I had been reading books on radical faith, about people who had stepped out with God to do amazing things. As my faith grew, I was anxious to try it out and see what it could do. I even told God I wanted to get out of the boat, so-to-speak, and walk on water. But when the opportunity presented itself I didn’t recognize it, which began a whole new set of tests, trials, and lessons on my journey with God.
When the teaching director at Community Bible Study called to inform me that I had been recommended to be a children’s Bible teacher for the following year, I couldn’t help but laugh. The idea of me being a children’s teacher seemed so ridiculous that I told her there must be some mistake. Quickly she checked her records, asked me my name, and then said “No, no mistake.” After explaining to her that I didn’t have any teaching experience, no children, and hadn’t been a christian all that long, I thought it would obviously end the conversation. Instead, she informed me that they had a training program. And further shared that they are a praying bunch, indicating it was no accident I’d been recommended, and if by chance there had been a mistake, my name would not have made it through the many prayer sessions before calling me. She then asked me to pray about it, paying attention to pertinent scripture that comes to me, and to let her know my decision in a few days. I told her I would. So I prayed, and before I knew it I was calling to tell her I’d do it. But, only thinking it was a test of my faith that would be called off at the next step.
The next step in the process was a get-to-know-you luncheon given by the director and leadership team for all the new leaders. On the way to the luncheon a song came on the radio that got my attention. I’d heard it many times before but hadn’t ever noticed how it started until that moment. It began with the words “You and I must make a pact. We must bring salvation back.” The song continued, “Where there is love, I’ll be there. I’ll reach out my hand to you. I’ll have faith in all you do. Just call my name and I’ll be there.” It was the song “I’ll be there” sung by Michael Jackson, but it felt like it was God speaking to me. Was this God’s way of letting me know that this teacher idea is from Him, I wondered.
The luncheon was very nice, and it was inspiring for me just being around all those ladies of faith. After we ate, the teaching director told a little about herself and then asked that we take turns going around the table, each one sharing something. I found it interesting that the director of the children’s ministry didn’t have any children either. It touched me when she said “But I feel like I have a hundred children.” As much as it all seemed to be pointing me towards accepting the position, there was still time for it to be called off. The interview with the teaching director, where I would be expected to commit my time two mornings a week for 8 months, wasn’t for a couple weeks.
The following week, during my Bible study group, I was given another even more powerful reason for accepting the position. It came while reading the verse in the gospel of Luke where Jesus told the disciples to let the children come to Him. That’s when I felt the Lord say to me, “If you tell a child about Me, then that child won’t have to go through life without Me like you did.” I knew it wasn’t something I would have thought. And if it was God, how could I possibly ignore such a thought?
Losing hope that it would be called off, as the interview with the teaching director approached, I started taking the idea more seriously. As scary and unlikely as it was that I could somehow be a children’s Bible teacher, at the same time I wanted to trust and follow God. So, with just a couple hours left before the interview, I prayed “Lord, I know I shouldn’t ask this when you’ve already given me two powerful answers, but I need one more confirmation to be sure it’s from You.”
The morning of the interview happened to be my group’s turn to serve in the children’s department. Although it was my second time that year to assist a teacher in a classroom, this was a chance to picture myself as the teacher and to get a feel for if I was going to like it. Right away I got involved with the kids, playing games and helping with their crafts. One little boy didn’t seem to want to do what the teacher had planned. While the other kids were singing songs and reciting their memory verses, he was going around the room pinching them. After many attempts to get the boy to stop, the teacher asked me to take him to the children’s director.
So, I took hold of his little hand and we walked toward the table area where I knew to find the children’s director. Silently, I sympathized with him, thinking it must feel like being sent to the principal’s office. With the tables in sight, the boy began talking. As I knelt down to listen, he told me he had trouble settling down because the video games he played before class were still all going through his head. Wow, I couldn’t help but think that was important information he had shared with me. So, I tried to help him by asking “What if you focused on what the teacher was saying, do you think all the video game stuff might go away?” He nodded yes, as we continued toward the tables. When we got there though, no one was there. As I reached to open the gate to check the playground, I felt a tug on my hand. The boy told me he would be good if I took him back to class. “You’ll concentrate on your lesson and do what the teacher says?” I asked. After promising, we returned to class just in time for me to head over to my interview.
On my way to meet the teaching director, I couldn’t help but think the experience with the boy was the one additional confirmation I had prayed for. It showed me that I would be able to handle the children, with God there. As I walked into the interview, even with the three really strong reasons I’d been given for taking the position, I was still having a hard time committing. “What if I didn’t like it? It would be a really long year,” I was thinking. Then the director happened to say the only words that would relieve my fear enough to be able to make the commitment. She said “Why don’t you get started, and if you find you don’t like it, come tell me and we’ll find you something else.”
To be continued . . . see Anointville
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