GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Sunday school teacher Sonia Gayle of the Sharon Gospel Assembly at Contrivance in Manchester believes the life she lives as a Christian is what has been keeping her over the years she has been serving God.

Gayle, who got saved in 1974, believes serving God should be done wholeheartedly. She explained she gave her life to the Lord almost 40 years ago and recalled that on the night she got saved the preacher's message was based on the theme 'One more day with the frogs'.

"He was speaking of the plague which the Egyptians and Pharaoh experienced; and I hated frogs so badly, so I guess I was convinced. Every time I happen to see a frog, I remember the sermon," said Gayle.

passionate about work

She has been a Sunday school teacher for more than 20 years and is passionate about the work because she loves children and teaching. She said this gave her the opportunity to share the gospel with children.

Gayle, who explained that she has developed a passion for teaching religious education in her job at a high school in Clarendon, said at the time when she got saved, Sunday school was relevant.

"It is still relevant now, although we find that not a lot of children are attending. It helps them in their spiritual life. Sunday school is what nurtures a child, it is like the milk which a baby receives," said the Sunday school teacher.

"The Bible asks us to train a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. The teaching that one gets, especially from ages one to six, will never leave you, so it is important that a good foundation is laid from early," said Gayle.

Gayle believes that parents who attend church or are Christians should never leave their children at home while they are in church. Parents, she said, should always take their children with them so that they can acquire the necessary training in the church to assist them in their development.

Admitting that there have been occasions when she felt like giving up on God, the Sunday school teacher said she has been able to deal with that challenge by remembering the words of God in times of crisis and by putting her faith and trust in God, knowing that her feeling for giving up is the trick of the enemy.

Preach the message

Gayle told THE STAR her growth in the church spiritually has seen her being asked to preach on at least one occasion. She added that preaching was not an easy task because it takes a lot of preparation in terms of research, prayer and fasting in order to do so effectively to reach others.

For parents who do not take part in praying and fasting activities, Gayle wants them to know that these are the two most important elements in the Christian's life. She added that prayer and supplication touch the heart of God; and therefore they should take up a lot of the Christian's way of life.

She wants parents of boys to ensure they attend Sunday school just as much as the girls. She said there are parents who would ensure their daughters are in Sunday school, but allowed the boys to stay at home and do other things.

"If we train the little boys, they will eventually become good fathers. If Jamaicans repent and turn from their wicked ways as the Bible asks, then the Lord will heal the land. I think Jamaica and Jamaicans take too many things for granted. We hold on to the fact that we are a Christian country, but we do not realise that that is slipping from under our feet. We really need to be true to ourselves and know where we stand with God," said Gayle.

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