During a spiritual retreat and nature encounter with her school personnel, Haggai Leader May Guillermo heard something from a teacher that stayed with her.

“Ma’am, you have changed so much. You love us more now.”

May smiled and replied, “Because I see Christ in each one of you.”

For May, the conversation confirmed that what God was changing in her heart had begun to shape how others experienced her leadership. A teacher in her care had noticed the difference.

As a school principal, May had already wanted to serve God through her work. She was also involved in ministry in her local church. But the Haggai Leader Experience prompted her to look more closely at the everyday responsibilities and relationships God had entrusted to her. Each thought, word, and action became an opportunity to honor him and help others know him.

“My work is no longer just about accomplishing tasks or achieving success; it is about faithfully representing Christ wherever God has placed me.”

That conviction found a place in the ordinary rhythm of school life. A flag ceremony became an opportunity to share a short Bible verse or a story that connected faith to daily life. Before faculty meetings, May made room for Bible reflection, an interactive activity and prayer. When families gathered for parent-teacher conferences and school programs, she shared brief Bible-based messages to encourage them.

Alongside those words, May sought to make the Gospel visible in how she treated people. She became more intentional about mentoring fellow educators and more compassionate toward those in her care. The teacher’s observation during the retreat gave her a glimpse of how that love was being received.

Through the HLE, May had also begun to reconsider what motivated her to serve. Recognition and rewards mattered less as her love for God increasingly shaped her purpose. Each day offered another opportunity for someone to experience his love and hear the Gospel.

Her school and church remained the places where she could put that purpose into practice. Leading staff, reaching out to families and responding to practical needs became opportunities to reflect Christ’s care. That included a willingness to share her own financial resources with people in genuine need.

May’s desire to become a successful leader had given way to a deeper calling: to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ who equips others to know him and make him known.

The teacher’s words brought that calling into focus. In the midst of her responsibilities as a principal, someone had experienced more of Christ’s love through the way she led.

written by Leah Spivak