“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19 (NIV)
I will never forget my mom putting us five kids to bed early on a Saturday night because we were going to go to Sunday school the next
day. My six-year-old thoughts were, “What!? Why? It was our day off from school.”
A faithful man named Mr. Staley from the Oakridge Baptist Church in Vancouver had been visiting mom, explaining the Christian
faith to her. He was obeying Jesus’s words from Matthew 28:19. I’m reasonably sure he came at least three times to talk to her about sending us to Sunday school. As I reflect on these times, I can’t help but think there must have been a lot of people praying for her to say yes. As it was, she only sent my older sister and I because the others were too young.
I expect it took some extra encouraging, since mom was a survivor of residential school—something she never talked about to any of us. It has made me believe that mom had a faith of her own, in spite of what she may have experienced or witnessed in residential school. She was a peaceful person, gentle, caring.
Nevertheless, Sunday school was where I first learned about God and Jesus. Sunday school was a safe place, bright, full of love and
learning, and exciting stories. We memorized verses, earned Bibles, and went to Bible camp. I really looked forward to going every week.
A family came to pick us up every Sunday until we were old enough to take the bus. I am forever thankful for these faithful followers reaching out to our family.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your servants who brought us to Sunday school where we learned the Good News about Jesus and
came to believe.
– Loretta Oppenheim
Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website.
Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org