The bright sun matched the spirit of Cynthia Turner’s heart as she prepared to attend Kids’ Camp at Adventure Christian Church. Kids’ Camp was all about missions and Cynthia was excited to see what God had in store for that day. Cynthia was confident God wanted her involved in some type of mission work but she wasn’t sure which direction he would take her. By the time Kids Camp was over, Cynthia was sure of the path. God was putting the public school system on her heart. The desire of her heart was to go back to teaching in the local public school system and she was sure she could impact kid’s lives and share her faith in a variety of ways.

Growing in Faith

Cynthia grew up in a Catholic home and attended Catholic school until fifth grade. In the second or third grade she began to question her faith. She began to ask her mom deep questions like, “Why does God talk to priests?” Cynthia’s mom told her that priests are not any different than other people and God could talk to them also. At that young age Cynthia stopped praying to the saints and began to pray directly to God. She prayed fervently when she was younger and never stopped asking questions of faith. Her husband came from a Mormon background. Cynthia never connected with Mormonism and when they met they started looking for another church. While they came from different religious backgrounds, they shared many core values.

Cynthia and her husband visited church after church, which led them to investigate Scripture and theology. But eventually she and her husband divorced.

Cynthia went back to school to become certified to teach—a goal that had been her heart’s desire since the age of five. When Cynthia remarried, she and her husband moved to Rocklin and visited Adventure Christian Church where they have attended ever since.

Sharing Her Faith

Although Cynthia took six years off from teaching to raise her children, her experience with Kids’ Camp led her to believe God was calling her back into the school system. For teachers with the desire and insight, opportunities abound to share their faith in the public school system. Cynthia purchased a large One Nation Under God poster for her classroom. Small things like saying “God bless you” after someone sneezes keep God’s name at the forefront of her classroom.

Cynthia’s fourth grade teaching partner is a spiritualist. This creates a few challenges but even more opportunities. “We can’t both be right,” Cynthia once said to her. Her partner agreed, and that opened the door for Cynthia to share her faith. In addition to her willingness to talk about the Lord, Cynthia believes she is called to pray with other Christian teachers.

During parent-teacher conferences Cynthia does not hesitate to bring up the topic of church. One parent stayed to talk with Cynthia for an hour and a half and another parent told her that as a result of their conversation, she rededicated her life to Christ. One of Cynthia’s recent students presented one of her biggest behavioral problems. His parents gave her permission to pray for him. Although she has been challenged by the principal at times, Cynthia makes sure to do things by the book and be obedient. She is open to challenge because “I am working for God and not myself.” In addition to sharing her faith with co-workers and parents, Cynthia prays in the faculty room at lunch and wears a cross emblem daily.

Cynthia is passionate about her love for teaching and her love for Christ. During the Christmas season a student was sent to her classroom for time out. When she asked his name, he said it was Emmanuel. Without hesitation, Cynthia asked the young boy if he knew what his name meant. When he responded with a no, Cynthia responded with her usual enthusiasm, “God with us!”

Cynthia is concerned that too many Christians are afraid to obey what God has called them to do. She never wants to be afraid or water down her faith. “My mission is to continue to be on fire. I cannot worry about offending the teacher next to me. I do not see any obstacles stopping me.” And looking at Cynthia’s track record and her faith in Christ, nothing will. |L

Susanne Dacus graduated from Pacific Christian College with a degree in Christian Education. She and her husband Brad work with Pacific Justice Institute in Citrus Heights, California. Brad and Susanne reside in Sacramento, California with their two children.

OTHER COLUMNS:
June 15, 2008 - A time saver who knows the soul saver
May 18, 2008 - Working by faith 24/7
April 20, 2008 - Motown, music, and ministry
March 23, 2008 - Be One Sportswear
February 24, 2008 - Fighting for the faith
January 27, 2008 - Healing for the Healer
December 30, 2007 - Parenting faithfully
December 2, 2007 - Building physical and spiritual strength
November 4, 2007 - Taking Christ into the classroom
October 7, 2007 - Changing lives through music
August 12, 2007 - Strategies for business and life
June 17, 2007 - Finding fulfilling work
May 20, 2007 - Faithful to his calling
March 25, 2007 - The perfect plan
February 25, 2007 - Teaching with faith
January 28, 2007 - Changing a community—one event at a time
December 24, 2006 - Business by the book
November 26, 2006 - Growing through life’s storms
October 29, 2006 - Giving God his best