but flourished as the school had its largest ever increase in enrollment that year.
My prayer for our school is that we will rediscover the meaning of Koinonia: For me, that means we work together side by side. We put our shoulders to the plow together. We seek God for his favor together. We don't see the school as an institution which we pay to provide a service, but rather we see it as a living, breathing, body of people. It's OUR body. It's OUR school. They're OUR children. The problems are OUR problems. The obstacles are OUR obstacles. My prayer is that teachers and parents, board members and students will all together carry the burden.
When there are needs, we ALL must pray. When there is work to be done, we ALL must work. That's what makes Koinonia Schools what they are. That's why I love being part of it. The day that we simply become a "service provider" and the teachers become paid "care givers" and I am simply employed to do a job will be the day I resign. I am in this because I believe in what I am doing passionately. I hope that you share that passion or that you will come to do so over this year.
Certainly, it would be easier to simply charge more and never have a work bee. It would be more consistent to have paid Teacher-Aides rather than parent monitors. It would be more comfortable to have a large facility rather than unattached portables. But if those things meant the loss of the spirit of teamwork (Koinonia) which has brought us this far, then I'd rather do without.