July 23, 2008

Taught by a Child

2008 1521 page30 capt was a typical Sabbath in the primary division. My assistant and I arrived early to arrange the chairs and organize our lesson materials. I occasionally glanced up to welcome arriving children into the room. Before long, I noticed Ritchie* barreling through the door, barely missing a younger boy. I always dreaded Ritchie’s arrival. Ritchie was bigger and louder than anyone else in Sabbath school. The boys took their behavioral cues from him, and the girls rolled their eyes and sighed whenever Ritchie was disruptive. I anticipated another struggle just to get through the song service.
 
As expected, Ritchie started poking the boy beside him right after the opening prayer, and he rhythmically kicked at a nearby chair during the mission story. My assistant sat next to him during the lesson study, but he still offered his best rendition of a lion’s roar to accompany Daniel’s dungeon prayers.
 
Looking wearily at Ritchie, I wondered what to do about his attention-seeking antics. He was a nice kid, I reasoned, even appealing, with tousled brown hair, a mischievous grin, and round, freckled cheeks. After pondering several solutions for keeping Sabbath school manageable, I decided on a standard remedy. I asked Ritchie if he would like to lead song service the next Sabbath. Get him involved, I thought, and all eyes will be on him for at least 15 minutes. Ritchie’s eyes widened at my question, but he didn’t hesitate. “Can I be in charge of the whole program?” he asked.
 
2008 1521 page30I regarded him with stunned silence. Was he even 10 years old? I had asked children to lead song service before, but never the entire program. Yet he looked so hopeful, even vulnerable. “Well, OK,” I hesitated, wishing I had not asked him in the first place. Ritchie was animated as we discussed a few ideas for next week’s Sabbath school. I promised to call him midweek to see how his program was coming along.
 
When I called Ritchie on Wednesday, I was certain he had forgotten or changed his mind, but I was wrong. Ritchie had his plans finalized. Nevertheless, when Sabbath came, I tucked a Bible quiz into my purse, just in case. Rounding the corner walking toward the Sabbath school rooms, I heard music. Was it coming from the primary room? Yes, indeed; Ritchie was already there with a tape player going. “It’s my favorite Sabbath songs,” he smiled. “I thought the kids might like it.” He had already started arranging the chairs, and I helped him finish, trying to hide my surprise at his well-organized setup.
 
Sabbath school went well that day. Everyone sang along to Ritchie’s background music. He had arranged for a nature object lesson from one of our regular storytellers. His mother told the mission story, and we broke into groups for the lesson. After Sabbath school I affirmed Ritchie for taking his responsibility seriously. “You are already using your talents to serve Jesus,” I told him. He grinned and said it was a lot of work but kind of fun, too.
 
Ritchie didn’t volunteer to lead out again, but his behavior changed after that day. He took more ownership in his Sabbath school, becoming a leader for the younger children instead of a distraction. A few months later, he moved on to the junior division. The primary division was unusually quiet after that, and I found myself missing Ritchie’s enthusiasm, maybe even his animal sounds.
 
How many more Ritchies are waiting for an invitation to be more involved in some way in Sabbath school and church? Ellen White suggested that “youthful talent, well organized and well trained, is needed in our churches. The youth will do something with their overflowing energies” (Gospel Workers, p. 211).
 
Even now, we can reap the spiritual blessings from a new generation of leaders by intentionally inviting the children who fill our Sabbath schools to develop and practice using their unique spiritual gifts. Not long ago, I saw Ritchie receive his college degree with the same enthusiasm he demonstrated years earlier in Sabbath school, and I privately celebrated a young man who did not wait to finish his formal education before willingly using his leadership gift for Jesus.
 
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*Pseudonym
 
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Sandra J. Balli, Ph.D., is associate professor of Curriculum and Instruction at La Sierra University, Riverside, California.

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