Students at Mauna Loa School recently learned that their favorite pastor, Roger Cain, would be leaving the Hilo church for a new position in the Northern California Conference. They were heartbroken.

Students don't usually take it very hard when a pastor leaves to go to another church. For most of them, it’s part of the regular cycle for pastors and teachers. But for this group, Cain's departure meant they were losing a friend who had become very much entwined in their lives.

Cain always went beyond traditional pastoral roles, like baptizing people and leading weeks of prayer. He would substitute teach when needed, eat lunch with the kids, play tag on the playground with the younger children, play a merciless game of dodgeball in the gym with the older students, and lead camping trips with them. Every school day for the last several years that Cain was in town, he came to school at recess time in the morning and played whatever the students were playing that day.

When Cain announced he would be leaving, "There was much weeping and gnashing of teeth,” said Principal Allen Lipps.

Students wondered, “Who will play with us?" "Who will go camping with us?" and “Why can’t he stay?”

Julia Kohltfarber, first through fourth grade teacher, suggested they put together a book filled with pages created by the students, telling why they appreciated Cain. They called it the Book of Appreciation and presented it during a recent Sabbath morning service at the Hilo church before Cain left.

According to Lipps, Cain's effect on the school has been "astounding. Not only did everyone get some good exercise [when he played with the kids], enrollment went up. When students really like their pastor and their church, it is easy to get them to consider baptism."

Obviously, pastors can make a big difference at their constituent schools by choosing to spend quality time with the children.

“One of my fondest memories of my pastorate at Hilo will be the times that I have spent with the students at Mauna Loa School," Cain said. "Yes, the adults will be remembered as well, but the appreciation that the students showed for the time that I helped them or played with them always lifted me up. I believe they have helped me to understand more and more what Jesus said about little children and youth with their trust and joyful expectancy leading the way to the kingdom of God.”