Teaching isn't a one-way street.
"[Ironically,] this book is about learning," writes Felkner. "Learning to be a Sunday school teacher, but it's not about methodology. Instead, it's about learning to teach as Jesus taught, learning the use of patience — until we see what makes the child tick and how to present Christian truths so each child will be open to Jesus."
In writing about the children she has taught over the years, Felkner shows how her students have helped her mature as a disciple of Christ. In fact, she explains, the best Sunday school scenario is when the children and the teacher together seek to better know and love God and each other.
Her stories are sometimes heartbreaking, always heartwarming and point to the need for justice and compassion in the world. She demonstrates her love for children and her love for Sunday school as a means to reach others with God's love.
"Sometimes we wonder, 'Is it worth it,'" writes one reviewer. "I Knew Them All by Heart reminds us that it is. We plant the seed of God's love in others by being a loving person ourselves. Felkner reminds us that doing the tasks we're called to do [as teachers] produce results that reach further than the present."
You may recognize characters within the pages of I Knew Them All by Heart from your own childhood. Even if you don't teach a Sunday school class, the stories contained in this book show how we all can grow through the witness of children.
Kids have a lot to teach. Listen and observe more closely — in the classroom and at home. Your efforts can make a difference that will last a lifetime!
