A Kindergarten Principal of True Christian Grit

CERC was recently taught to be courageous in Christ at the annual CERC Camp and we are pleased to feature a Christian who exemplified this recently in her work.

Wendy’s heart was racing as her husband passed the phone to her. She put the phone to her ear and gingerly said, “Hello Mr Lai…” while she quickly scribbled a note to her daughter hovering nearby. There were only three words on the note, “PRAY FOR ME!”

Wendy is the principal of a local Christian kindergarten nestled in the heart of Subang Jaya, a popular suburb among families in the Klang Valley. The kindergarten has been around for more than a decade and is a popular choice of education among the Christians and non-Christians.

Nevertheless, she has not always been the owner and principal of the kindergarten. She only came to take charge of the kindergarten 8 years ago when the former owner was on the verge of closing down the place.

“This is what God wants me to do. I’m very sure of it… This is my calling to run and keep this Christian kindergarten running,” Wendy said.

“It is a waste to see a Christian kindergarten close down. I didn’t want it to happen. I want the children to have a chance to hear the gospel.” It was precisely this desire of hers to proclaim Jesus that led to the angry phone call from a parent.

On the Friday before the phone call, Wendy’s kindergarten held its annual concert. Parents were invited to watch their children perform and to receive the yearly awards. But they did not expect Wendy to declare her faith so publically.

“The parents know this is a Christian kindergarten. We tell them that before they enrol their children. They know that we teach their children bible stories here and Christian values here,” she says.

Midway through the concert, Wendy invited CERC’s Little People team up on stage to perform. They sang songs declaring Jesus’ kingship and performed a skit on the “Rich Young Ruler” taken from the gospel of Mark. It was a bold move, unashamedly proclaiming that Jesus is Lord to all the children and parents who were present.

The Little People team on stage

“I have prayed publicly during one of the concerts in the past but this is the first time I’ve done a performance about Jesus on stage…so openly.”

“Save for a few unhappy faces, everyone else enjoyed the songs and the skit. Parents were mimicking actions together with their children during the songs and they were really happy to see their children having a great time,” Wendy adds.

Wendy admitted to being both nervous and afraid of the reaction from the watchful audience. She relates that she had her head down for most part of the performance, worried to be greeted with negative response from the crowd. When she finally looked up, she was a little relieved.

“My fear only sank in on my way back home from the concert that night. I was thinking to myself, ‘Would I get into trouble because of this?'”

“But no, I don’t regret it.” Wendy added firmly when asked if she would have chosen differently given the chance to do it over again.

For this gutsy principal, every parent and child who steps into her kindergarten or calls her on the phone is a gospel opportunity. She does so because she believes she has nothing to lose.

“You will not know if you will ever see some of these people again! Sometimes, parents visit or call just to enquire. So, I make sure I tell them that this is a Christian kindergarten and we teach the children bible stories and Christian values. I slot in the gospel as well when talking to them. I have nothing to lose,” she laughs.

Wendy and the Little People Team

Underneath her lively, chatty and optimistic exterior, no one would have been able to tell that Wendy is suffering from an incurable disease. Looking a little emotional, Wendy shares that she was diagnose with a muscular disorder a few years ago.

“I haven’t told many people this… but the doctor has given me about 10 more years. I don’t have the energy like I used to. It is getting harder to run this place without the energy I once had,” she says.

“This is why I must share the gospel now. At least while I’m still here, I can make sure that the children hear the gospel openly. I can’t guarantee that after I’m gone the next person who takes over will do the same.”

Wendy says that the CERC’s Little People team collaboration was indeed timely and a blessing. “They came just at the time where I felt that this was just getting too tiring and worn out,” adds Wendy.

The team leader, Joy, pops over at the kindergarten occasionally to give out flyers on its quarterly Little People event hosted by the church. At the beginning of this year, Wendy decided to invite the Little People team into her kindergarten to share the gospel.

Coming to you soon in 2014!

“The team has been here several times this year. The kids love them. I am so amazed with them. You know, it is usually the university students or the older folks who are all fired up for God. But this bunch is just…different. I heard that the working adults took a half day leave so that they could get ready for the performance at the concert. You don’t see this kind of commitment often these days,” she adds.

Wendy concurs that some parents may opt to pull their children out from the kindergarten next year after what transpired at the concert but that doesn’t worry her. She has seen God’s continued providence in this ministry she is in.

“Yes, some parents may decide to take their children to another kindergarten next year. But you know what? God is amazing. I had a few parents who just enrolled their children through a telephone call! They told me that they do not need to see the school first because they have heard good things about it,” she shares with a smile.

As for the displeased father, she defused the situation tactfully. Wendy held firmly to her stance, explained the situation and shared the gospel to the parent. From a displeased parent, the conversation ended with him saying “God bless you” and promising to enrol his two younger children into the school next year.

“People often ask me how do I go on being so optimistic and sharing the gospel in spite of my illness. I would say to them, that it is all God not me. Never me,” she adds.