Best Christian Places to Work: Freedom and Grace

In late February, Christianity Today announced the results of the first Best Christian Places to Work survey, a landmark study commissioned by CT and administered by the Best Christian Workplaces Institute. It is the largest survey ever conducted on the attitudes of employees at Christian workplaces, with more than 8,500 respondents across a range of industries.

A panel of independent judges selected four companies in ten categories for special recognition. For two weeks CT is saluting the first place organizations in each category.

Private Christian Schools

Covenant Christian High School Indianapolis, Indiana

Eight years ago, Jim Spencer was coaxed out of retirement to become the first administrator of Covenant Christian High School (CCHS), which in its first year amounted to 16 ninth-graders meeting in a church basement.

“That was the longest year of my life. I wanted to quit ten times,” Spencer says. But he persevered, and today CCHS sits on top of 21 acres of land in an $8 million state-of-the-art facility, educating 320 students from all over the world. “All I knew about running a business was to hire the very best people I could find and then let them do their job with the minimum amount of interference,” Spencer says.

Judging from what employees say about their school, it appears he has succeeded. “It’s the best place in the world to work because all of my colleagues, without exception, are not only well educated and highly qualified, but they are excited about what they teach and love working with teenagers,” says math teacher Jane Taylor.

The employees also appreciate the culture of freedom and grace that Covenant’s leaders have created. Teachers and staff are encouraged to be creative and to teach their classes in the way they choose, as well as to take initiative in solving any resource-related problems they might have.

Spanish teacher Andy Goodwin started an immersion-only Spanish program from scratch that includes missions trips to Mexico. “Other educators in this field are simply not allowed to teach a language with the language and extend the classroom beyond the four walls with purpose and service,” he says. “I’m incredibly blessed to work here.”