TENT – An Isaiah 54 ministry
“Since I was a child myself, I have always loved to connect with younger children, teach them things and play together. Growing up in a Christian home, I early learnt to love Jesus and got the desire in my heart to share His love and His message with others. From an early age I did meetings and activities for children, and I have been leading out in Children programs at various camps for decades. But it was first a good way into adult life that the call to work in Children ministry became even clearer and more specific.
The year was 2017. It was early morning, and I was laying on a mattrass in a living room in Australia. The last 4-5 years I had worked there as a Bible Worker connected to a Christian Lifestyle Centre in Victoria. My visa had expired, and I was denied further extension. I was headed back to Europe, but first I wanted to spend time friends. The family I now visited had two small tween boys and we had connected so well the previous day. As I woke up that morning I was praying for the family and was searching for a Bible promise to back up my prayers. My mind was directed to Isaiah 54, verse 13: “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” A little while later I heard small steps. It was one of the tweens who had woken up early and wanted to come and hear stories. I love to tell stories, and children love to hear them. I let him come under my blanket and started sharing. It did not take long before the other tween turned up and joined our story time.
After leaving their home, I was sitting in the car with their grandma. “You really connect well with children”, she encouraged me. I cannot explain it, but right there I had one of those divine moments, I did not hear a voice, but felt a calling into Children ministry. It was such a perfect timing, as a new chapter in my life were about to open. Later I remembered the promise I had read that morning and decided to read the whole chapter. How fitting it was for me and my life situation: “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear (I am single with no children of my own); break forth into singing (I love to sing with children and compose my own songs), and cry aloud thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. Enlarge the place of thy tent and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations…” (Isaiah 54:1-2) I was thinking of the two boys that had come under my “curtain” that morning to hear stories. It was time to widen my TENT…”
Stine Gro Struksnæs (46) is the founder of TENT Ministry. She is dedicated to show children the love of Jesus and help them closer to Him and His Word. She teaches at camps and church events and runs a number of weekly interactive Zoom Programs online. She also composes Christian songs, and runs a couple of small children choirs. She is currently based in her country of birth, Norway, but also loves travelling to other countries for special events.
