From a Heart for Missions to a Classroom in Germany

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Dani Heiderscheid has always been drawn to the lives and work of missionaries. Growing up in Minnesota, she was fascinated by the idea of living overseas and serving God in response to His calling. She read biographies and sat with missionaries at the church potluck, soaking in their stories. Still, Dani couldn’t see herself in that role. She didn’t think she had what it took and thought maybe God was calling her to stay.

“I started teaching locally in Minnesota,” Dani said, “and I remember after my first year teaching, I prayed and I said, ‘Okay Lord, I still have a heart to go abroad and to go overseas, but teens in Minnesota need discipleship too. So if that's what you have for me then I'm content to stay.’”

Little did she know, God was already preparing her to go.

Equipped and Sent with TeachBeyond

During Dani’s second year of teaching in Minnesota, she learned about some opportunities to teach abroad and came across the website of Black Forest Academy (BFA), an international Christian school located in Kandern, Germany. The school serves nearly 300 students from grades 5-12, supporting the ongoing work of missionary families by providing a place for their children to learn so their parents can continue to serve where God has called them. On average, this impacts work happening in about 50 countries every year.

Dani suddenly realized that she could use the gifts God had given her to support the mission work she had always had an interest in.

“It was just this beautiful moment where it was like ... maybe these passions God put on my heart, He put them on there for a reason.”

Dani connected with TeachBeyond, a global Christian education mission organization. Through TeachBeyond, she was supported and trained, set up with a coach to help her raise support, and she attended an in-person orientation before leaving for Germany.

Life on Life Discipleship at Black Forest Academy

Dani has been teaching English at BFA for two years now. But her role goes far beyond teaching. Because many of the students live on campus, Dani gets to participate in life-on-life discipleship, whether that’s around a lunch table, during soccer trips, or while washing dishes in the dorm.

“There are just so many of these opportunities that you get to connect with students towards discipleship that are organic and natural because we are sharing life,” Dani said. “And a lot of those times the relationships start in the classroom and then we get the chance to go deeper and walk deeper with them in really intentional and personal ways. That is something that I just absolutely love about teaching here.”

Reaching the Nations through Education

In one parent-teacher conference, Dani learned just how impactful BFA was for the families it serves.

“She was just expressing gratitude basically, and she said, ‘the gospel is in’ and then listed the country where they serve, ‘because you are in Germany.’”

Dani is in Germany because God called her to missions in a unique and powerful way. But she wouldn’t be there without the support of family, friends and ministry partners.

“I would take that one step further and say, ‘the gospel is in the nations because I'm in Germany, and I'm in Germany because you have sent me,’” Dani said. “And wow, what a vision for the way that God uses the church and he uses the generosity of his people to send the gospel out into the world. We all can play a role in that, whether we are going and serving or whether we're staying and sending.”

TeachBeyond is sending missionary teachers like Dani all over the world. With willing hearts and the training they need to serve, these teachers are helping students draw close to Jesus. They are having a meaningful impact on their lives and are equipping them with lessons that will shape their futures.

Will you help us send more teachers like Dani?

During the Day of Giving on November 12, TeachBeyond is raising funds that will help send Christian teachers to wherever they are most needed. From now through the Day of Giving, any gift you give will go 3X as far thanks to matching funds.

Your generosity can help send more teachers, reach more students, and have an eternal impact through transformational education.

If you are interested in teaching overseas at a Christian school, check out TeachBeyond’s opportunity board for open positions.