They’ve Never Heard the Stories

By: Richelle Milner

I never planned to teach preschool. I love to teach adults about God’s love and have led adult Bible studies for years. I was not looking to teach young children, but God has his own plans for us! When God called me to teach at Holy Cross Lutheran School, I really did not know how it was going to go! However, I knew without a doubt that God wanted me there, and I stopped questioning God long ago.

I learned a great deal during my first year of teaching at Holy Cross.

“I had no idea that most of the children who attend school here do not have any home church.”

Many of them have never been to church at all and would not know who Jesus is if they did not go to school here. What a joy and privilege it is to share Christ with the next generation!

It is wonderful to watch a child’s face change at their first moment of understanding. When they figure out how to add together numbers or put together sounds and read their first word, the look of pride, amazement, and joy is incredible! At the same time, we teach these kids how to interact with their world through…

• • Science
  • Social studies
  • Art
  • Social-emotional development.

Yet nothing has made teaching at the school more rewarding than getting to share Jesus and the fullness of His love with my students.

“They’ve never heard the stories from the Bible that we who have attended church all our lives tend to take for granted.”

They don’t need to analyze every little detail; they just listen and believe as each truth about God is revealed. It is good to return to that simple solid foundation of the gospel.

When we arrived at Holy Week last school year, the children were familiar with Jesus and knew Him as their loving friend.

“I was not prepared for the level of their emotion when I walked them through the crucifixion of Christ. I had to reveal what happened next immediately.”

The power and elation of His resurrection was reflected in their faces as we celebrated the truth of what God did for each one of them. What God did for each one of us.

They understood, they believed, and we celebrated God’s victory over sin and death for the rest of the school year. I will always thank God for allowing me to experience His love and care through the eyes of His precious children. I look forward to doing it again with each new group of students for as long as God calls me to teach at Holy Cross.