“Sir, when will we ever use this in our lives?”
That’s a question that Mathematics and Christian Education teacher, Mr Lester Sim, has gotten used to answering. It’s not one that he shies away from either. In response, he tries to explain that the logical thinking and problem-solving skills that his students are learning are extremely useful in all areas of life, whether at work or home.
“Underneath the practical skills of trigonometry, algebra and graphs,” he says, “students are learning a logical flow of thought and processing.”
The teaching of logic carries over to Mr Sim’s Christian Education classes. While that might seem strange, Mr Sim is always ready to bust the myth that faith only exists in the absence of reasoning. “I do open up my Christian worldview for questioning in an effort to show my students that the Christian faith can stand up to their questions,” says Mr Sim. “I often remind my students that I am a logical person, and hence, I do believe that my faith does stand on logical grounds”
These discussions have stakes to them too. While there are no tests for Christian Education at Kennedy, Mr Sim argues that the actual assessments come in the real world, where the unforeseen and unfortunate occur. “Will their worldview keep them buoyant?” Asks Mr Sim. In the classroom then, he believes his role is to prepare his students for life – whether through the problem solving of mathematics or the blessing of Biblical teaching.
In Mr Sim’s own life, with its seasons of suffering and grief, of questioning and doubting, it has not only been logic that has helped guide him back towards God but music. “Worship music has always provided me that peace and nudge to keep leaning in.”
This love of music has been well harnessed, with Mr Sim able to lead worship in the English services of Faith Community Church and going on two short mission trips to Japan. Our students embraced Mr Sim’s talents at Kennedy when a group of Year 11 students birthed the idea for a Student Worship Team. This has been a great area of growth for Kennedy over the past few years and the living out of faith publicly through songs of praise has had a significant impact on students, teachers and staff.
For those called to do it, Mr Sim explains that making steps to join your Church’s own music team is a great way to grow and understand worship, and that there’s always space to join in on the fellowship that the Student Worship Team is creating. “In general,” says Mr Sim, “Step into the space and start learning as soon as you can!”
If music isn’t your thing, he is quick to note that, as Mrs Crump would say, “All of life is worship.” This is one of the topics of conversation for ‘I can’t believe it’s Worship’, a podcast that Mr Sim hosts alongside his friend who, he says, “has the same name, and the same heart and passion for all things relating to worship”. This Lester and Lester combination explores not just the musical side of worship but the ‘broader’ forms of worship as well. A recent series from the podcast that Mr Sim points to is the exploration of seven Hebrew words for praise, which include both ‘praise with instruments’ (Zamar) and ‘kneeling in reverence’ (Barak) as ways of worshipping God.
Whether he is teaching Mathematics or Christian Education, playing music at church or at school, or diving into different worship topics his podcast, Mr Sim is focused on helping and serving others, especially his students. He puts it best when he says:
“I believe my function as a teacher is to prepare the students who pass through my care for the real world they will face. Above and beyond mathematical skills, I genuinely believe that living life with Christ in the centre will guarantee purpose, joy, and deepest fulfilment. What kind of teacher would I be if I did not equip them and teach them about the ultimate source of life that I have personally come to know?”
