Written by Corie Hansen

I cannot remember a time when I did not love teaching. An enthusiastic learner, fascinated by everything and anxious to share, I embraced the role of teacher even before I had younger siblings. Lining up stuffed animals and assigning them verses to sing at the directed time, I was even a conductor of music! I taught school, loving to diagram sentences on any unfinished wall or floor as my play. I would be an English professor, everyone’s favorite, and I would surely never have time for kids.

God had a better plan. Thankfully, I grew up going to church and attending Christian school. There, I learned to be humble. I studied and memorized Scripture, asking God, “What is it that You have for me?” By college, I knew He was not calling me to get that PhD. By age twenty-five, I knew He had called me to be a wife and mom. Really? I grieved this lost dream for a long time. I would not be a professor.

I was a good teacher to my kids. I loved it. A college logic class taught that the slippery slope is a fallacy; I may disagree. Twenty-six years ago, someone in children’s ministry invited me to write weekday curriculum. It was a volunteer position, a small step, yet here I am now, a children’s pastor at Lifegate where I write curriculum and train leaders. Slippery slope indeed!

The words of Jesus in Mark 10:15, “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it”, remind us that God has not excluded children from knowing Him. I’m grateful I can use my gift of teaching to serve Lifegate Kids as a Teacher.

Thank You, God, for saving me from academia and placing me where the greatest learning takes place: kids’ ministry. Help me lead children into a life of following You.