Communication

Communication Definition

DTS values contextualized, effective communication of biblical and theological truth by a variety of means for personal and corporate transformation.

Communication requires the Christian Educator to teach truth and grace in a way that imparts wisdom to their students in response to Scripture and the Holy Spirit's guidance.

Personal Goal:

I will further develop my communication skills by teaching in a formal school classroom, assisting with strategic planning to clarify Brush Arbor Christian School's (BACS) identity and purpose, and by public speaking at a BACS Wednesday morning chapel service.

Strategies

• Speak with church leaders, teachers, and administrators about teaching opportunities.
• Seek God's will through prayer and fellowship before preparing subjects to teach.
• Prepare a chapel message and plan of instruction in preparation to teach as a substitute.

Resources

• Reflecting on my pastors sermons, teaching and personal spiritual advice.

• Ample study time in the Bible, Bible commentaries and varying sources of U.S. history.
• Feedback from administrators and teachers to assist in improving my communication.

Measures

• Gave speech to the Brush Arbor Christian School (BACS) Wednesday Chapel Service.

• Taught as a BACS substitute teacher in various classes on three separate days.

• Contributed to strategic planning of BACS' Mission, Goals and Philosophy of Education.

• Represented BACS as a School Board Member throughout FACCS Accreditation process.

Artifact 1: Substitute teaching US flag

For my competence in communication, I am submitting photos of me teaching and of the class schedule as well as an American Flag Quiz Review sheet for Mr. Raynor’s Flag quiz he was to have on the following day of me teaching. These artifacts demonstrated that I learned how to teach a special skill to multiple classes in different grade levels throughout the day. Another way these artifacts demonstrate my competency in communication is they show various ways in which I am able to teach. The photos demonstrate my ability to communicate through speaking, speaking with slides, utilizing paper handouts, demonstrating how to fold and display a flag etc.

Artifact 2: Veterans Day Presentation

For my competence in communication, I am submitting a final draft for a Veterans Day Chapel Service at Brush Arbor Christian School which demonstrates my appreciation and involvement in honoring all U.S. veterans from the past and in the present. The final draft 's narrative, illustrations and endnotes focus on those notable veterans we Americans call 'our founding fathers' who were used by God in a mighty way to establish what is now the United States of America with a distinct Protestant Christian Heritage. A photograph in the draft shows myself and the other veterans in attendance. The Veterans Day speech was given at the Wednesday Chapel service on the morning of November 12, 2025, to approximately 140 students and a few veterans of various branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Artifact 3: Screenshots of Brush Arbor School Webpage

For my competence in communication, I am submitting recent screenshots of the Brush Arbor Christian School's newly updated 'About Us' and 'Highlights' web page which demonstrates my ability to work collectively toward a common goal of communicating the highlights and values of the school. Through collaborative strategic planning of school leaders and administrators BACS has digitally communicated the school's mission, vision, philosophy of education and highlights of recently achieving full accreditation by the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (FACCS).

Overall Learning Reflection

During my internship at Brush Arbor Christian School (BACS), I wore many hats. An example of this is that one day I wore the substitute teaching hat and used that time to impart practical skills in US flag etiquette and history. The school's US and World History teacher asked me to present a US flag lesson to his class, given my prior knowledge of the flag from my time in the US Army. Teaching this class made use of all of my skills, as this took two days, given that some classes missed the first day due to the class being at the Wednesday chapel service. For these substitute teaching days, I developed a lesson plan for teaching in a Christian High School classroom, which included a quick history of the U.S. flag, basic U.S. flag etiquette, how to present, handle, store, discard, raise, lower, and fold a U.S. flag. Through meetings with BACS School Board and FACCS Accreditation dinner. Another day the hat changed again as I found myself a School Board Member which focused on the strategic planning and development of the BACS mission, vision and philosophy of education. On another day my hat changed again to be the main guest speaker at the Wednesday morning chapel service focusing the message on honoring the veterans by teaching the history of the US founding fathers and mostly to honor God who graciously blessed the United States with the infusing of a rich Christian heritage. Choosing how to craft a chapel message for kindergartners and 80 year old hardened veterans in the same audience was a challenge. However this was overcome with God's help through prayer and waiting for the Holy Spirit's guidance. Always changing from one role to another while continually communicating truth (Eph 4:15) in a graceful way (Col 4:6), and giving honor to whom honor is due (Rom 13:7) was difficult but rewarding as well knowing that it was all accomplished through God's power (1 Pet 4:11) and was done for His glory (1 Cor 10:31).

Learning Reflection

As I developed and demonstrated communication, I have learned that I can use my prior military service to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to other veterans and invite them to fellowship at our church to connect with God and each other based on a similar history. I enjoyed speaking on what I know about, which makes it easier to communicate those points of knowledge with others in a way others are unable to. What matters most is using my previous roles to help the audience build a relationship with Jesus. I've learned that even though I'm knowledgeable in certain areas, that doesn't make me an expert, and that I need to fact-check my information before presenting to a crowd of 140+ people. I'm reminded to show appreciation and honor for those who have made great sacrifices for our country, while at the same time acknowledging that Jesus Christ made the greatest sacrifice for people's freedom from the cost of their sins. I've learned that my previous work in developing a Christian philosophy of education has helped me contribute concise, clear language to the strategic planning of BACS' Mission, Goals, and Philosophy of Education. I remember at a school board meeting that the principal needed to host a Christian education event for the upcoming FACCS accreditation process. I told her that we just recently had a Christian educator give a three-day workshop on Family Life Education. Citing my DTS paper, I stated that the purpose of Christian Education was to support the ministry of the parents to raise their children to ensure that “the generation to come might know them the commandments of God, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children.” (Psalm 78:6-7 KJV). She replied that it was brilliant and used it as her Christian Education event to check off one more thing for accreditation.

Lifelong Learning

As a result of the experiences documented by these artifacts, I will continue to develop my communication skills by actively listening to those I am communicating with. I am dedicated to serving them in order to minister effectively. I will also improve in this area by maintaining a positive attitude in difficult situations and by learning to counsel others in distress compassionately. Furthermore, I will continue to teach or preach what the Lord calls me to communicate to others. Moving forward, I will work on my public speaking skills so I can be a more natural and clear speaker when I give my next big presentation or teaching event.