When you think about Special Religious Education (SRE) you might picture an experienced teacher or minister teaching long and complex lessons. But the reality is much simpler.
SRE is for anyone willing to step into a classroom and share the hope of Jesus.
That’s the message both Olivia and Robyn want churches to hear.
“SRE is for anyone,” says Shelley Ashton, Team Leader for SRE at the NSW & ACT Baptist Association, “God can use ordinary people to make an extraordinary impact in the lives of children and young people, often in ways we may never fully see or know.”
Saying yes to something new
Olivia never imagined she’d be teaching SRE. But when her church ran an SRE Sunday and put the call out for volunteers, she responded. Fresh out of her HSC and looking for purpose during her gap year. Olivia hadn’t served in children’s ministry but did have experiencing volunteering with youth group and on the worship team.
Olivia was looking at studying teaching after her gap year, so this seemed like a good opportunity to dive into. She began as observing classes in term 1 and completed her training to begin teaching in term 2. Now Olivia Kindergarten through to Year 6, spending most of her time with Kindergarten, Year 4 and Year 5 classes.
“It can seem scary to get up in front of a classroom and teach a lesson,” says Olivia, “but anyone can grow in confidence. It’s such a great way to spend your time. I just love being in the classroom. I love watching students start to understand who Jesus is and ask lots of questions that you’re able to answer. I’ve been really loving it.”
Having her own regular classes in term 2 has allowed Olivia to build meaningful relationships with the students, while training days have connected her with volunteers from other churches across the region.
Although Olivia originally planned to volunteer only during her gap year, she’s loved being involved and is hoping to continue while she’s at university.
Decades of faithful presence
For Robyn, SRE has been part of life for nearly four decades. Robyn is passionate about helping children know Jesus and understand the Bible, so teaches SRE alongside her role as Children’s Pastor at Narwee Baptist Church.
Sometimes the fruit of that ministry is immediate. Recently, while asking her class about their school holidays, one student excitedly rated her holidays “10 out of 10.”
“When I asked why,” Robyn recalls, “she proudly told the class she’d been on church camp and asked Jesus into her heart.”
But Robyn knows SRE’s impact also reaches far beyond the classroom.
Her long-standing relationship with the local school has opened doors for Narwee Baptist to serve the wider school community in practical ways. Over the years, SRE teachers have helped on excursions and athletics carnivals, judged Easter Hat Parades and “Eggs on Legs” competitions and presented awards. They’ve also taken part in the school’s annual Christmas Walk through the local shopping centre, where students share the Christmas story and distribute gifts to shopkeepers.
One powerful example of this relationship came when the mother of one of Robyn’s students died suddenly. Through the trust built over years of SRE, the church was able to support the grieving family by providing meals and practical care. “Now every week in SRE,” Robyn says, “he makes a special effort to say, ‘Good morning, Miss,’ and look me in the eye. He knows we care about him.”
Robyn points out that many children in SRE come from families who would never normally attend church. While a child might not be able to convince their parents to bring them to church or youth group, attending SRE during school hours removes that barrier.
“It’s a way to go and meet kids where they’re at,” she says. “Instead of expecting kids to come to something we run, we go to them in their schools.”
Whether it’s been for six months of four decades, both Olivia and Robyn have seen the fruit of their involvement in SRE.
“It’s only half an hour a week, plus preparation,” explain Robyn, “it’s not a huge commitment for volunteers, but that half hour can make a big difference in the lives of children.”
Whether you’re an experienced teacher or simply someone willing to learn, volunteering in SRE offers an opportunity to invest in the next generation.
If this story has inspired you to explore SRE, chat with the SRE team about opportunities to make a difference in the lives of children and young people in your area.
