The Embassy Sydney’s Urban Church with a Hip Hop flavour
About a week ago I was contacted to find out if our church was interested in being involved in running a scripture class in two schools; Lakemba Primary and Hampden Park Primary Schools.The Lakemba group starts next week, and will be conducted by someone else, but today I went and had my first day as a Scripture teacher for a long time.
Now let me start by saying that I could have been scarred from teaching scripture forever. My last role doing this was a few years ago at an inner west Boys High School. My first day was a shocker I was getting the kids to stand up and say something about themselves which is normally a pretty good way to start. Then it happened one of the boys stood up and said, “My name is ….. (names omitted to protect the innocent,) and my Dad is a lawyer and if any of you touch me I will sue you.” It was like one of those slow motion moments as I knew this would be like a red rag to bull to this group of boys and wished I could have had it all over again to cut it off at the pass. Anyway the class was going ok so we decided to have a game of indoor grid iron, (as you do.) I asked the boys to move some of the desks to make some room when I heard it. “Slap,” it echoed within the small class room and down he went like a sack of spuds. He was out cold, there was blood, and I was the teacher. All I could think of was what had I gotten myself into. Then I had an epiphany what had I put all of my teachers through in my years of High School if I was the teachers pet I would have been a pitbull. Anyway this was my entrance to religious education so you could see why I might have been scarred. And how the whole vengeance is mine thing from God really works.
So with a fear and trepidation I arrived at the school and if you know anything about Sydney you would know that these schools are in the heart of areas that would be considered disadvantaged. I thought what am I in for, but my fear did not match my reality it was great. At one point one of the girls said, “Sir are we just going to play games or are you gonna teach us the Bible? How cool is that? I had two classes back to back and apart from the fact that they called me Mr Peet all the time, (I kept looking for my Dad,) I had a ball.
I think it is like life; often wrong perception steers us away from opportunity. Let me say it plainly, our fears normally aren’t realised. If I dwelt on my experience I would have never gone. Now I have the God given chance to effect a positive influence on a group of kids who some in society, including politicians and talkback radio hosts, would probably disregard. I also give them the chance to influence me. Who knows where these kids might end up. Let’s hope I can play some small role in seeing their God given potential extracted.
This gives me an idea for a movie like, “Dangerous Minds or Mr Hollands Opus.”
“The Scripture Teacher,” coming to a theatre near you.
To hear more from Rev Ev, come and check out the Embassy Sunday service 10am at Belmore PCYC (opposite Belmore Train Station.)
Re{Fresh}