On Easter Sunday last year, I walked into a Grace Kids classroom for the first time. The kids were dressed in their Sunday best, darting around the room before the first activity began. The teachers, sporting their iconic orange tees, were huddled in small groups with the kids, asking about their weekends and what the Easter Bunny had brought them. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but two things were clear – the energy in the room was contagious, and the teachers’ love for the kids was evident. I knew this was something I wanted to be a part of.

I began teaching in the Clubhouse (2nd-3rd grade) classroom the following week. I sat at the head of a kid-sized table in a kid-sized chair as my class trickled into the room and took seats around me. Sitting in front of 10 elementary schoolers is surprisingly intimidating. In this moment, I realized the weight of the responsibility I had signed up for: to create a safe and fun space for these kids to learn about Jesus and grow in relationship with one another.

Looking back on the past year, it’s been a true blessing to be a part of this team. It’s been incredible to see God answer prayers and continually provide resources my team needs to step out in faith and share who Jesus is.

When I first started serving in Grace Kids, I approached it with a mindset of “what can I teach my class?” I couldn’t imagine how much these kids would teach me and change my life in a year’s time – bringing me back to a childlike faith and speaking God’s word to me in simple, applicable ways.

For example, I taught a lesson last week on Luke 4:1-13, where Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days without giving in. I asked my class to tell me what they learned from the passage. One boy looked up and said, “Don’t take the easy way out.” He went on to say that Jesus could’ve easily given into the devil’s tests, but instead chose to do the right thing, the tough thing, and follow God’s word. This second-grader simplified 13 verses into six words in a very powerful way.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to grow in my faith alongside these kids, and for the chance to serve on a team of amazing teachers. God knew exactly what he was doing when he brought Grace Kids into my life, and I’m so happy to be a part of it.

Devin is a member of the Clubhouse Team in Grace Kids.

Are you interested in checking out Grace Kids? Email rachel@hobokengrace.com.