Maturing in Faith at Liberty: An Interview with Spiritual Formation Director, Mr. John Hann
Glorifying Christ at the Core of Our Curriculum
We often default the concept of "training" to matters of physical ability or mental recall. What if we viewed the molding of our faith, our pursuit to become more like Christ, in the same way? Maturing in our Christian walks isn't passive but active. Thus, training provides the instruction and tools to foster a flourishing relationship with Christ. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." As we partner with parents in training up their child, Liberty Classical Academy focuses on developing the whole child: heart, soul, and mind.
Mr. John Hann, Spiritual Formation Director (as well as Head of the Bible and Rhetoric departments), spearheads Liberty's integration of faith throughout the school. "A biblical view of education is primarily about formation, not merely information," says Hann. "Thus, educating a child includes teaching informational content and developing moral character."
Q: What does spiritual formation practically look like when put into place during the school day/year?
A: The Liberty Spiritual Formation Program seeks to promote and maintain a joyful Christian culture at Liberty, to the glory of God, through coaching teachers, directing discipleship events and systems, and providing a pastoral presence to all. Spiritual formation occurs formally daily through periodic events like Speaker Chapels and Worship Chapels, weekly assemblies (Tuesday and Thursday mornings), and daily meetings in our House System. It also occurs informally through the relationships our teachers build with students, the discipline moments we navigate; and every class subject is taught with an integration to the Biblical Christian Worldview in order to reach the hearts of our students.
Q: What is Liberty's Spiritual Formation theme this year? Is there a reason you picked that theme for this year?
A: This year's theme has been "faith," or trusting in the Lord. It is drawn from Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." We chose this theme ultimately because we felt (due to several different circumstances) that this year was particularly momentous, and we wanted to lean into the LORD as our true hope and true King. It is not about taking our hands off and doing nothing, but remembering that it is not our own strength and power that moves things, but the sovereign power of the One True God, the LORD, Yahweh.
Q: What makes Liberty different from any other school that identifies as a Christian school? What do you think makes us unique when there are other Christian schools parents could choose?
A: Many private schools can offer a strong Christian education. The Liberty difference is not in that it has some special Christian education and spiritual formation per se; it lies in Liberty's unwavering commitment to classical rigor alongside a Biblical worldview, which is an essential part of Christian life. It is a more holistic approach that aligns with how God designed us which makes it more effective than schools that only focus on one or the other. Liberty aims to form the whole person and equip students with powerful skills. Liberty wants moral AND powerful graduates. Of course, many rightly fear the desire to be powerful. Lord Acton wisely warned: "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." Such is the idolatrous extreme: to make oneself ALL-powerful. It is a perversion of power. However, the antidote is not the other extreme: to make oneself inert. Instead (as is often the case), the right way lies between the extremes.
So, while the desire to be powerful may be uncomfortable to some, in Biblical Christianity, goodness and power are meant to be married. That is the rightful place for power. Young David was not weak (as we so often picture him). As a child, he slayed lions and chopped off a giant's head. Yet, he twice refused to kill murderous King Saul when the power to do so was put in his hands. Likewise, Jesus Christ himself is, of course, not weak. Indeed, unless Jesus is the all-powerful God, he could not atone for all sin. Yet, he endured the shame and pain of his public beating and execution on the cross.
The Bible calls us not to be weak but meek, which means power restrained, not powerless. Liberty Classical Academy wants its students to be both moral and powerful. THIS is at the heart of what makes Liberty Classical Academy special.
Q: Spiritually speaking, what are your hopes for a student who graduates from Liberty? How does the Spiritual Formation program impact that?
A: This is very simple: I want students who graduate from Liberty to have grown in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Now, that can mean wildly different things for different students. Broadly speaking, for students who graduate as followers of Jesus Christ, we hope they will continue growing in their faith that they will pursue and live out the Good, True, and Beautiful in all things: family, business, art, civics, friendships, etc. For students who graduate only knowing who Christ is, I hope God will use their experience at Liberty as part of how they one day become followers of Christ. The broadness here is highly intentional because the work is ultimately the LORD's. The goal is to have students become followers of Christ for themselves. Liberty’s role is to foster an atmosphere that provides opportunities for the Holy Spirit to move in a person's life.
Q: What do you find most rewarding about your role as Spiritual Formation Director at Liberty?
A: The most rewarding part about this role is the privilege of getting to speak into the lives of hundreds of young men and women. All I want is for God to use me to build his Kingdom and make disciples of Jesus Christ. I have gotten to do that for years as a teacher in the classroom, but now I get to do that all year long for the whole student body. It is both daunting and humbling. But God continues to reveal how he has equipped me for this role. Praise the LORD!
Discover How Liberty Integrates Faith into the Classroom
Faith is the lens through which our students see and discover.