Written by Megan Caudle
What does it mean to be a human being?
Is being a human being about how much we earn, what line of work we are in, or the difference we make in the world?
At our core, we are not human doings ‒ we are human beings. Edify enables proprietors, teachers, and students to live in this truth.
Start at the Beginning: The Story of Creation
To understand our identity, we must begin with the story of creation in Genesis. According to Jewish tradition, this account was first given to the Israelites after their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. These were people whose value had been tied to their productivity ‒ the number of bricks they made each day.
Yet God does not start with the law. He begins with this story of creation, not with rules. Why?
The Chiasm of Genesis: Finding the Center
The creation story in Genesis can be read as a chiasm, a literary structure that mirrors itself. The first chapter of Genesis is broken into days/paragraphs with the following sizes: small (v. 3-5), medium (v. 6-8), large (v. 9-13), large (v. 14-19), medium (v. 20-23), and the creation of humanity, which should be a small paragraph but is actually the largest (v. 24-31). Since it is broken into six parts, we find the center of the chiasm resting in Day 4, and on a key Hebrew word: moadim.
Moadim is one of the four Hebrew words for the Sabbath. It means “appointed times”, times of rest, celebration, and sacred rhythm.
This central word reminds the Israelites (and us) that:
- Their value is not based on output
- They were created for rest, celebration, and relationship with God
- They are not defined by what they do, but by who they are in Christ, for they can do no good apart from Him (John 15:5, Rom. 7:18)
God uses this story to redefine the Israelites’ identity. They are not slaves who produce, but they are beloved beings who rest, rejoice, and belong.
The Link to Edify’s Mission
This foundational truth, that humanity has dignity and inherent worth because it is made in the image of God, is woven deeply into Edify’s business model. Edify’s three core approaches ‒ Training, Loan Capital, and Education Technology ‒ support human flourishing by helping individuals become who God created them to be.
Training
Training says: “This is hard, but I believe you can not only learn it, but train others someday.” It affirms a person’s potential and dignity as a learner and future leader. Professional development empowers proprietors and teachers to envision the promise of their school and to pursue change because they now believe it is truly possible. Training also communicates that Edify is here to stay. They are committed to long-term relationships and walking alongside proprietors as they work to strengthen their schools.
Loan Capital
Loan capital communicates trust: “We believe you are wise enough to manage resources. You have the potential to plan, borrow, and repay with strategy and stewardship.” These funding levels the playing field with more privileged schools. No longer held back by a lack of resources, these schools gain access to new opportunities that ignite creativity and inspire hope for their future.
Education Technology
With Ed Tech, Edify declares: “You and your students deserve access to modern tools and high-quality education. You are worthy of tech no matter where you are.” It reflects the belief that every child bears the image of God and deserves the opportunity to be challenged. It showcases one of Edify’s core values that all things should be done with excellence and high integrity. These children should not receive a mediocre Christian education, but one that is complex, well-rounded, and pushes them daily to grow professionally and spiritually.
Conclusion: Where the Story Really Begins
It is important to observe that God doesn’t begin our story in Genesis 3, with the fall. He begins in Genesis 1, with creation, with goodness, and with a vision for humanity. God proclaims creation is “good” for five days. On the sixth day, God created man and “He saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good” (Gen. 1:31).
The Lord does not use the word “perfect”, for this word has the connotation that there is nowhere to go from there; it is a static concept. Creation was good. It was dynamic. It was and is loaded with potential and the promise that it is going somewhere. Also, as noted earlier regarding the chiastic structure of Genesis 1, one might expect the creation of humanity to occupy only a small paragraph. Yet, God’s value of humanity gives it the largest and most emphasized section of the account.
We see the next story after creation in the Garden of Eden is God commanding man to go out and do something, to work and keep the garden (Gen. 2:15).
Edify reminds and equips school proprietors, teachers, and students that they are not merely human doings, but human beings ‒ capable of change, growth, work, and goodness because that is who God created them to be.
