Children in Toraja are the church’s future
CMS missionaries Abi Tandiseru and Andrew Buchanan serve the Lord in Toraja, Indonesia. Abi helps teach in a large Sunday school and Andrew works as a New Testament lecturer. Here, Abi writes of the challenge of putting grace at the heart of children’s ministry.
‘We are seeking to go beyond the ‘dos’ and don’ts‘ of life, to the grace of God revealed in the sacrifice of Christ.’
Our local church in Toraja likes to say that ‘children are the church’s future’. Sunday School is therefore an important part of our church’s ministry, with over 500 children in our congregation. They are divided into several groups based on where they live, and are led by a large team of teachers. Those who are rostered on for a particular Sunday meet the Friday before to prepare.
Preparing to share life
Many of our teachers see their role simply as telling a Bible story and singing songs each week. When I suggested in a meeting that the role of the Sunday School teacher is to share their life by being an example of faith to the children (see 1 Thessalonians 2:8), some became nervous. This is understandable, for sharing life is far more costly (yet also more rewarding) than sharing an occasional story or a song. So, in our ministry we try to encourage leaders to share their life by prayer, word, and example.
Going beyond moralism
Another challenge we continue to face is that the material we teach can sometimes be moralistic in tone. For example, in one lesson about Balaam the prophet (who was hired by God’s enemies to place a curse on God’s people), the main point focused on reminding the children not to curse! Nothing was said about how God protected his people by turning cursing into blessing. It can occasionally seem as though Sunday School is about getting children to behave rather than helping them to know God. So, we seek to go beyond the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ of life, to the grace of God revealed in the sacrifice of Christ.
Opportunity for teaching grace
My English group for primary aged children aims to provide a different Christian learning experience. This group started in 2014, when our local primary school dropped English as a subject from its curriculum. In response, a group of us started a simple after-school English class at the church. When the other teachers lost interest, I saw my opportunity. Discipling requires an investment in people’s lives to lead them towards transformation in Christ. So we required our class to commit to attend every week, so that we could get to know and love them well. We expressed our love in small ways, like making yummy cakes or snacks for the children. By attending regularly and progressing in their English, they experienced in a small way what it means to grow in Christ.
Due to COVID, this class stopped for four years, partly because Andrew and I were back in Australia for this period. But on our return in 2022, I was able to start the group again. Many students from the early years are now active in the youth ministry, though it can sometimes be hard to measure their spiritual understanding. It’s challenging to continue ministry with our students as they go on to high school, and become busy with lots of activities. Yet, under God, they are indeed the future of the church.
Please pray for God to work through our small efforts with these small people for the continued renewal of his church.
PRAY
Pray, as Abi asks, that God will bring about the renewal of the church through the teaching of Christ’s grace.
