For the Love of Children in Compton

I remember teaching at a Christian school in Compton, California in 2019 right before covid hit the world. I was so excited. I was moving back to Los Angeles after leaving Houston once my marriage failed. It was a new and exciting adventure to be able to teach in a Christian school and also teach in Compton. I felt kind of like a missionary, like someone who would go to Africa, India, or China. Because I’m not originally from the Los Angeles area and grew up in Houston, Texas, the LA culture is different for me. 

But I was really very excited and was honored to take a lower salary. I felt this is what missionary work is like. There was a time at my church back in 2004, West Angeles Church of God in Christ, where I actually was pursuing becoming a missionary. There’s a group of women within the church called the missionaries, and the church actually funds trips for them around the world to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was pursuing missionary life for a short while.

It was really crazy though, because I went on this whole fashion extravaganza where I thought being a missionary, you have to wear these long, pleated, ankle-length skirts, long dresses, and long sleeve shirts. I was wearing all of these clothes in the middle of summertime in South LA riding the 210 bus up and down Crenshaw to and from church. I can remember being very hot, and my friend was like, “why do you have on all these clothes?” But it was an adventure. It was exciting. And it was an idea I pursued for a minute, but it just wasn’t my calling. 

Back to the Christian school. It was a good start. I had a mixed classroom of fifth and sixth graders teaching all the subjects since this is a small school. It started out pretty well, but there were some things structurally that needed to happen. However, as time went on, the children became more unruly, and the parents didn’t think that I was the right candidate to get them in order. They said I was “too nice.”

The reason I’m talking about this Christian school in Compton is because Christian schools have a part of the day where the students and faculty meet for worship. You read the Bible, and you sing a song, and then there’s some announcements, and then you go back to class. It’s like a mini church service. At this school, each of the teachers had a time where they would present. It was my turn, and I decided to sing my song, God is Love. The chorus goes, “God is love, God is love, there’s no one above Him, God is love.” 

I sang the entire song, and I got emotional and teary-eyed. I remember one student was asking, “is she crying?” I think I touched the children’s hearts. Even though there were some comments, you know how children can be, funny comments. But I felt like love was missing in my students’ lives. Even in the short time that I was there, I was there only a few months, I could see that there was love missing in their hearts. 

I want to spread love. That’s Love Again Los Angeles. That’s what I want to do. I want to spread love in this city. I want to fall in love in this city. Do you? Let me know what you want to do. Do you want to fall in love? Where are you in your relationship? Maybe you want to fall deeper in love with your mate, your partner. Or you maybe you’re like, “I’m chill. I’m good being single for now.” Whatever it is, love is waiting for you to open the door of your heart to come in and to sup with Him. This is part two of my Love Again LA vision. 

Love and peace, Shirah Chante, Relationship Artist. 

P.S. Download the marriage vision map I created for you to help you get a vision for your marriage.