The Soil Matters - Cultivating Character for Growth and Personal Development
As an educator, I often reflect on what truly makes education transformative – not in terms of academics, but more holistically, inclusive of socio-emotional and spiritual aspects.
In Jesus’ parable of the Sower, a Sower scatters seeds across four types of ground: the path, rocky soil, thorny soil, and the good soil. From each soil we get different yields, though the seed remains the same (Matthew 13:3-9). The seed is good and consistent, but it only bears fruit in one type of ground: good soil. This parable reveals for us a very profound pedagogical truth: the condition of the soil—metaphorically understood as the human heart and character—determines the growth and fruitfulness of any seed sown, be it God’s Word or our words as educators and families.
The second profound thing that emerges from this parable is the portrayal of the soil, not simply as a passive receptacle, but an active agent in growth and development. In the Bible, the heart is portrayed as the seat of character and responsiveness. From the latter, may I present that the fruitfulness of the seed depends significantly on the condition of the soil; what I would like to suggest represents the character of each individual student. This suggestion implies that a central concern in Christian Education is character formation, through the transformation of the inmost dimension of the human being – the heart. When character is shallow, hardened, or overgrown with weeds, growth and development are impeded. At Emmanuel, we believe that it is not enough to provide academic instruction; we, together with our families, must also work consistently on developing hearts that are resilient, humble, and responsive to truth. Our conviction being that, if we negate the moral and spiritual formation of our students, even the best ‘seeds’ will wither or be choked out by the distractions and pressures of the world.
“Like Christ says, this seed can yield ‘a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown’”
In his book Renovation of the Heart, Dallas Willard (2002) postulates that spiritual formation is the process of transforming the human heart to increasingly reflect the character of Christ. Scripture teaches us that every person is created Imago Dei - in the image of God. This intrinsic value affirms that our students are never blank slates, but beings with God-given capacities for logic, morality, creativity, and relationship. These attributes lie latent, waiting to be nurtured; hence Christian Education is not merely a process of imparting information but a cultivation of what God has already embedded within each learner. At the same time, we are fully aware that transformation is initiated and sustained through the sowing of God’s seed (Romans 10:17). Christian educators then, act as Sowers—planting seeds of Scripture, truth, and virtue that may not yet be present in the student’s heart. Thus, for Christian educators, the roles of sowing and nurturing are entwined, and we are called to do both.
At Emmanuel, the above implies that we prioritise character formation above behaviour management. This means that we constantly and consistently create an environment where our students are challenged to grow intellectually but also in hope, love, faith, compassion, and integrity. As educators, we also model these virtues and build rhythms of prayer, sharing the Word, reflection and service into our school culture. Our firm belief is that when the soil of a student’s character is rich, the growth is undeniable. The seed finds depth, takes root, and begins to flourish. Like Christ says, this seed can yield ‘a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown’ (Matthew 13:8). This yield is not just personal—though it brings joy and maturity to the individual student—it also blesses others and the community at large.
As I conclude, it is important for us to note that the cultivating of good soil is not incidental nor automatic; it is a product of sustained intentional effort. We need to labour in developing resilient, rich, and receptive hearts in our students. Moving ahead in this academic year, let us recommit to the work of soil cultivation. Families, educators, mentors, and community leaders have a part to play in tending the garden for the next generation. May I encourage us to be faithful students at this task, knowing that soil matters and trusting that God will bring forth a harvest in due time.
Lifeas Kapofu - Principal
