“Every child comes to us with incredible potential,” Tommy Sanders, childhood ministry director in the Christian education department at Dallas Baptist University, told approximately 700 Church Weekday Education workers at their training workshop July 20-21 at White Oak Conference Center.
Dana McElmurray, president of the Association of Church Weekday Administration from First Baptist Church, North Augusta, received a plaque for her service. McElmurray authored this year’s theme: “Today a Note, Tomorrow a Song.”The annual event offers church weekday education faculty and administrators training opportunities to enhance skills in teaching preschoolers. Attendees earn clock training hours for sessions that meet Department of Social Services requirements.
Under the theme “Today a Note, Tomorrow a Song,” participants could attend a variety of music-themed sessions such as “I Fall to Pieces” on teaching with puzzles or “Jesus Loves Me” on teaching with the Bible. New teachers could “start from the very beginning” and attend “Do-Re-Mi.”
Sanders emphasized the importance of training and reaching young children in today’s society. He stressed that every child has endless promise.
“You may think that all you do is care for boys and girls, but every moment you have with them has immeasurable potential,” he said.
Tommy Sanders“Strike ‘I’m just a preschool teacher’ from your vocabulary. You are not just a teacher. They have potential. You have potential,” Sanders continued.
He pointed to the value advertisers place on reaching children and exhorted those present to do the same. Using songs he learned as a child, such as “I’ve Got Joy” and “Jesus Loves Me,” Sanders talked about the long-term influence teachers have on children and their faith.
“First impressions that boys and girls have of God are lasting,” Sanders said.