The Power of Scripture Verse Memorisation
Alison Govender | Principal of Arise and Shine Kids Centre
Arise and Shine Kids Centre is an ECD in Regents Park that was opened 11 years ago when Maria Xavier, the head of Sunday School at Nova Vida Church, identified that the children in the community were not developing the necessary skills to succeed at school. Starting with just one child and one teacher in March of 2013, the school quickly grew to 10 children by December of that same year and is now a flourishing ECD that averages around 45 children in the school and around 30 learners in the Aftercare programme.
The name of the school comes from Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.” It is from this verse that our vision and the heart of our school was birthed. We aim to establish a place where children are nurtured holistically – spirit, soul and body – to lay a good foundation for them to grow (arise) and develop into all that their Creator has intended for them to be (shine).
When Maria Xavier retired in 2022, I had the privilege of taking over the role of principal of Arise and Shine Kids Centre. The journey has been full of joy as well as challenges and has taught me to rely on the Lord Jesus Christ more and more each day. As a principal, I have learned to persevere through storms and to be moulded into an instrument of service in His Kingdom amongst the community of Regents Park.
The name of the school comes from Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.” It is from this verse that our vision and the heart of our school was birthed. We aim to establish a place where children are nurtured holistically – spirit, soul and body – to lay a good foundation for them to grow (arise) and develop into all that their Creator has intended for them to be (shine).
When Maria Xavier retired in 2022, I had the privilege of taking over the role of principal of Arise and Shine Kids Centre. The journey has been full of joy as well as challenges and has taught me to rely on the Lord Jesus Christ more and more each day. As a principal, I have learned to persevere through storms and to be moulded into an instrument of service in His Kingdom amongst the community of Regents Park.
As I continue my journey in education, I have become more and more aware of the shifts in society that are shaping the educational landscape and of the world of lies that our children live in – a world that is seeking to break down the family and to confuse young minds. I fully believe that it is essential to be grounded in the Bible and to impart truth to children through Scripture memorisation. Even if they do not fully understand the Bible verses they are memorizing now, what they are learning at a young age will provide them with a solid foundation for the future. With this in mind, Arise and Shine Kids Centre has linked every theme in our curriculum with Bible verses which our children are encouraged to memorise. This includes truth about gender, the family unit and who God has made us to be.
I often remind my teachers that God’s word is alive and active. I want to encourage you, as you journey through uncertain times, whether you are a teacher, principal, or parent, remember Hebrews 4:2 “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
I often remind my teachers that God’s word is alive and active. I want to encourage you, as you journey through uncertain times, whether you are a teacher, principal, or parent, remember Hebrews 4:2 “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
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