The adventure and privilege of teaching high school SRE

I would call myself an ‘adventure mum’. My best friends would agree. This is due largely to raising three kids in a tiny house and preferring to look after them in the great outdoors rather than at home, with them climbing the walls. 

I wonder sometimes if this adventurous spirit is what made me say ‘yes’ when my minister tapped me on the shoulder and asked me, ‘Would you be willing to teach Scripture (SRE) in the local high schools?’ At that time my eldest child was ten and my youngest was three. I knew teenagers could be a challenge, but I didn’t have any yet myself and I was up for it! I thought, ‘I love Jesus, I love teenagers (who are just people after all)—what could possibly go wrong?’. I said, ‘Yes’.

And so began a journey that has gone on to incorporate more local high schools and a team of volunteers, a journey that has put so much joy in my heart and love for the young people in my community.

Throughout this journey I’ve been motivated by the words of Jesus when he said: ‘My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends'. (John 15:12–13)  

Opportunities and possibilities

Would it astonish you to know that many students in high school Scripture classes don’t know why Jesus came, whether he was a real person, what he died for and importantly, why it matters and makes the biggest difference to life now! 

My friend David Krebs from Scripture Union NSW says, ‘It's such a critical time where kids are making up their mind about who they’re going to be and trying on different ideas. Having a place where students can explore Jesus is so important’.

With the increase in flexible working arrangements since Covid, it’s now more possible than ever to fit a weekly SRE class or Christian lunchtime group into a busy work schedule. And there is plenty of support from your local church, providers and Christian SRE (the organisation I work for) to make this an incredible experience. One SRE teacher at a high school in the Inner West said:

‘This is one of the most rewarding ministries I’ve been involved in. It’s not easy, but most things worth doing in life have an element of challenge. I’ve had the opportunity through high school SRE to upskill in a range of areas, especially communicating the gospel.’

The mum factor

Now that my older children are teenagers themselves, I feel like I always have experts in the house I can run lessons and short talks by to check whether I’m getting the message across. It has also empowered my kids to be bold for Jesus at school; it’s made talking about Christianity and Jesus with school friends just a normal part of life.

It is such a privilege to teach the children of my friends and neighbours, the people from all walks of life that live around me, the kids I see at the shops, park and pool. What a blessing to be able to share the life-changing message about Jesus and provide some spiritual support week in and week out.

Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these'. (Matthew 19:14)

Teenagers are still kids—big kids—making big decisions about who they are and where they fit in the world. Getting involved in teaching high school SRE and/or running a Christian lunchtime group is a golden opportunity to show we care and support teenagers to be confident about their faith.

I used to think I needed to be young and cool like the youth minister to do this. Thankfully, that’s not the case. As parents, we’ve already seen a lot and so there’s not a lot that phases us. That’s a pretty good starting point for any SRE teacher or helper. Importantly, mums and dads care—they get it. And teenagers get it when they know you care about them. One of the big ways we can show that we care is by turning up at their school week after week, learning their name, being warm and listening to them as we learn together in the class about who Jesus was, that he was a real person, and why that matters for right now and for eternity.

Just this last week a new SRE teacher, Angela, completed her training to become a helper at her local high school. She explains why she decided to help with SRE: 

‘Ultimately there was a need and at this stage of my life, with my children being older, I knew I could help. Although I am 40, I remember very clearly my days as a teenager! I know times are different, but there are still the same insecurities and feelings that I think all teenagers experience. I can empathise with a lot of them. I love to encourage people and I think children—especially teenagers—need to feel like you have their back and to make it very clear to them that the God of the Universe loves them and the Saviour Jesus Christ cares deeply for them (Jude 1:1)  He is the One that knows what they are going through more than anyone else, and he’s here to help.’

Why not give it a go?

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If you’d like to find out more about how you can become involved with SRE in your local school, whether that’s through helping, teaching, praying or giving, contact Christian SRE by emailing info@christiansre.com.au. More resources are available on our website: Christian SRE.

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Before theological training, Katie taught English as a Foreign Language to young adults and has a background in media and drama. Katie teaches and coordinates High School SRE in the Inner West where she lives with her husband and three children.

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