Back to School Message shared by General Secretary Rev. Dr. Gina C. Jacobs-Strain
“I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go.” —Psalm 32:8 (NRSV)
Dear American Baptist family, It’s time to head back to school! Across our country, students, teachers, administrators, faculty, parents, guardians, and school communities are beginning another academic year—from pre-kindergarten classrooms to those pursuing terminal degrees. It is a season filled with firsts: the first day of school, the first day of middle school, the first day of high school, the first day of college, and countless other new beginnings. Excitement, new hopes and dreams are ahead. For some communities, the school year has already begun; in others, students return after Labor Day. Whenever the new school year begins, there is a familiar rhythm and joyful anticipation in the air. Our highways and byways become busier as families adjust to new schedules. On many roads, there are signs that read, “Schools are open. Watch for children.” School bus drivers begin their days helping to set the tone for students before they even arrive at school. Teachers are decorating classrooms, preparing syllabi, updating curricula, welcoming families, and planning for the year ahead. Healthy menus, as well as sweet treats, are being considered and thoughtfully prepared. Sports teams, marching bands, cheerleaders, and majorettes have often been preparing for months. There is something beautiful about this season of anticipation—the expectation of new friendships, new discoveries, new challenges, and new opportunities to learn and grow. For some, the summer was long, and the familiar routine of school days was sorely missed and will be enthusiastically embraced. There is a joy-filled buzz in the air as we anticipate all the new things the school year may bring. As American Baptists, let us be intentional in praying for our schools and the communities they serve. Let us pray for school budgets and resources sufficient to support every student, and let us pray for communities, businesses, churches, and civic leaders to come alongside our schools and help address the needs that too often exceed available resources. Let us especially pray for families who may be anxious about sending their children to school because of violence, discrimination, limited resources, or unhealthy learning environments. May we work together to ensure that every student has the opportunity to learn in a place where they are safe, valued, respected, and able to discover the gifts God has placed within them. Let us pray. Most gracious and awesome God, we thank you for the gift of new beginnings and for the promise held in every first day of school. We thank you for the curiosity of students, the dedication of educators, and the love of families. Please bless students, teachers, faculty, administrators, parents, guardians, counselors, support staff, bus drivers, coaches, and the many people whose work makes learning and discovery possible. Lord, please make our schools places of refuge, safety, and belonging; places where students can be curious, creative, challenged, encouraged, and celebrated. Please bless school security teams, local law enforcement, and all who are entrusted with creating safe learning environments. Surround our children and young people with teachers, mentors, administrators, coaches, counselors, and communities that recognize their gifts and nurture their potential. Please especially bless those who are not eager or able to return to school due to limited resources, unhealthy environments, discrimination, or violence. Lord, please facilitate meaningful collaboration among educators, families, administrators, community organizers, businesses, churches, and civic leaders. Please give them wisdom, creativity, and courage to discover solutions that strengthen our schools and serve the common good. Gracious God, please bless students and educators all over the world, enabling all to blossom and flourish in safe and supportive communities. Enable us to build bridges of collaboration, trust, and respect. Lord, provide for families who are struggling to meet the demands of a new school year. Please encourage our students who are facing uncertainty, loneliness, anxiety, or fear, and remind them that they are seen, valued, loved, and never alone. For those beginning something new, give them courage; for those returning to familiar routines, renew their joy; for those carrying burdens we cannot see, surround them with people who will listen, encourage, and walk alongside them. Please allow our schools to be places of inclusion, warmth, discovery, and celebration—places where academic curiosity is inspired and nurtured. Loving God, please allow our churches to continue to be present not only with our prayers but with our hands, our resources, our advocacy, and our love. May our congregations continue to be places of encouragement and support for schools, educators, students, and families. Creator God, we entrust this new beginning to You, knowing that You are already present in every classroom, every hallway, every school bus, every athletic field, every campus, and every home preparing for the year ahead. May your abundant love guide us as we learn, lead, serve, and grow together. May we never forget that every student is a gift, full of possibility, purpose, and promise. Schools are open; let us watch and pray! We ask for these blessings in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Rev. Dr. Gina C. Jacobs-Strain General Secretary American Baptist Churches USA | 
