Sunday School Teacher Training

“Come and help us teach the children.” Through my interpreter, the lady with the kind eyes and wrinkled face begged for help teaching Sunday School. We were at R R Chileshe on the last day of the medical mission. I promised her that I would try to come in August and teach her and others like her how to teach children’s classes.

Rodgers Namuswa set out on his motor bike last week to organize just such a meeting. He arranged for the women of four congregations in the area to come together at R R Chileshe. Yesterday he and I (and our usual contingent of riders heading that direction) bumped and jostled through the bush to what Rodgers calls Ahla Ahla (R R -- Zambians have trouble with the letter “r” as it is not in the Chitonga alphabet, and they usually pronounce it like an “l”). He had scheduled the meeting for 10:00. We arrived at 10:45 just as ladies were beginning to reach the place on foot. First we tried the school building, but it was locked. “We will go to the church building,” the ladies decided, so we headed off in another direction. On the way we met a teacher who offered to unlock the school. We turned around and trekked back. He unlocked the school room—a totally empty classroom. The furniture was locked up next door. Some of the ladies hurried in with brooms and began to sweep the floor (lots of bat droppings to get rid of) while others began carrying desks from the storeroom. In 20 minutes or so we were ready to begin.

The next three hours were some of the best I’ve spent in Zambia. Thirty-two ladies from four different congregations sat with rapt attention as I taught them the basics of teaching children. The generous members at our sponsoring congregation, Brentwood Oaks, had sent over boxes of The Beginner’s Bible, a simple English text illustrated with bright, uncluttered drawings. Using Rodgers as my interpreter, I showed the ladies how to use The Beginner’s Bibles to teach, how to help children memorize scripture, how to involve children in the lessons, and how to apply Bible truths to daily life. We played games, acted out stories, and just had a great time! Many of the ladies, especially the older ones, nodded enthusiastically as they heard my instructions. There were many smiles and much laughter as we tried various activities.

The ladies ranged in age from very young to very old, from those who were fluent in English to those who were illiterate even in Chitonga. I told the women who cannot read English that they will need to find a helper—a child, grandchild, friend, or teacher who can read to them and for them. At the end of the session, I reminded all the ladies that the Bible records many examples of one person who made a difference in a nation. I challenged them to change the future of the church in Zambia by teaching children.

As we closed, I explained that each congregation was receiving a copy of The Beginner’s Bible and a Chitonga Bible to be used in teaching children’s classes. The books are to be passed around the congregation to the various ladies who will be teaching. In a very hushed and formal ceremony, a representative from each congregation came forward and received the two books, along with a set of instructions for teaching.

Next, each congregation designated one of its older members to make closing remarks. Over and over, they thanked me for coming. One woman took the two books lovingly in her hands as she looked at me and said, “You have given us a container. This is a container that has food for life. We will teach it to our children.”

Next Thursday I’m off for Kauwe where Rodgers is organizing another group of ladies to come for another training session. Please pray for these wonderful women who will teach the Word to the next generation of church leaders.