Modeling Faithfulness in Service

"But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you." (1 Samuel 12:24)

Imagine being a workshop leader at BASS Church Workers Convention! Jeanne asked me a few times before but I never felt ready. After all, she is the one who taught me how to teach kids!

Jeanne is the Director of the Silicon Valley Chapter of Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). We met in March/April 1994 at the Salvation Army building in San Jose. At that time, I was a very busy mom: raising a son with my husband, managing software development engineers and projects, and volunteering at church. As a newly appointed deaconess in charge of Children's Ministry, I was referred to attend a CEF course called "Teaching Children Effectively" (Level 1) and Jeanne was my teacher.

After taking the 30-hour course, I often visited Jeanne at her office to purchase teaching materials or asked her questions. I am encouraged by how God changed her life since she became a believer as a young mom while accompanying her kids to Good News Club many years ago. I am inspired by her passion in evangelising children and training others to do so. I took many more classes from her and her team, and attended BASS almost every year. Jeanne has become my mentor.

Jeanne examplifies what a "good and faithful servant" may be all about. In 1995, after I turned into a stay-at-home mom and weekend seminary student, I started attending her weekly teacher's training. Her classroom was always set up when I got there. Even on cold rainy mornings with only two or three of us, she taught with all her heart. Whenever I helped her clean up, I was amazed at how many boxes of materials had to be moved back into her van. She has been teaching faithfully for years!

Jeanne asked me whether I wanted to lead workshops at BASS before and my answer was always no. Even though I have been teaching kids and training teachers and parents, somehow I felt intimidated teaching at BASS. Aren't there already too many workshops to choose from? Who am I to teach people who have been Christians all their lives? What if nobody shows up? What if my class is not good enough?

Similar worries came up again when she asked me about 2006. As I prayed about it, I recalled the amazing things the Lord has done for me and my family. I remembered Jeanne and other faithful teachers I have worked with (and/or learned from) through the years ... Since I would never be where I am without Jesus, it is really not about me. It is all about Jesus.

Copyright © 2006 Winnis Chiang, Parenting ABC