真道堂十五週年堂慶分享

Approved Workmen in Action

It seems like yesterday when I sat with this kindergarten girl in Sparks at Marpole Community Centre – that’s our rental location when VCLC Awana first started in 2002.  It was her first visit to Awana and I was teaching her how to sing O Canada and the Sparks Theme Song word by word, as well as leading her to memorize John 3:16 and many other verses.  Today, she’s a teenage girl.  It touched my heart to see her getting baptized and sharing her testimony earlier this year.  I praise God for what He has done.

It seems like yesterday when we went camping at Manning Park with this grade-one girl, disciplined and cheerful, helping in whatever capacity she could at the camp.  She always arrives at Awana every week with a bright smile and a thankful heart.  Also testifying God’s work in her life through baptism earlier this year, she’s now attending Sunday worship and youth fellowship regularly.  Today, she faithfully serves at children Sunday school to help younger children to focus on the lesson with discipline.  I praise God for what He has done.

It seems like yesterday when this outgoing T&T boy joined our Awana Camp at Stillwood.  While he grew up in Awana since Cubbies (the pre-school age group), over the years he has built a solid Biblical foundation by taking God’s Word to heart, and he also took pride in representing our church at regional events like Awana Games, Bible Quiz, and Scholarship Camp.  Today, he can recite scriptures better than I do.  Energetic and passionate, he would take the bus by himself from Burnaby to Vancouver every week and serve with us as Awana leader.  I praise God for what He has done.

It’s all worth it.  More than anything, our children and youth need Jesus today!

I thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to serve at VCLC Awana since 2003.  My passion for reaching out to children continues to grow as I realize the importance to treasure the golden hour to evangelize to children.  There’s no time to lose.  Every time I share Christ with adults with a hardened heart, I’m once again reminded that we’ve missed the opportunity to plant seeds of the gospel in their lives during childhood, when the soil was most receptive and fruitful.  Moreover, it broke my heart to hear that at least 1 out of every 2 teenagers today would leave church and abandon their faith once they enter college.  I’m committed to the calling to rise up a new generation of children who would take God’s Word to heart and walk in the truth as they grow into their teenage years.

Looking back over the years, I thank God for His amazing work in leading our Awana ministry.  It was through our weaknesses that we experienced His faithfulness and abundance.  I recalled many times when we’re hesitant to step forward because we don’t have a confirmed location, because we don’t have enough leaders to serve, or because we don’t have enough children to register.  God provides.  He always prepares the best for us.  I trust that God has been teaching us to embark on a faith journey to rely on Him and fix our eyes on what’s most important – children and youth desperately need to hear the gospel today!  With this in mind, we shall answer His call to serve Him faithfully despite circumstances.  Every child matters to God.

In children ministry, often we don’t see the immediate results week after week, but we shall reap in joy together one day when the seeds of the gospel we’ve planted are finally blossoming in the lives of children and youth!  To God be all the glory!

Awana stands for Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed. (2 Timothy 2:15)  It is our prayer to partner with parents to lead children and youth worldwide to know, love, and serve Jesus Christ.  Are you ready to join us and fight this battle?

Wilson Leung