Kristian has been teaching SRE for over a decade. He’s spoken to hundreds of students across many schools, but there’s one moment he’ll never forget.
It was Easter, and he was teaching a Year 5 class about how Jesus died in our place and how he’s our substitute.
“I could tell one boy, Tim* just wasn’t getting it,” Kristian recalls. “He looked confused. He put up his hand and said, ‘What do you mean? What are you going on about?’”
Kristian paused. He knew Tim and his family, he’d even taught his older brother, Peter*. So he tried a more personal angle.
“I said, ‘Okay, Tim. Imagine Peter didn’t clean his room. And the punishment is no TV for a week. But then you go to your mum and say, “Mum, I’ll take Peter’s punishment so he can still watch TV.” That’s a bit like what Jesus did for us.’”
Tim sat silently for a moment, letting it sink in. Then he looked up and said with total sincerity:
“But, why would I do that?”
Kristian laughs retelling it. “It was so honest and perfect. Because it led us straight to the heart of the gospel. I said, ‘Because you love your brother.’ And he said, ‘Nah, I still wouldn’t do it!’”
But that moment landed. “That’s when the penny dropped for him. He saw how remarkable Jesus is. That he’d take a punishment he didn’t deserve, for people who didn’t earn it. That’s grace.”
It’s personal
SRE isn’t just something Kristian teaches, it’s something he treasures as a parent, too. His own children attend the same schools where he teaches.
“They love SRE. For them, it’s another place to engage with God’s Word, to grow in their faith, and to share what they believe, sometimes just by being there,” he says.
“And yes,” he adds with a smile, “the class always turns to them when I ask a question, like they’re supposed to know all the answers because I’m their dad.”
But jokes aside, he’s deeply thankful that his kids, and all kids, have this chance to question, explore, and discover who Jesus is.
“In a world that offers so many distractions and distorted ideas, SRE is a space where they can hear the truth about Jesus. That’s not something I take for granted.”
Why we need to keep SRE in schools
Kristian is convinced that SRE must remain part of school life because it’s such a precious opportunity.
“Every child should have the chance to hear about Jesus,” he says. “This [the gospel] is the truth that has shaped history and continues to shape lives. Why wouldn’t we want kids to consider it?”
And more than just information, SRE classes give students a chance to push past the cultural noise and misunderstandings about Christianity.
“So many people still think religion is about being good enough to get to heaven,” Kristian says. “But SRE gives us the chance to say, ‘No, the gospel is that you’re saved by grace, through faith. Not by doing good stuff.’”
Welcome the children
This year’s EOFY appeal is based on Jesus’ words: “Let the little children come to me… for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matt 19:14).
Kristian sees that in action every week.
“It’s such a privilege to say to a classroom full of kids: ‘Let me tell you about this story that’s true. About a God who created you, who loves you, who sent his Son to rescue you so you could be with him forever.’”
He adds, “We’re told not to hinder the children. So, let’s do the opposite. Let’s encourage them, resource them, and make the most of every opportunity.”
Why your partnership matters
Not everyone can teach SRE. But everyone can be part of it.
Through PYNSW, your giving and praying helps support teachers like Kristian all across NSW by providing curriculum resources, training, mentoring, and advocacy.
“Giving and praying are two of the best ways to participate,” Kristian says. “We need resources to keep going, and we need God to be at work. If we’re not praying for this ministry, why would we expect it to bear fruit?”
SRE continues not just because of teachers in classrooms, but because of supporters like you, who see the eternal value in helping children hear about Jesus.