people in pew/margaret huebel

Margaret Huebel has been listening to young children tell stories for nearly 30 years, but it's the stories she tells that seem to interest them most.

Huebel is a Sunday school teacher for the first and second grades at Red Star Baptist Church. She has been a member of the church since 1946.

"They are excited when it's something they know," Huebel said. For the past few weeks, the children have been learning about how Jesus forgives and loves unconditionally.

The children each get a workbook and can read the lesson's verse or see a game or puzzle related to the Bible story. "They have little projects and things they can do themselves," Huebel said.

Videos like the "Veggie Tales" series depict Bible stories using vegetables as the main characters. That series has helped the children learn basic Bible stories much quicker, Huebel said.

But the children still like to learn Scripture verses and play games together. If a child is absent on a particular Sunday, Huebel tries to mail the day's lesson to their home.

One boy has even decided that he doesn't always have to come to church on Sunday "because Miss Margaret mails it to me," Huebel said.

Huebel has been involved with the Sunday school program for more than 30 years, working first as a helper in the department. But she has also worked with the children's missions groups and Awana Bible clubs.

Huebel said some people are intimidated by children because they ask so many questions. But Huebel enjoys the questions. Sometimes it's necessary to tune them out or else they'll all keep talking, she said.

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