In October 2013, the Christian Educators Journal, in collaboration with the Andreas Center for Reformed Scholarship and Service at Dordt College, sponsored a conference with the theme “ROOTED IN, RESPONSIVE TO, REACHING OUT: THE TASK AND IMPACT OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION.” The conference drew together over one hundred participants who, in lectures and workshops, dealt with the question of whether Christian education makes a difference in the civic and cultural lives of our students. It was an excellent conference, and the CEJ was very pleased to be involved in the conversation.

This issue of CEJ presents a number of the papers that were presented at the conference.  And while this selection does not give the full range of the issues that were discussed, we hope that it will give our readers a sampling of the thinking of some of the leading voices in the field of education. And as we engage the ideas expressed here, it is our hope that the staff room conversations about our teaching and learning will be enhanced, especially as a new school year gets underway. This again will be a year of challenges as we deal with students and colleagues with a wide range of gifts and interests. It will also be a year of great blessings. It is our hope and prayer that as we work together in our schools, as learners and educators, that we may see more of God and God’s work in this world. May we all be enriched and encouraged by the blessings that we receive each day; may we not be overwhelmed by the challenges that will come our way; and may we not shy away from the voices of students, parents, and other educators, who challenge us to think in new, creative, and sometimes unsettling ways about how we do our work, so that we may continue to grow in our understanding of what it means to be God’s people here.

Have a wonderful year!