“I was planning on going to a polytechnic to become either an engineer or a mechanic because I loved fixing things but it was at that time that God called me instead to go to Bible school.”
Meet-a-Worker: Bro. Gascon Shimaka
Brother Gascon Shimaka, Children’s Church Teacher and head of the Diversity Group, is married to Sister Violet and they are blessed with four wonderful children:Mariam, Eunice, Ephraim, and Abigail.
Mr. Gascon Shimaka
Education
I was planning on going to a polytechnic to become either an engineer or a mechanic because I loved fixing things but it was at that time that God called me instead to go to Bible school. This was the last thing I wanted to do because I wasn’t a Believer yet. So I got a diploma in Biblical Studies. From there I went back home and was hired by my local church as a youth pastor for six years.
I went back to school to get an Advanced Diploma in Theology. And after I relocated to the U.S. I got another Advanced Diploma in Biblical languages: Greek and Hebrew. Then I went to Bethel Seminary and did a Master of Divinity in Missions. And I finally went to St Mary’s University where I did a Master’s in Management.
Childhood Memories
My dad and mom loved visitors. And I saw this in two ways. First, they took delight in raising children that were not theirs. The parents of these children wanted them to come live with us because their schools were too far away. My parents accepted them as part of our family without charging anything. For instance, a classmate of my brother’s once asked him if he could come live with us. And without any hesitation dad said he should. His parents couldn’t believe it and had to come confirm with dad.
Second, they took in people who came to our village for retreats, conventions and what have you. They might bring about 10-15 people from this gathering to come share our home during their conferences or retreats. It was in the course of doing this that we took in an American missionary who came to our side of the country but was refused accommodation by his host church. He was a youth minister. When he met my brother and told him about the case, my brother told my parents; and the missionary was taken in too. My brother came to the United States because of that missionary. And once my brother got here, he in turn helped me come here.
Those memories of hospitality ring in my ears every day. They also remind me of how God can use visitors as a blessing to a family.
Children’s Church
When I see some of our children, especially the very hyper ones; the way they behave, it reminds me of myself back then. I get reminded of the level I was when I was their age. The consolation I have is that I know the Spirit will remind each of them of what we are trying to impart now, just as He did with me, when the time comes. I also think of how consequential what I’m doing is. This is a ministry that lays the foundation for the church’s future. So I need to give it my best. I told Leslie [Children’s Church Superintendent] I’d need my teaching materials a month in advance so I can adequately prepare and ask God for help on how best to teach and not just show images or colorings. I don’t see the ministry as some tend to do: a place to keep the children so they don’t bother the parents during service. We have come some ways, but I still see some loopholes that need to be plugged. It may not happen immediately, but step by step we’ll get there.
Role of parents
It seems to me that many parents aren’t doing a great job of teaching their children Christian values. They do a better job of teaching them American culture and lifestyle: getting education, accumulating material wealth etc. How do I know? When children who are being taught Christian values come to church, those values manifest right away. You don’t have to ask or seek it, it just reflects! I think it’s important for parents to take the time to teach their children why they come to church and how to behave when they get there.
My parents never taught us Christian values. It was only me my dad took the pain to share the bible with. And that helped prepare the ground for my salvation. My brothers and sisters never got that and it affected them. Though they are well educated but they are yet to be saved. Maybe, if my dad talked about Christ to all others too, or even three or four of them, they’d have known Christ. So I believe parents have a big role to play in raising their children the God Way; and it’s very scriptural. No one else should do that for them; not even the children’s church teachers! Granted children may not follow all they are told, but at least there would be one or two things a child will pick up and run with.
Life Lesson
Life has taught me patience. If there’s one thing I’ll love to see my children embrace, that is patience. Regardless of what they may have or not, patience should never be missing. It may make you look out of place because people may think you don’t know what you are doing or the direction you are taking. If it were not for patience I’d not have come to the U.S.; or married my wife; wouldn’t have stayed at the church I grew up in when I was being persecuted; wouldn’t have come to Strong Tower Parish with my wife. Patience is what I’d want God to give my children. It hasn’t come to me on a plate of honey but through hard and good times.
Diversity Group
I was shocked when pastor told me I’d be the leader of the group. I believe it’s our duty as a group to bring to the church’s consciousness hard facts on where and how are we growing: How many babies are being born? How many have been born here and how many still remain here? How many women do we have? Where is our growth headed? We should be able to present to the church in a tangible way how we are growing up. As it’s currently composed it’d be safe to say this is a Nigerian church. It’s 95 percent Nigerians. The question then becomes how if at all is that impacting the church’s growth? What attracts non-Nigerians to the church and what makes them stay? And if they didn’t stay, why didn’t they? Posing such questions would bring the church to more clarity on where she is and how to go forward. Other questions would be: What are we to be in order to raise spiritual people and if the vision is to become a mega church what makes a mega church? If our church wants to be a mega church that means, it has to be diversified. But diversified in what sense? In skin color? Gender? Age? Participation in leadership? If we want that direction, what things do we need to put in place to ensure the church gets to these strategic locations?
These are diversity ideas we are considering and should help get answers to. Diversity is not just about skin color and gender or region, but ideas also. By the grace of God, this group will inspire the vision to stir people and arrest their attention to make the work grow.
Message
Let us cultivate Christian values in our children from our homes and not substitute it for Children’s Church teaching. Let their lives celebrate our worship. We should teach them the importance of going to church. Let us make them understand why we bring them to church with us. May God help us all.
