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Index
: Discipleship Ministries :
Children's Ministry Index :
Articles
vKid’s Article by Dennis Nelson
I began my student teaching in the fall of 1973. I was young
and naive, excited, and yet scared all at the same time. I had learned from
my professors the principles behind teaching, but applying that knowledge to
a real class setting was a daunting and difficult task. I remember walking
into the classroom for the first time feeling completely out of place. I
wanted to run, hide, and get away.
I couldn’t hide the fact that I was “green” from the
students. As the semester creped along, I began to doubt myself and my words
began to cross and fragment. I knew I had to do something fast before I lost
the respect of the students. Unfortunately, my insecurities as a young man
surfaced and I found myself grasping for any sense of security. I reached
for the only thing I knew; control. I was tough on the kids. The problem was
that the students began to resent me and I was branded as the “Little
Hitler.” With each passing day the ridicule only worsened.
I knew what I had to do and I did it, I finished student
teaching and never went back. I have often pondered about the kind of
teacher I could have or the relationships that were forever terminated
because of my fear. I judged myself as a “quitter”. I convinced myself that
I would never be a teacher again I wasn’t fit for the work.
For some very curious reason God has a way of bringing us
full circle in our lives. In 2006 my son Erik asked me and my wife to help
out in Children’s Ministry as teachers. He told me that there had been a
shortage of Sunday school helpers. I honestly agreed to teach because I felt
sorry for my son’s need and wanted to help him out.
As I started to teach Sundays, those old fears that had
paralyzed me 30 years before began to well up again as I knew they would.
However, this time I fought them by giving my insecurities and past to God.
Remarkably, I began to calm down and a great miracle happened, I started
enjoying myself. Yes I, Dennis Nelson, enjoyed teaching. I began to look
forward to teaching the kids.
As time passed, I began to know and love the kids that
passed through my doors. I have learned a lot from them. I learned that they
really like to be involved in the lessons by doing plays and skits and being
the actors. I don’t have to control them, I can allow them to be free and
see God’s best shine through.
We have done many activities with the kids. We brought my
daughter’s lamb to class one day when the lesson was on Jesus and His sheep.
One boy told me that he had never enjoyed Sunday school as much as he did
that day.
I am a firm believer in world missions and have been to
China six times with the Red Cross and His Foundation; a Christian group
that provides medical attention to the world’s poorest people. These
excursions are very rewarding and are a highlight every time I go, but I am
learning that my students are a mission trip and the adventure here is in
many ways more rewarding.
Our vKid’s Children’s ministry is indeed a worthwhile
mission. I strongly believe that if we, as Christ’s followers loose this
coming generation, we have lost the most valuable gift that the Lord has
entrusted to us. These kids are the next Christians this world will be
influenced by. I am thankful that the Lord brought me full circle and has
allowed me to be with our kids and enjoy them; I wouldn’t trade it for the
world. If I can do it, anyone can. You don’t have to have a degree or the
perfect life to teach, because it is more about being real and authentic.
vKid’s Children’s ministry needs your help. All God wants to
hear is “Yes Lord. Send me.” He is the one who empowers to do the task at
hand. Please consider being a volunteer in vKid’s today and help change the
world.
Details: Come and see us at the vKid’s Children’s ministry table to
volunteer. We are preparing for our next season in children’s ministry and
need teachers, teachers helpers, and administrative helpers. We will be
introducing a fresh new change including new curriculum, smaller group size,
and more fun, fun, fun. Come and check it out. If you have questions, you
can call April Starratt at 377-1477 x 141 or email at
april.starratt@vineyardboise.org.
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