Shannon Forest Students as Influencers

 “Every life is a profession of faith

and exercises an inevitable and silent influence.”

~ Henri Fredrick Amiel

What is leadership?  In the last fifty years, the prevalent view of leadership has been one of positional authority that emphasizes titles and hierarchy.  John Maxwell, a leading author and speaker on leadership, argues leadership is simply influence.  So then, what does it mean to influence?  To influence is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.  And as believers, we are called to be agents of influence – the salt and light of the world, as the apostle John puts it.  This is what we desire for our students here at Shannon Forest. 

Our mission statement expresses this desire: “The purpose of Shannon Forest Christian School is to support the Christian home and church by providing quality education from an evangelical, Biblical perspective in order to equip and challenge students to influence culture and society for Jesus Christ.”  The task of the faculty and staff is to train our students to, not only recognize problems, but to engage their minds to solve them. Then the students will be able to use their problem- solving and communication skills to affect the world around them for Christ. 

None of this will be easy.  Being individuals who influence the world for Christ requires risk-taking.  In reflecting on this idea, I am reminded of influencers in the Bible.  Daniel, Esther, and Mordecai are a few characters that come to mind.  Each of them took a stand for what was right even though it was difficult and they knew it could cost them their lives. These individuals refused to stand on the sidelines and simply observe God at work; they actively participated in furthering the Kingdom regardless of the cost.

As parents and teachers we must move away from attitudes of over-protection to those of discernment if we want our children to become influencers.  We need to stop mitigating all risk for our young people and instead help them develop the wisdom to think and act in godly ways on their own.  If we train problem solvers and communicators, we will make people of influence, and in fact, I would argue that without problem-solving and communication skills, it is impossible to have positive influence.