Pure joy of teaching

Best friends since the sixth grade, Janine Burline and Deidre Savage have been leading the next generation into the love of a Christ-centered world since the early 2000s. Every week they are grateful for how each life they have enriched has touched their hearts. Janine focuses on the importance of the kids making a connection with each other as they grow in the knowledge and love of Christ. She wants them to have the lasting friendships she sees her daughter having with friends at Church and shares with Deidre. They even pray with their class every week, thanking the Lord for “bringing us together to be with our friends.”

Deidre says it keeps her young to see the world through their eyes. Learning with the kids is as fun as teaching them. It is a real joy in their week. So, when the Church re-opened, they could not wait to come back and see their class. Their dedication has walked one group from pre-K all the way to fourth grade and now they are doing it again. These two incredible disciples agree, no matter what age of child they are teaching, watching the lightbulbs come on and seeing their growth is nothing but pure joy!

“These two incredible disciples agree watching the lightbulbs come on and seeing their growth is nothing but pure joy!”
– Katie Williams

Every week two generations share a smile, a hello and the love of Christ with the children of First Presbyterian. Cindy DeVore and her daughter Elizabeth are both dedicated to the kids, teaching about the love of Christ and the Church.

Cindy came to First Church in the fourth grade and started working with the children’s program in high school and never stopped. It gives her a break in her week, and she loves seeing the twinkle in their eyes as they grow in the love of Jesus. She continued when her kids were in the program, teaching them the importance of sharing your gifts.

Elizabeth grew up in the Church and wanted to give to others all the guidance and love she had received. She has helped with the children’s program as long as she can remember. She loves the connection with the children. She has taught the same students from Kindergarten to fourth grade. She says, “They are my friends and I missed not seeing them.” They even had Zoom meetings this spring. They both said the greatest joy is seeing the children understand the importance of Church and how we serve and love the Lord, and they are great examples.