Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn.

(Psalm 37:5)
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3)

The Starting Line

The Starting Line has become a faculty tradition at New Salem Elementary School. It is facilitated annually
by several teachers who attend a weekly CEAI Encouragement (share, care, and prayer) group at the school.
On the first teacher workday of the new school year, William, the school art instructor, and Eva, a kindergarten
teacher, walk throughout the school around 10:00AM and personally invite each of the sixty staff members to
come to the library for a group prayer at 11:30, during their off duty lunch period.
At 11:30 about twenty to thirty staff members gather in the library which is located in the heart of the school.
The principal and associate principal also attend. Scriptures, which God has put on the teachers hearts, are shared. The group
usually stands and holds hands. All who feel called to do so pray out loud. Others pray silently or simply agree with the prayers offered.
Thanks are offered to God for a wide variety of things. Requests for professional guidance and needs are made. Students, staff,
parents, and the coming school year are committed to God in agreement in prayer. Prayers are offered for the central administration
staff, school board members, and state and national legislators, executives, and judges. It is beautiful. It is legal and does not violate
any separation of church and state laws. Often, staff members wipe tears from their eyes at the end of the twenty to thirty minutes of
spontaneous prayer.
Jesus said if we acknowledge Him before others that He will acknowledge us before His Father (Matt. 10:32). The psalmist tells us
that if we commit our ways to the Lord and trust Him we will shine like the dawn. The author of Proverbs tells us we will succeed when
we commit our work to the Lord. New Salem Elementary School is a living example of these scriptures, for it is the highest achieving
low income school in its region and is a nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School. To God, not man, goes the glory for New Salem
Elementary Schools success.

Prayer: Lord, lead us to join other staff members and dedicate this school year and our careers to you. Give us the courage to begin to
naturally acknowledge you before others where we work without shame, guilt, or fear.
Reflection: Is God calling me to find other staff members to pray with in order to dedicate this coming year to Him? Do I naturally
acknowledge God before staff, students, and parents or do I hide my faith and relationship with Him while on the job?
Getting Real: Agree in prayer with other staff members in order to dedicate and commit this school year to the Lord. Ask the Lord to
lead you to those with whom you are to pray.

CLASSROOM LIGHTHOUSE SERIES: Fields of Faith in Education (For info or prayer contact ceaihouston@sbcglobal.net.) WEEK 2

FIELDS OF FAITH PRAYER: Lord, build and establish these schools with Your wisdom. Through love and knowledge, fill the
students and staff members with rare and beautiful treasures. (Prov. 24:3-4) May the educators in all these schools commit this
school year and all the students, staff members, and parents they serve unto you in agreement in prayer. Make these schools
shine like the dawn. Use the educators in these schools to feed your lambs and sheep, to transform wolves into sheep, and to
lead youth to their hope and future in You.

American Academy of Science (Houston Area Post-Secondary School)

Alternative Learning Center and Bowie Elementary in Lamar CISD
All Public, Private, and Home Schools in the Aldine Independent School District Area
All Public, Private and Home Schools in the State of Alaska and Arizona
All Public, Private, and Home Schools in in the Countries of Angola, Antigua, Argentina, and Armenia
Open Door Enterprises (Drilling Water Wells and Mentoring Youth in Tanzania) (CEAI Supported Ministry)