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