Loving and Serving Our Children
Tiang Siew Ting is no stranger to many in GBC, especially our families and children who are in Sunday School. She has been on staff as a part-time Ministry Worker for Children’s Ministry since 2020, and beginning January 2025, is now working in a full-time capacity. Here, she shares a bit more about her work and how she has seen God at work over the years.
I joined GBC as staff in February 2020, just before the COVID Circuit Breaker. Our pastor at that time, Ian Buntain, invited me to join the staff team for Children’s Ministry on a part-time capacity. I was no stranger to the ministry, as I was already serving as an Admin Volunteer in the Children's Ministry Committee Team since 2015. Due to our needs and a growing Children’s Ministry, I am now working as a full-time Ministry Worker for the Children’s Ministry.
What This Role Entails
My role is all about supporting the smooth operation of our Sunday School classes and Nursery. This involves ensuring we have enough volunteers each week so that parents and children can engage with God's Word during our Sunday Worship Services and Sunday School classes. A typical work week includes preparing teaching resources, materials, and check-in lanyards. I also connect with mothers, volunteers, and occasionally provide childcare support for young mothers.
Witnessing God at Work
It has been amazing to see God at work in our church, especially since we resumed physical gatherings after the disruptions that COVID brought. We have seen a significant increase in the number of children and families attending, growing from 40 children weekly before COVID to 150 now. It has been encouraging to see families choose GBC as their home church. This growth is a testament to God's goodness and grace. He has also provided dedicated and passionate teachers who love serving the children.
Serving in the Children's Ministry has also deepened my understanding of God's faithfulness and reliability. Scriptures like the parables of the mustard seed (Mk 4:30-32), and the sower (Mk 4:1-9) have been sources of strength, reminding me to trust in God's sustenance and growth for both me and His church. My focus is on being faithful in the tasks He gives me.
Our Children’s Ministry held a lunch in January to allow parents, children and Sunday School teachers to get to know one another.
The Children's Ministry is always in need of volunteers. We need people to support families, especially young families. Besides Sunday School teachers and nursery helpers, we also need help with setting up Sunday School check-in tables, childminding during Prayer and Members’ Meetings, and supporting Mum's Connect childminders on Friday mornings. If you would like to serve or find out more about the ways that members can help, contact me at siewting@gracebaptistchurch.sg!
Waiting on God in Prayer
Church, I would appreciate your prayers for God's sustenance and enabling as I serve Him, and for continued growth in my love for Him. Please also pray for the physical and spiritual health of my family.
For the Children's Ministry, please pray for gospel fruit. Pray that our children will come to understand the gospel and accept it. Our children cannot live by Bible stories alone, "but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”! Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) says, "the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” For this reason, we need to embed God’s Word in the minds of our children. It is in our Sunday schools, church and our homes where we need to ground them in the Word of God, making Bible concepts and principles a part of our everyday conversations. Because without knowledge of God’s Word and life in Him, we will be so easily talked out of our faith by our culture. I pray that the children will develop a biblical worldview trusting God to save him or her through a spiritual birth for His eternal purposes.