“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works.”
On 12th July 2024, a career fair co-organised by e2i and Christian Preschool Alliance was held at Bishan Community Club. Participating preschools involved a number of faith-based organisations including, Anglican Preschool Services, Methodist Preschool Services, New Life Preschool Services, Bethel Preschools, Zion Bishan Kindercare and Little Olive Tree by Presbyterian Preschool Services. This was an occasion worth remarking about as it was not designed to be a typical career fair. The faith-based organisations came together because of a uniform message: regardless of where you work, ultimately we are called to “Let Your Light Shine”.
The faith-based organisations came together because of a uniform message: regardless of where you work, ultimately we are called to “Let Your Light Shine”.
Why the need to Shine?
As a Christian organisation, we believe that both the church and Christians play an important in the world around us. As Christians, we are not called to just live in silos and to care only about our personal cares, needs or wants. Instead, we are called to respond to the needs of the world, to develop horizontal relationships so that we can do good in the communities and societies God has placed us in.
Part of this good involves education. In our society where preschool children are spending 60% of their waking hours in school, we believe education (and for us, preschool education in particular) is a avenue through which we can do good in this world. Teachers today, more so than ever, play a much bigger role in nurturing our children. Due to the sheer number of hours we spend the children, teachers play the role of the pseudo-parent, of the facilitator of learning, of the giver of comfort and the teaching of right values, beliefs and understanding of the world the children exist in today.
What is this “good works”? What is this “light” that we are called to shine before men?
It is God’s love – one that is far-reaching, grace-filled and abiding (i.e. it never gives up). It calls us to love each child as they are...It calls us to continue to journey with the children and families...with the hopes that they will not remain as they are but will one day grow, thrive and bloom.
It is God’s love – one that is far-reaching, grace-filled and abiding (i.e. it never gives up). It calls us to love each child as they are – unique, wonderful and precious regardless of their disabilities or shortcomings today. It calls us to continue to journey with the children and families in spite of challenges, difficulties and obstacles with the hopes that they will not remain as they are but will one day grow, thrive and bloom.
Teachers with the unique and essential role they play in our children’s lives, are poised with a special mandate and a unique position to demonstrate this far-reaching, grace-filled and abiding love in ways other vocations will find it hard to.
This career fair is a milestone that we hope to keep surpassing – where we learn to grow and support one another alongside this early childhood education mission-field, providing healthy workplaces for passionate and skilful teachers to Let Their Light Shine regardless of where they are.
Fred Lai from the Christian Preschool Alliance who had a hand in coordinating the event deeply believes that the preschool education ministry is what God has planted in Singapore to share His love to the community. He echoed that the career fair was designed to showcase Christian preschools in the public sphere as a united front irrespective of denominations or churches. His hope for the event? To rally like-minded Christian educators to serve and/or return to the Christian preschool ministry.
His hope for the event? To rally like-minded Christian educators to serve and/or return to the Christian preschool ministry.
His sentiments were shared by Leon Huang from the Human Resources team in Presbyterian Preschool Services, “we need the Christian community to work together in unity to shine the light together. Ultimately when we are united in shining our light, it is God who is glorified.”
Uniquely Different but Still One Body
Jenny Lim who is also from the Human Resources team feels that even though we are all faith-based, each of the organisation has their unique offering, propositions as well as value to the sector. We may all seem the “same” but the reality is that we are also all different with our special skillsets. This gives Christian the opportunity to work in different contexts but ultimately for the same purpose: Letting our Light Shine.
Michele Koh, Principal Mentor sums up our mission well, “at the end of the day, our call is simple – we serve one God in one big family.”
Even though we are all faith-based, each of the organisation has their unique offering, propositions as well as value to the sector...this gives Christian the opportunity to work in different contexts but ultimately for the same purpose: Letting our Light Shine.
If you believe in this mission and would like to partner with us to support this Christian Preschool Ministry in different means (whether as a an individual, organisation or a church), please drop us an email at hello@littleolivetree.sg
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