Melissa Danisi's own words proclaiming the excellencies of the LORD in her classroom last year from beginning of seeking prayer to His Ephesians 3:20 way of answering:
A few months back you may remember I sent you an email asking for prayer regarding my classroom. I was teaching in a Title 1 school in Fresno Unified, which means my school is low achieving and low socio-economic status. I was struggling, my kids weren’t learning, I was feeling frustrated with students behavior, home life, CPS stuff, etc. I was feeling alone, feeling overwhelmed, and feeling like I could never do enough to help these kids. I asked you to pray Colossians 4:2-4 “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”
I had no idea what would happen next. Within a few weeks, gospel conversations started happening in my class. I always champion those who are in Good News Club (an after school bible study hosted by a neighborhood church). I was asking some of the students what they were learning when one of my student’s said “I used to go to Good News club ‘til my dad said I can’t go no more”. I asked why and she said “because she came home asking him questions he didn’t know the answers to so he told her she’s not allowed to go anymore.”
I responded, well I can answer your questions! My class erupted in questions about God, Jesus, the bible, etc. “Why did they put the nails in Jesus hands? How did God make dinosaurs? Is God the smartest person ever?” I started answering their questions and then gave them each a paper. I shared that I’d love to continue talking about these things but would need their parent’s permission. So I told them go home, write down all of your questions, and then have your parent’s sign it so I know it’s okay we talk about these things. From there we continued to talk about the God of the Bible, about Jesus life, death, and resurrection. Some of the students asked if they could get a bible, go to church with me, etc. Parents contacted me to see if I would take them to church, so I did! I ended up taking 11 of my students to church with me this past year!
I’ve been working with kids for 10 years and never have I had such an open door! In the meantime I found out I was getting a pink slip, because of the $70 million budget cut, I wouldn’t have a job the following year. Immediately I began reflecting on if I had been faithful these past 5 years preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified to my studetns, coworkers, etc. I began thinking about how The Great Commission tells us “as we are going . . . make discples.” I wasn’t “going” anywhere, so I just replaced “as you are teaching . . . go and make disciples.” I started thinking about how no matter where Paul was (making tents, in prison, in synogogues, as he was “teaching” he was making disciples. So I decided that since I would never see these kids tests scores (which is what it’s all about now-a-days), I would “make disciples”. I would endure their behavior, their homelife, etc. for the sake of making Him known.
We began having after school bible study/prayer, I allowed the kids to read and discuss the Bible in class. One day (my most disruptive student) was super quiet with his head down in the back of the class. It was very unusual so I was suspecting he was doing something he shouldn’t be. I walk to the back of the room to find him copying down Philippians 2:14 “Do all things without grumbling or questioning, on an index card. (This was a verse I had shared with my class when they would start whining about homework ;-) I asked him if he knows what it means to be a child of God? If he knew about Jesus and eternal life. I have to say, it was never so easy to share and offer the gospel. The harvest was plenty . . .
In the meantime, my friend Yvonne had received a check from one of her friends who came to Christ through a conversation they had on a plane a couple of years ago. Yvonne’s friend Betty wanted to give money to the LORD but was not a part of a church yet. So she asked Yvonne to take the money and give as she would see fit. Yvonne approached me and had the idea to give the 11 students in my classroom who had come to church with me a bible. She would have their names engraved and everything. So she did! As the end of the year approached, and I knew for sure I wouldn’t be coming back the next year, I decided I wanted ALL of my students to receive a bible. So I went out and bought the rest of my students a bible. I spent about $250 on the bibles, which was not in our budget. I emailed the prayer team and my life group asking if they’d like to sponsor a child, by faith I knew God would provide enough people to sponsor my students. By the time I had checked my email the next morning, He did. We had more than enough.
So on the last day of school, the last day of the hardest year I’ve had teaching, possibly the last day of my teaching career, through God’s provision through His people and your prayers that opened the door, I was able to give 23 students a bible. They were so excited! I still can’t believe this happened. You prayed, God answered, His spirit moved, hearts were open, gospel proclaimed, and I felt like I was in a whirlwind! I felt much like the disciples in Acts 12 who were earnestly praying for Peter to be released from prison, and when he showed up at the door, they didn’t believe it! I knew God would answer, but never in this way!
Here’s some pictures of that day . . . God hears.
