Bethany Jean & Santiago Meekins-Coloma
Serving with Resourcing Christian Educators
Bethany Jean & Santiago Meekins-Coloma
As they gear up for their 12th year of ministry in Quito, Ecuador, Bethany and Santiago continue to minister at the Alliance Academy International (AAI) serving students and families from over 30 nationalities in Christian education. Bethany advances in her role as Elementary Principal at the Alliance Academy International leading a dedicated team of 55 Christian educators who are devoted to discipling hearts in the truth of Christ to the praise of His Glory (Eph.1). As the elementary counselor/psychologist, Santiago oversees response to student needs by facilitating accommodation plans for students with social-emotional needs, responding to cases of suspected abuse as the primary investigator, and teaching Life Skills classes. Under Bethany's leadership, the AAI elementary program has continued to expand in its mission to educate students through a Biblical worldview. As an increasing number of students joining the AAI are from non-Christ-believing families, the responsibility to cultivate understanding of the Gospel and deeper relationship with Christ among our students and community members has grown. That is, not only is their daily mission to provide quality education to each student, but to seize every opportunity to disciple hearts; whether it is while overseeing lunch duty, teaching social skills to students, engaging in student government meetings, managing discipline, conducting budget meetings, or interviewing prospective students.
The purpose of each interaction and decision is that every student would grow in their understanding of the Gospel message:
· He/she has been created with intrinsic value in the image of God, but he/she is separated from God as a result of sin that leads to death.
· However, because of the substitutionary death of Christ on the cross (the righteous for the unrighteous), redemption is possible for each one that proclaims Jesus Christ is Lord.
· Thereafter, being sealed with the Holy Spirit, he/she is being renewed in knowledge and called to live a life worthy of the calling we have received!
As part of a ministry in which Bethany and Santiago engage with students over 40 hours a week, 40 weeks a year, they are devoted to the discipleship of hearts. They have been missionaries through CAMP-of-the-WOODS since 2008.
As an organization, RCE International is recognized as a leader in serving the global Christian school community. The purpose of Resourcing Christian Education International (RCE) is to serve Christian education ministries in their mission of providing exceptional educational opportunities with a biblical foundation and Christian worldview. The team is comprised of over 400 educators serving in 60 schools around the world. RCE partners with and assists educational institutions that range from traditional primary and secondary education schools to Christian colleges, seminaries and adult education centers. with the goal of assisting them to excel in the ministries to which God has called them.