Newsletter 97.

Reaping what you sow.

There have been a number of news reports recently concerning a school college in Papakura. Apparently there have been a number of violent brawls, sometimes involving about 150 children with a number of parents participating as well.

This is such a contrast to 20 years ago when my son was a pupil at this college. Then, there was little or no trouble involving the students.

What can have happened to cause such a change in the conduct of the students? I am sure other people will come up with a number of suggestions, but I would like to share my thoughts.

There are seven primary schools in the enrolment zone from which this college takes the majority of its students. As recently as ten years ago all schools in this zone had regular "Bible in school" classes, in which the children were taught good Biblical moral values such as respect, honesty, caring, self discipline and tolerance. Gradually, most of there primary schools have stopped their "Bible" classes, so that presently only two still maintain them, and even in these only a few classes are allowed to hold them.

It seems to me that, unfortunately, this Papakura college is now reaping what has been sown (or rather what has not been sown) into the majority of the local children. No, we shouldn’t be thinking of stopping these classes. Rather, we should be thinking of having more of them.

Maurice Sweetsur

 Newsletter 96.

Our Stories - "Melt my heart."

Megan - A testimony.

Over the last twenty four years I have been fortunate enough to teach "Bible" to thousands of children on a regular basis. The vast majority of the children come from non-Christian homes. Although I have now forgotten most of those children, I sometimes wonder how they are all getting along in life, and whether their Bible lessons have had any lasting impact on them. However, I have often been blessed and encouraged to hear "good reports" concerning a number of my former pupils, indicating that their Bible lessons have made a difference to at least some of their lives. I would like to share about one of them - Megan.

 A number of years ago I began teaching 'Bible' at a low Decile school in South Auckland. I must admit that I was somewhat apprehensive at the prospect at taking these 7 - 9 year olds. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the good behaviour and attentiveness of the whole of the class. But one 9 year old girl in particular stood out - Megan. She was charming, friendly, enthusiastic, helpful, an obvious leader - judging by the number of children who always seemed to follow her about, and was usually the first with her hand up to answer my questions - being one of only a few who attended church.

 As Megan made such a big impression on me, I added her to my Prayer list. I have a friend who attends the church Megan went to, and I would therefore sometimes ask about Megan. Unfortunately the reports about Megan gradually got worse and worse. - - She refused to go to church, - - she was disobedient, - - rebellious, - - had shaved off her long blonde hair, saying she hated being a girl and wished she was a boy! On top of this Megan's family had many other problems. In the 'natural' I began to despair of Megan's future.

I hadn't heard anything about Megan for over a year, but one Sunday I was sharing at a church in a different part of the city - and there was Megan! It was Megan that actually recognised me (I still remembered her as a 9 year old, not a vivacious 15 year old). She came over to thank me for being among those who had had a positive impact on her life during her formative years, said that she was really enjoying her new church (she had been attending for a year) and had recently been water baptised.

It is children like Megan that are the motivating force that keeps me wanting to continue sharing God's Word with youngsters through ":Bible in school" lessons.

"Sow your seed in the morning, and in the evening let not your hands be idle, for you know not which will succeed - perhaps it all will." Ecclesiastes 11. 6.

"I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." 2 Timothy 1. 12.

Maurice Sweetsur

Other letters and comments that have melted my heart.

From children.

"I am 23 years old now and have been attending and serving at Equippers Church in Manukau for the past year and I officially got baptised in April this year which was amazing! I did mention your name in my testimony as I first learnt about Christ through you. So THANK YOU very very much for everything that you have taught me at Everglade Primary as I still remember your teachings and hold those memories in my heart. Every time I think about you I want to cry because I am filled with so much gratitude. Thank you for placing God in my life and thank you God for placing Maurice in mine." ------------------- Diana.

"You made stories in the Bible relate to us." ------- Ashley (Aged 11).

"You made 'Bible' so interesting, funny and enjoyable. Learning about Jesus and God was a lot of fun. Now this year you teach my brother, and he always comes home and tells us what you have taught him. I enjoy listening to him to see what you have been getting up to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ." Olivia (aged 13).

 "I really enjoy your tricks and Memory verses. They are a lot of fun. When I got home I forgave my sister, and now we seem to be getting along a lot better. I pray for my family and other people like you, and for people who are sick." Danielle (aged 10).

"Please come back next year. If you hadn't come this year, most of us wouldn't know how much fun 'Bible' can be." Breanna (aged 9). 

From my class teachers.

"Thank you for giving Room 7 an amazing year of lessons. I have really appreciated your imput into the lives of my class. Your visits were the highlight of my week."

"Thank you very much for coming and sharing the Bible with my class. It is wonderful to see them so enthusiastic about 'Bible' each week, and to hear the conversations it sparks later on."

"At the beginning of the year, three pupils were withdrawn from 'Bible' lessons by their parents. By the end of the year, they were all attending your class!"

Laugh out loud.

I thought I would share a few interesting comments that I have heard children come up with in my Bible classes over the last few years. Each one has either amused, blessed or challenged me (in some cases all at the same time!). I hope they do the same for you.

1. Child. " I don't believe in God."
Her Friend. "But there must be a God. If there was no God, we wouldn't have Bible lessons!"

2. "Thank you for being my Bible teacher. You have taught me everything you know."

3. "God spoke to me last night, just like He spoke to Samuel. He told me to go and tell my Granny that He loves her. So I did."

4. "I know that God loves me because He made me. if He didn't love me, He wouldn't have made me."

5. "Please forgive me for being naughty in class last week. Please also forget what I did."

Mistakes I made when I first started teaching "Bible." 

 1. When I first started teaching "Bible" to children in schools, I was allocated (probably because I was a man) a really unruly class. I think I was only taking my second lesson, when two boys started fighting. My solution? Transfer the problem! I sent them outside. A few minutes later, two more boys started fighting. I told those two to leave the room as well. And then in my exasperation I added "And if any of you other children can't behave and want to leave the room, you can do so right now." To my horror, nearly all the remaining children got up and walked out. I was left to continue my lesson with only about four out of the original thirty children! Fortunately, we are able to learn from our mistakes.

2. At the beginning of one lesson, the children were taking a long time to settle down. There was a low 'murmuring' in the background. I couldn't detect exactly where it was coming from, so I gave two or three general warnings. The murmuring continued. Finally, I said something like "Will the person who is talking stop it right now, or there will be trouble." Suddenly, I located the source - it was the class teacher! A second teacher had come into the class, and the two of them were having a hushed conversation in the corner of the room.

3. I had been teaching one class on how Jesus wants us to follow (copy) him. To illustrate the point, I concluded the lesson by getting the children to follow me by copying everything I did. I did such things as standing, sitting, waving my arms, hopping, jumping, walking around, etc. The children participated enthusiastically, but then the bell went to end the lesson. I said "Sit down and wait quietly for your teacher to return." Their response was "Sit down and wait quietly for your teacher to return!"

I stood up and walked to the door. The children stood up and followed me to the door. I said "Don't be so silly. The game is over. Sit down and wait for your teacher." They replied "Don't be so silly. The game is over. Sit down and wait for your teacher."

I thought "Well, at least when I leave the classroom, the children will realise that the game is over." I went through the door and started walking down the corridor. About half the class followed me. I said "Get back to your classroom before you get in trouble." Their response? That's right. "Get back to your classroom before you get in trouble!"

I thought "When I get outside the school building, the children will cease following me then." How wrong I was. They followed me out of the building and across the playground. I quickened my pace. So did the children. I made one last appeal to them to return to their classroom - with the usual response. I was getting desperate. Should I lead the children back to their classroom and explain to their teacher, who had probably returned by now and was wondering where half her class had gone, what had happened?

I rounded a corner, and practically bumped into the school Principal. That definitely was the end of the game. I have never seen children move so fast as they scurried back to their classroom!

Maurice Sweetsur

​A tribute to "Bible in schools" teacher John Cox ​(1928 - 2019).

​

​John Cox was a committed "Bible in schools" teacher for over 30 years, convening classes at Papakura Normal school and Papakura South school (now Kereru Park) as well as taking classes at Takanini, Cosgrove, Kelvin Road, Edmund Hillary, and possibly other schools.

I first met John in 1993, shortly after I arrived from the UK. I heard about the work of Churches Education Commission and was keen to get involved. Papakura area coordinator Pastor Bevan Whyte passed my name onto John who had a vacancy for a teacher in his team at Papakura Normal school. I expected John to contact me - but he didn't! Looking back, that was a typical reaction from John. He was always careful to ensure that Bible teachers at "his" schools were all of an acceptable standard, and thus was probably reluctant to take a chance on an unknown Englishman! However, about six weeks later, John did invite me to join his team. I am not sure whether the delay was because he tried but failed to get someone else before deciding to take a risk on me, or because he spent time "checking me out." I suspect the latter. I remained in John's team until about 3 years ago. John, himself, continued convening and teaching for a further year, finally stepping down at age 89!

John Cox was quite a remarkable storyteller.  Many would say that he was old fashioned, usually using flannelgraph to illustrate his Bible stores - but the children were always intrigued by it. Working with assembly type classes of around 100 children, we worked as a team with each teacher taking a designated part of the lesson. John would usually teach the Bible story as the conclusion. Unfortunately, we other teachers sometimes took less or more of our allotted time slots. This meant that John had to expand, or more often, contract his story at very short notice. But he always did so seamlessly. Even if he had to cut his story time in half, he could always do so in an unhurried way and manage to cover all the relevant points. 

John always began and concluded his lessons with prayer for the children, and he would always find time to read "the Word of God." Usually, about half way through his Bible story, he would pause from adding figures to his flannelgraph board, and say "Now, let's see what the Bible says about this." Having read from the Bible, he would go on to conclude his story.

Occasionally there would be a little too much background noise coming from the children. When this happens, I am sure that most teachers will raise their voices a little so as to be heard. John actually would go in the other direction and began to speak very quietly. And on nearly every occasion, the children would quieten down so that they could hear him!

John Cox was a very generous man. Every year, with the permission of the schools, he would give out Easter eggs at Easter and copies of Gospels (in rotation Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) at Christmas to over 200 children.

John Cox worked tirelessly for the Kingdom. As well as his work in the schools, he was always very active in the different Papakura churches he attended over many years, namely First Presbyterian church, Rosehill Presbyterian, and Harvest Christian church. John was also heavily involved with the Sunday school union and the Peter Snell Youth camp.

I am sure that John will have enjoyed hearing the words "Well done good and faithful servant" in his new glorious home.

Maurice Sweetsur

Two Special Christmas presentations - “What is Christmas all about?” and “The Christmas gift.”

(Adaptable to fit any time frame required)

Uncle Maurice

Children's Christian Entertainer

"Teaching Bible truths to children in a fun-filled way"

Ventriloquism - Gospel illusions - Puppets - Fun stories - Balloon animals.

Available for ministry at School Assemblies, Family services, Kid's churches, Camps, Kid's clubs, Holiday programmes, Uniformed organisations, etc.

(No group too large or too small to minister to).

No charge made in the Auckland area.

Tel. 09 5572728

Email: mnmsweetsur@hotmail.com

(For more information, check out my Blog at www.unclemaurice.blogspot.com ) 

Children’s Birthday parties.

Uncle Maurice is available to take birthday parties for primary school aged children. Fun, illusions, ventriloquism etc. They can have a Christian or a non-Christian theme, and every child will receive a balloon animal.

Please contact me for details.

Three recent testimonies.

“You are an inspiration, Maurice! You are an example of what Christian education is supposed to be.”

Barend Blom, Principal, Tyndale Park Christian school.

“Once again you have blessed us richly. Thank you for generously sharing God’s love and Word with us.”

Jireh Christian school community.

“Thank you Uncle Maurice for your wonderful ministry of reaching out to children in a creative way. Salvation Army, Flat Bush has truly been blessed by your lovely presentations.”