Author’s note: I have endeavored to write this post multiple times over the past two months. Every attempt has been stymied for one reason or another, but as I sit on this plane to attend my grandmother’s funeral, I find clarity in what God has been helping me to understand.
The Joy of Unconditional Love
Every visit to my grandmother was a joy. Of course, my brother and I loved how she spoiled us with all of the treats that Mom and Dad never would buy, but far more important was the undistracted attention she gave to us whenever we were together. I recall so many fond memories of croquet games in the backyard where grandma would smack our ball back into play after one of our more enthusiastic hits. Add to that the way she prayed fiercely over me, and you begin to see a small example of her deep love and kindness that helped to shape me.
As a child, I took this for granted. I assumed that every child enjoyed this unconditional love. I did not understand how wonderful and rare this supportive relationship is and how truly blessed I am.
Pictured: the author at Easter dinner with his grandparents, 1992
Those voices that consistently pour into us at such impressionable ages and across stages of development make all the difference. That is the undeniable benefit of small, Christ-centered communities like Lima Christian, and it is what we strive to do daily in every student interaction. It is why our graduates can truly become Saints: set apart for God’s good work in the world.
In this month that began with Teacher Appreciation Week, I hope you will join me in celebrating these disciple-making educators who are one of those loving voices to students. They have become the hands and feet of Christ to each of them.
God bless those who care for the Saints.
But what does it mean to shape our students as Saints? As we look ahead to our celebration of the Class of 2026, take a moment with me to appreciate the outcome of the love and attention found in an LCS education:
The Class of 2026: A Portrait of a Saint
The word “Saint” in Scripture simply means set apart for a purpose. Notably, it is not a title earned, but a holy designation bestowed upon the members of the body of Christ. Every person reading this post and every student in our halls has been set apart by God for His good purpose. Lima Christian School exists to help young people discover and live in that identity.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:8-10
As followers of Christ Jesus and a Christian school, we are called to make disciples: to raise up Saints who are set apart for God’s purpose because we believe that our students are loved by God and have been created for that purpose. Those who have experienced this Christ-centered, disciple-making education will graduate knowing and exemplifying these simple truths:
A Saint Honors God Through Faithful Service
Ephesians 2:10
A graduate of Lima Christian School recognizes that their life has a sacred calling to glorify God. Whether in their vocation, community, or home, they become the hands and feet of Christ, serving others and stewarding their God-given gifts with intentionality, obedience, and faith.
A Saint Pursues Excellence as an Act of Worship
Colossians 3:23
Our graduates understand that whatever they do in their work, relationships, and daily responsibilities deserves their very best as an offering to God. They bring integrity and care to every task, knowing that honoring God means offering their lives as living sacrifices.
A Saint Nurtures Community
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
Recognizing their identity as part of the body of Christ, our graduates invest in the people around them with genuine care, attention, and love. They see the Image of God in every person and foster meaningful relationships that go beyond convenience or personal benefit.
A Saint Makes Disciples
Matthew 5:16
In a world that will relentlessly challenge their faith, LCS graduates stand courageously in their convictions. They think deeply about what they believe, commit their lives to the pursuit of Christ’s kingdom, and act boldly to speak truth, defend the vulnerable, and draw others to Jesus Christ.
To Form and to Fight For
This cannot happen without intention and significant effort. My grandmother’s example to me did not end with her love and attention, but was reinforced daily as she prayed. She knew that there is an enemy who will fight to convince our children that the truths they learned are misconceptions or antiquated mythology. So while we continue to form our students, we must also fight for them. We push back against the lies of an enemy that would snuff out the light God has placed in them and declare over each and every student: you belong to the Lamb. You were bought with a price. You are set apart.
You are Saints.
May God bless, protect, and guide these young LCS Saints.
About the Author
Michael Blankenship brings 10+ years of experience in Christian education to the role as Head of School at Lima Christian School. A product of Christian education himself, he is passionate about partnering with families and churches to disciple students to become Saints: people set apart to use their God-given talents in lives honoring Jesus Christ.
