By Nita Wilkinson

Faith Editor

Every week, while most of us are busy with work, errands, or the endless rhythm of everyday life, hundreds of Logan County third- and fourth-graders quietly slip away from their classrooms for something that has been part of this community for more than 70 years.

They go to Weekday Christian Education.

It's easy to assume 30 minutes isn't enough time to make much of a difference. After all, it takes longer than that to eat lunch or watch a sitcom. But history, and countless stories from students, suggest otherwise.

Weekday Christian Education (WCE) has its roots in 1914 in Gary, Ind., when a school superintendent recognized that a child's education was incomplete without some understanding of the Bible. He invited local ministers to teach students about Jesus during the school day. That simple idea spread across the country.

Here in Logan County, Weekday Christian Education has been serving students since 1955. Today, the program partners with all four local school districts, offering Bible instruction to third- and fourth-graders without denominational bias. Its purpose remains beautifully simple: to help boys and girls understand the basic truths of Scripture and introduce them to the hope found in Jesus Christ.

The organization affirms the historic Christian faith, believing the Bible is God's inspired Word and the highest authority for faith and life. Just as importantly, it teaches that every person deserves compassion, kindness, dignity and love because every person bears God's image.

Those truths come alive each week through dedicated teachers.

Julia Quay teaches at Bellefontaine Intermediate School on Wednesdays. Kathy Fullerton teaches there on Tuesdays. Heather Starnes serves students at Benjamin Logan, Riverside and Indian Lake elementary schools, reaching nearly 315 children each year.

When I asked Heather what keeps her coming back year after year, she didn't talk about lesson plans or curriculum.

She talked about the children.

"I really love my job," she told me. "Summer is kind of hard because I miss them."

Her stories remind us that children often carry far heavier burdens than adults realize.

When the war in Ukraine began, many of her students were terrified that World War III had started. Rather than ignore their fears, Heather changed her lesson. She taught about Jesus walking on the water and His repeated command: "Do not fear."

She played the song Do Not Fear by Ellie Holcomb and invited each student to write a prayer, asking Jesus to take care of whatever frightened them most.

"Almost every class went back crying," she laughed. "Explaining that to the teachers was fun."

But beneath the laughter was something profound.

"The kids needed so badly to hand it over to Jesus,” Heather said.

Sometimes the changes happen quietly.

Heather remembers a third-grade student who struggled with behavioral issues. When

every student received a picture Bible, this little girl began reading it every day during free reading time. Each week she proudly reported how far she had made it.

Then one day she said something Heather has never forgotten.

"No matter what," the girl said, "I know I am loved."

Her classroom teacher began noticing changes too. The behavior issues gradually disappeared.

"I don't have all the answers," she said. "But I have hope."

And perhaps that's exactly what Weekday Christian Education offers, not all the answers. Hope.

"In half an hour a week," Heather said, "I cannot teach them the whole Bible. But I can inspire them to want to learn about the mystery of Jesus. And I can teach them there is hope."

In a world where children often hear messages of fear, confusion and uncertainty, 30 minutes spent hearing they are loved by God may matter more than we realize.

Weekday Christian Education continues because churches, volunteers, donors, teachers and faithful supporters believe those 30 minutes are worth protecting.

The organization is always looking for volunteers and financial partners who want to invest in the next generation. More importantly, they ask for prayer—for the teachers, for the students, and for the continued opportunity to share the hope of Christ with Logan County's children.

Sometimes the greatest kingdom work doesn't happen from a stage or behind a pulpit. Sometimes it happens in 30 quiet minutes... with a Bible, a caring teacher and a child discovering that Jesus loves them. ■