Serving the Next Generation: A conversation with Seema
Seema, 2nd Congre
Seema
Jacob: All right, I will let her share in a moment, but let me just set the stage. We are a community on a mission. So here in RHC, we really, really believe that God has given to us something precious to steward the gospel. And we want to reach especially those who are among us who are curious, who are seeking, who may have questions about the Christian faith. Make a guess, which people group do you think has the most questions about the Christian faith? They are very curious and they are among us. Kids, yeah. So we have, God has blessed us with a growing population of children in the church. And we really feel a great sense of responsibility to make sure that we are responding to all their questions and discipleship needs. So next year, from January, we are opening more kids' main classes. But I just want to highlight that I'm not here to do a pitch because of the needs. I do believe, we do believe that God will meet those needs. God will meet all the needs that we lack. But we really, really want to give you guys a vision, something that will inspire you and lead you to discern whether or not this could be a way that God is calling you, your family, to contribute to His kingdom cause this way. Seema is a volunteer in our Kids Ministry of how many years? Six years. Six years. Wow. And she's looking well, energetic. So we'll just do this Q&A style. Is that okay? So we will hear from Seema. Seema, why did you start serving in the kids' ministry?
Seema: So I've been serving in Sunday school since I was a teenager. And at that time, I was attending a church that was very small. So the need was there. But I realized, whatever church I go to, the need is also there. So I seem to just continue to serve. In RHC, it was Keri Mitchell who asked me to join. I was in her CG. So I joined during COVID. Or just before COVID. Yeah, during COVID. Around the time that we were in Cineleisure. I remember there were great needs back then. And greater needs right now.
Jacob: Is there anything that you were nervous about when Keri invited you to join Kids Min Church?
Seema: Yeah, there's always nervousness, right? You worry that the kids will ask you a question that you don't know the answer to. I worry that I won't be exciting enough for the class. I worry that there will be too much chaos that I cannot manage the class. So there's always definitely things to be worried about. But God always reminds me that I am just his vessel and that he is the one doing the work. And that really takes off a lot of stress. So my prayer is very simple before I teach. It's, God, you please teach them something. And it's not me. And if they don't learn anything, it's your fault.
Jacob: Thanks, Seema. Those of us who serve will often observe that we think that we are there to give something, but we often receive. God, through our service, often also encourages us and builds us up. How has that happened to you, Seema? Encouragement from God?
Seema: Yeah, so when this question was posed to me, I could come up with many things, actually, that God has encouraged me. The first one is that my attitude towards teaching has changed over the years. So I used to think that it was just that I need to deliver a Bible story and I need to make sure that they know it by the end of it. So like Bible knowledge was what I thought I was teaching. But actually like week in and week out we sit here and we hear the gospel and preach to us and we're meant to be living that out. We're meant to be living Jesus empowered authentic lives. We're meant to be sharing God's love. And I feel like For me now, kids' min is my way to do all those things. It's the best way to do all those things for me. Because I teach the older class, so they're not really like kids anymore. They're like little people. And they don't want to know the story. They want to know why. They want to know how. They want to know so what. So it forces me to really think about what's the practical aspect of the Bible passage that we're doing. And I want them to also feel like God is relevant and real today. So that really is what has changed for me. The next way that I've been encouraged is that I see how God is working in the lives of the kids. Like I teach them a year at a time, sometimes three years at a time. And I really see them grow. And that really encourages me. Wow. God also does a work in my heart. Every time I prepare a lesson, I feel like God is talking to me rather than the kids. So it might be the simplest thing, and I've read the passage many times, but he always speaks to me. There's no lesson in which he has not. And lastly, I feel like he's really moved my heart to be more loving. I love each and every one of the kids I teach, even though sometimes it's very challenging. And I feel like Sunday school isn't a very glamorous serving, maybe. You know, you don't really get a lot of recognition for it or anything like that. And there is prep involved, right? Like, you've got to prepare for it. Sometimes I don't feel like teaching. I'm kind of tired. But God really encourages me every time he fills me in order that I can pour out. At least I hope that I'm pouring out. Yeah.
Jacob: Thank you. So wonderful. Some of the names that were announced for baptism, they were actually kids who were raised in our Sunday school, and now they are getting baptised. So something very wonderful that we're seeing. So thanks for doing that. Why do you find kids' ministry so important to us as a church as we advance God's kingdom in our mission?
Seema: Yeah, so serving in kids' ministry, I feel, is the most systematic and basic way to share the gospel, actually. You know that being born in a Christian family doesn't make you a Christian. So the kids need to hear the gospel in an accessible way as much as all of us do. So that's really my favorite way to share and show God's love. And I also made some of my best friends in Sunday school growing up. I still talk to them today, right? So we want Sunday school to be a breeding ground for really godly friendships and open, honest conversations and a place for them to encourage each other to. Because we always ask, you know, what has God been doing in your life? And believe it or not, I met the man I married in Sunday school. Though we did not date then, don't worry. So yeah, I think Kids min is essential in our mission as a church. It's not just a place for kids to be occupied while we are all in the Sunday service. And we need to be able to do this in a meaningful way with more teachers. So I really want to encourage all of you to kind of consider, if you're not serving in any other ministry, whether you could be doing this. You know, it doesn't need a specific skill set. Be brave and pray about it. And don't think about how you can't do it or all the reasons why you don't want to do it. But... Come and talk to us. Come and sit in a lesson. See what it's like. And we would really love to serve alongside more of you as this church grows organically and inorganically.
Jacob: Thanks, Seema. So for those of you who are wondering what are the different roles that you can pick up and just the numbers are there, different ways that you can be involved. Seema, will you remain here as I lead us in a prayer for our kids ministry, our kids volunteers and our kids in our midst. Let's join our hearts together as we lift up this prayer to the Lord. Heavenly Father, we thank you for how you have welcomed little ones. You say, let the little children come to me. And we know that that reflects your character in how you welcome little children. You call us, all of us, to be like little children as we draw near to you in faith. So Lord Jesus, draw every child in our church closer to you. Let them not just know and be familiar with Bible stories, but may they encounter the living Savior who loves them. Open their hearts, open their eyes so that they may know that you are real and kind and near and strong, that through the life of the volunteers, the teachers, the church members around them, that they may see you at work. May your spirit plant seeds of faith that will grow strong and lasting in their life. We also pray for all our teacher and kids ministry volunteers that they will serve not out of duty, but out of a sense of delight and faith in you. Remind them that they are used by you for your wonderful purposes in shaping this young life, that your strength is made perfect even in their weaknesses. When they feel tired, we pray that you fill them with fresh joy and creativity to reflect your love. Lord, we pray that you make us, make RHC a church that values the next generation, a family, a special family where children are welcomed, discipled, and shown what it means to walk closely with you. So raise up more hearts willing to serve you. Let us not say I don't know how to do this. I cannot do this. But instead, lead us to ask the question, God, how will you use me? Will you use my five loaves and two fish for your kingdom purposes? May our kids' ministry be a place of laughter, truth, fun, and grace about where little hearts learn to come to you freely and grow to know you and love you deeply. In Jesus' most precious name we pray. Amen.