by Henry Shieh

I remember telling my small group leader years ago that teaching was not something God has gifted me with and I did not intend to seek it. But now, I have been a teacher for the LBCSD Sparklers ministry for the past two years and I truly love this ministry. Some of the things I love to do in Sparklers ministry are preparing / teaching lessons, playing with the kids, and seeing them excited that their parents have come back to get them.

Somethings that God has been teaching me through this ministry are how to:

• Make Disciples of Christ: I have the opportunity to come alongside their parents and teach them about God’s word and what it means to be a follower of Christ which includes encouraging and teaching them to make “wise-way” choices instead of “my-way choices.” It’s fun making disciples of Christ when you get to have fun with them through games and fun lessons. However, there is a responsibility for me to teach them about what sin is and that it leads to death. One of my first lessons taught was on Numbers 11 in which God sent fire down on the Israelites for grumbling against God. This was a difficult lesson to teach to three to five year-olds because of their limited understanding, but it is a necessary lesson to teach because the understanding of God’s call for us to be holy is such an important part of understanding our depravity and the need for Jesus’ sacrifice.
• Love God and People: I have the opportunity to actively love God in studying His word and breaking it down in a way that three year-olds can understand it. I have opportunity to show love to the parents at church who have children in this ministry through telling them how their child was during their class. I have the opportunity to love the children when I get to laugh with them and comfort (or distract) them when they cry. I have the opportunity to show God’s love when I have to take them aside for disobeying and talk to them about their choice to obey or disobey God.
• Hope in God through Prayer: Praying for my Sparklers has been one of my greatest joys as a teacher. We started praying for two Sparklers each Sunday based on prayer requests their parents have communicated to us (thanks Grace!). Some of these prayers I am able to see answered just by interacting with Sparklers once every couple of weeks. It’s been humbling and exciting to see God’s work at hand.

I’m truly thankful to be part of the Sparklers ministry because of the constant reminder of what it means to have childlike faith. I hope to be part of it for many years to come as long God allows me to stay in San Diego.