The faithful examples of two SRE teachers
As another year of SRE draws to a close, I’ve found myself reflecting on the faithfulness of so many SRE teachers who have quietly and consistently shared the good news of Jesus week after week. It’s been another year of craft and stories, of questions and conversations, of corralling restless students on warm afternoons or cold winter mornings —and in all of it, seeing young people grow to follow Jesus.
I’ve been encouraged by two SRE teachers in particular, whose stories give us a glimpse into the ministry that happens in our public schools. Their examples remind us that God delights to use ordinary faithfulness for his purposes.
The long game: Growing together over time
The first teacher I’ve observed has been teaching the same group of students for the past two years. When he first taught this class, it was really hard work. The students were disruptive, they would talk over each other, and they paid little attention to the teacher. The teacher struggled with the behaviour of some students but was determined to stick it out so that these children would learn more about Jesus. In those early days, the lessons felt slow. Relationships were tentative. Behaviour management often took centre stage.
But over time, something changed.
When I visited that same teacher and class again a year later, his classroom felt different. The students know him. They trust him. They laugh together easily. When he asks a question, they don’t stare blankly — they engage, reflect, and share. There’s a rhythm of learning and listening that has developed through the years of steady investment.
Watching him teach now, he seems more relaxed and confident. He’s not striving to control every moment but rather enjoying being with the class. The children, in turn, respond to his calm assurance with attentiveness and warmth. The lesson time feels like a community learning about Jesus together.
I observed a special moment in the class where the teacher was brought to tears as one student beautifully articulated the gospel message to the whole class. It was a privilege to witness how this class and teacher have grown together over the past year.
Relationships take time, consistency, and perseverance. And this teacher’s enduring faithfulness has allowed those relationships to deepen and bear fruit. Trust takes time to build — and also opens opportunities to have conversations that really matter. When you stand at the front of your classroom, remember: your ongoing presence matters. Each returning face, each remembered name, each small moment of care — it’s shaping the way your students experience the truth about Jesus.
The fresh start: Welcoming the little ones
My second example is very different. Each year (and for many years now), this lady teaches Kindergarten SRE classes across several schools. Every February, she meets a whole new cohort of five-year-olds — children who have never sat through a school assembly, let alone an SRE class.
She has a gift for creating a sense of welcome, greeting every child with delight. She knows how to make the classroom feel safe, fun, and full of wonder. She’s not just teaching content, she’s building an environment where children can discover that learning about God is joyful.
Every year, she starts again from scratch: new names to learn, new routines to build, new parents to meet. It’s hard work — but she loves it. She sees herself as introducing children not only to SRE and to school, but to God himself. Through her gentle care, children learn that God is good and that they are loved. Her classroom becomes a place where many children’s first experiences of learning about Jesus are marked by joy and trust.
For her, every year is a reset, a chance to meet new families and plant fresh seeds of faith. For others, perhaps her example invites us to rediscover the wonder of our own classrooms — to see familiar faces with renewed gratitude, to bring warmth and welcome to every lesson, even as the year winds down.
These two teachers are different in rhythm but united in purpose. Both reveal something essential about SRE ministry: God works through faithful presence. The teacher who stays reminds us that depth comes through time. The teacher who starts afresh reminds us that there are new opportunities each year.
And that’s the heart of SRE: week after week, SRE teachers stand in classrooms as ambassadors of Jesus. Some know their students’ stories deeply; others meet dozens of new children every year. Some sow, some water — but in all of it God is at work growing these young people to know and love him.
As you approach the end of the year, it’s easy to focus on what hasn’t gone perfectly in the last 12 months. So let me encourage you to take a moment to remember what has been accomplished through your weekly ministry.
You’ve been a steady presence. You’ve shown up week after week and embodied the love of Christ through reliability and care.
You’ve shared the gospel. Every story told, every prayer prayed, every conversation about Jesus has taught young people the gospel.
You’ve grown. Perhaps your classroom management has improved. Perhaps your confidence has increased. Perhaps your joy in teaching has been rekindled. God has been at work in you, too.
You’ve modelled grace. Even on the hard days, you’ve shown forgiveness, patience, and persistence — living examples of the gospel you teach.
When you finish the year, finish it with gratitude — for what God has done, for how he has used you, and for the privilege of teaching his word in our schools.
Whether you’re preparing to meet a brand-new Kindergarten class next year or continuing on with familiar faces, know that your work is deeply valuable. The SRE ministry is kingdom work — quiet, faithful, unseen by many, but eternally significant.
