Even faith like a mustard seed……

September 2025

Loran Tang, recruiter and training coordinator of Children’s Ministry

Even faith like a mustard seed……

“I’m busy.”
“My kids are too young.”
“I don’t know how to handle kids.”
“I’m not gifted in teaching.”

Believe me, I heard you. These are the same challenges I’ve faced myself.

Teaching kids God’s Word is never easy. Studying and diving into Scripture, then presenting it in a way that is both understandable and faithful to its truth, can feel like an impossible mission. Honestly, I believe no one is ever truly worthy of this role. It is only by God’s grace that we are given the privilege to serve as Bible teachers in Children’s Ministry.

So when you're invited to join our teaching team, I encourage you to focus not on your limitations, but on God’s grace and power.

This month, I’m especially grateful for Mark Ip and Yannie Wong, who have shared their journey as teachers in Junior Worship. It's been incredibly encouraging to witness how God strengthens them to overcome every challenge.

I hope their stories will inspire you to respond to God's calling!

Mark Ip

As a father of a preteen and a teenager, I’ve come to realize that God has given fathers the responsibility to teach their children and walk with them in following Jesus. This is an important part of being a disciple—passing on faith to the next generation.

When I was invited to teach in Junior Worship, I hesitated. With family responsibilities, language barriers, and lack of confidence, I didn’t feel qualified. But God reminded me that He doesn’t call the perfect—He calls the willing.

Besides, I study bible in Chinese since I was young, but teaching in Junior Worship gave me the chance to study it in English. Becoming a teacher has motivated me to reflect on God’s Word in a new way and grow deeper in my faith.

By God’s grace, I find the strength to prepare and teach each lesson. The joy of seeing children understand God’s love or remember a Bible story makes every effort worthwhile. And through this process, God is also shaping me—teaching me patience, humility, and faith.

My journey reminds me of the words of the Apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9

Yannie Wong

It has been almost a year since I started teaching in Junior Worship, and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to reflect on how God has led me in this ministry.
I became a Christian in 2022 and started attending Burnaby Alliance Church in 2023. During that time, I received many blessings from God—despite the challenges. He gave me a job, put loving and supportive people in my life, and filled me with a sense of gratitude. Seeing fellow brothers and sisters in church actively serving God inspired me to grow deeper in my faith. I knew I wanted to serve Him, but I had no idea how or where to begin at that time.

At first, someone invited me to help in the Children’s Ministry, but I didn’t feel ready. I lacked confidence in both my English and Bible knowledge, so I declined. In 2024, while I was working full-time and continuing my studies, I was very busy—but then I was invited to join the training for Children’s Ministry. I thought, maybe I need to take a step to start, at least by learning first. I was deeply inspired by the training, and I discovered that I enjoy interacting with children in a creative way, and I love planning activities for them.

After a few months, Loran invited me to teach the Bible message in Junior Worship. At that time, I had many concerns—time, commitment, and confidence—but somehow, God resolved them one by one. I realized it was the right time to take on this challenge and serve Him.

Teaching has not been easy. One of the biggest challenges I faced was the language barrier and my lack of confidence. Speaking English in front of children was not easy for me at first. I had to prepare a lot before each lesson—writing scripts, creating PowerPoint slides, and planning activities to keep the children engaged. I tried different methods, such as movement-based questions, role-playing Bible characters, videos, and visual tools to help them understand better. We even played scavenger hunt games to make learning fun. Seeing the kids respond and engage made me feel that God was truly at work.

Another challenge was lesson planning. The Bible can be difficult to understand, and simplifying it for children was tough. It took me a lot of time and effort to find the main message and teach it clearly. But through prayer, God gave me wisdom and creativity. In the beginning, I sometimes felt like I wasn’t doing a good job—either the lessons were too long, or the children didn’t respond well. Sometimes I even felt like I was in “working mode” and pressured to perform well. But eventually, I realized that serving God is not about perfection. If He gives us the opportunity to serve, we just need to do our best and stay true to our hearts. Even in imperfect lessons, kids can still learn and grow.

Over time, I got to know the children better, and I learned how to connect with them more. Classroom management can sometimes be a concern during lessons, but I’ve come to see it more as an opportunity for connection and growth rather than a challenge. Some children may need a bit more guidance and support to stay engaged, and it takes time, patience, and understanding to build meaningful relationships with them. I’ve learned that when we take the time to know each child individually—offering love, care, and encouragement—they often respond in beautiful ways. By affirming their efforts and celebrating their strengths, they feel seen, valued, and become more eager to learn.

I’m truly grateful to be part of a supportive team, with helpers who play a vital role in creating a positive and caring environment for the children. Each role is important and contributes to the growth and well-being of every child. As a teacher, I remind myself daily to reflect God's love in all that I do. Every child is uniquely and wonderfully created by Him, and I believe that with patience, grace, and care, we can help each one shine in their own special way.

Looking back now, I’m amazed that I can teach children about God’s love and help them grow in their faith—and truly enjoy the process. I truly believe it is God who gave me the strength, wisdom, and creativity to serve. It has been a challenging but beautiful journey, and I’m so thankful for the growth it has brought to my life.

God can lead us to do things we once thought were impossible—you just need to show your heart when He calls you, even if you feel unconfident at the beginning. When we respond with a willing and sincere heart, God will do the rest.