Children’s Sunday School teachers impact the mission field … and eternity

We don’t know the whole story of how Thelma Howell and Norma Majors first felt called to teach children’s Sunday School at Pima Street Baptist Church in Tucson. We do know that while their friends were enjoying adult fellowship, meaningful Bible study and deep discussions, these two women followed God’s leading, exchanging Sunday morning coffee for Kool-Aid and animal crackers in the children’s wing.

There they met a little 5-year-old boy named Ethan Chase*. Ethan’s mom had become a Christian and decided her family needed to go to church.

Every Sunday, the two women separated their young charges into believers and nonbelievers so they could teach lessons more appropriate to where the children were spiritually. It was during those years that Ethan recalls he experienced some of the most profound theological growth in his life.

One Sunday, he asked Majors how he could become a part of the Christian group. Majors beamed, and a private evangelistic talk with the pastor later, Ethan’s life was changed forever.

Ethan grew, becoming very active in the church’s youth group. Following graduation, he became involved in the Baptist Student Ministry (now Christian Challenge) at the University of Arizona.

As a part of BSM, Ethan participated in several mission trips to Mexico. Even though God used those trips to tug at Ethan’s heart towards missions, Ethan had it in his mind that he could serve the kingdom just as effectively as a Christian psychologist. When he went on to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, that was still his plan.

But God disagreed. Ethan soon changed his emphasis to missions.

After seminary, Ethan found himself serving as a Journeyman with the International Mission Board in Southeast Asia. There he met beautiful Jasmine*. Like Ethan, Jasmine had been a Christian since she was a child.

What did God use to share the gospel with Jasmine? International missionaries who dedicated themselves to teaching children’s Sunday School.

And also like Ethan, Jasmine felt called to missions. As a matter of fact, before God aligned their paths together, she ministered in an entirely different Southeast Asian country while Ethan completed his term.

Children play in a Southeast Asian country. IMB Photo

Today, Ethan and Jasmine serve together through IMB in a third Southeast Asian mission field teaching English in a preschool-turned-elementary school that they started. God showed His mercy in allowing them to build the school for $150,000, when, originally, they were told the facility would require $1.5 million. Additionally, their teaching staff has grown to include 40 locals.

On top of providing students with a quality education, workers teach parenting classes and build relationships with families through which the gospel can be shared. It is their hope that by teaching their students about the Bible, about Christian practices like how to pray, and the true meaning of Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter, they can make a broader impact in the country — since many of their students have parents who are active members of the Communist Party.

Ethan and Jasmine have worked in their field for nearly 18 years now, and God has granted them glimpses of the fruit for their labor. One particular student Ethan taught early in his ministry became a believer, grew, got married, and now he and his wife, too, are an active part of the gospel work in the area.

From the latest report, God has used this couple over the last 10 years to reach 384 new believers, 55 of whom have been baptized, and they’ve started 13 house churches spanning three districts.

And the work continues. We don’t know what Thelma Howell and Norma Majors were thinking that first Sunday they left their adult Sunday School class to dedicate themselves to teaching children. We don’t know how much they’re aware now of how much God has used them. But God knows. As a matter of fact, He’s continuing to add to their list of rewards for their faithfulness.

Want to impact eternity? If you hear God’s still small voice calling you, try teaching children’s Sunday School!

*Names changed

Fred Harris, a freelance writer living in Winslow, is senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Winslow.