IN MEMORIAM OF SHERMAIN LAI
On 6 March, LTS received the news that Ms. Shermain Lai had died of cancer. Although not unexpected, the news came as a painful shock to all who knew her.
Shermain was a lecturer in Christian Education at LTS – and she put her heart and soul into it. Often, students don’t consider Christian Education the most important field of study, but she persistently endeavoured to show the importance and relevance of Christian Education.
Her teaching was focussed on the students, on helping them to grow. She was a dedicated teacher, creative, always looking for new and better ways to teach. She not only loved teaching, but also her students. In her role as the dorm warden, she carried strong compassion on them. Simultaneously, she also had a straight view on the students, be it as an individual or and as a group, she boldly addressed issues that were problematic in her view.
I remember how seriously she took the students. In my early days at LTS, she and I were “parents” of the same family. When something had to be planned, it was tempting for us – the “parents” – to decide it and just inform the students. But every time she reminded me: we can’t making decision for the students, they have to do it on their own.
Shermain was a warm person and a wonderful colleague. Those who knew her will miss her dearly.
Stefan Gradl, Assistant Professor (Missiology, Christian Education, Pastoral Theology) at Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS), Hong Kong
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