Jonah

I teach adult Sunday School at Dry Creek Baptist Church (the one in Rankin County). I am probably the worst teacher in the long history of the church, but somehow feel like I should be doing it. I don't even call myself a teacher, but a discussion leader. I wanted an adult class because adults will discuss. It is the teachers in the children's classes who need the skill.

This week the lesson was all from the book of Jonah. I had some good talkers in the room so the lesson went well, but what happened in the worship service is something I am not proud of.

All week I had been thinking about Jonah and how it applied to different situations. That lead me to develop a little story based on Jonah. Instead of some guy who lived back in olden times I used myself in modern times. Instead of Nineveh (where Mosul, Iraq is now) I used San Fransisco, Ca. I developed a pretty good story and figured maybe I would refine it some more and make a written story out of it. I ended up using it in a different way and it bombed big time.

Our pastor, Gerry Glass, started doing children church several months ago. He would have a short presentation or video or something that hold kids interest. He would bring them to the front and present it to them but where adult could also hear. He made it clear that he would not have something every week but wanted various people to present something.

We eat breakfast at church Sunday mornings before Sunday school. I noticed that there was a much larger than normal bunch of little ones running around. I also saw that Gerry Glass was preaching a special event at another church, and the assistant pastor Donny Nash was ready to preach. I told Donny about my story and he gave the green light.

I gathered the kids up front and started energetically telling the story but could not match the kids energy. They were wound tight that day. (Hats off to the professional teachers in public schools.) When I got into the story I realized the major flaw. I am an adult discussion leader trying to tell a story to kids. Maybe the adults got something out of it, but it was a mile over the kids heads.

I am not sure if I will ever do that again, but if I do I will tell a story geared for the right age group. As for that Jonah story I might still polish it up and post it. Besides this blog I also have a brand new facebook page and my friends are all church people. A lot heard me butcher Jonah. Perhaps when I polish the story I will place it there.