| What does the future hold for Sunday School? | | | | offered covering evangelism and outreach. Of vital |
| It's a question that Christian educators working at | | | | importance was that all these schools made sure |
| all levels must ask. Why do we see some Sunday | | | | visitors and new members were made welcome |
| Schools that are exciting and growing? Whilst | | | | and made to feel part of the Sunday School |
| others are dead, dying or somewhere in between | | | | family. Some offered special classes for the |
| just holding their own, with the same | | | | spiritually "young" members. |
| programmes and attendance. | | | | There seems to be an abandoning of traditional |
| England has a rich history of beginnings and | | | | Sunday School lessons in favour of writing their |
| steady growth. Plat owing through the latter half | | | | own curriculum. Whilst others used denominational |
| of the last century. Today most Sunday Schools | | | | or independent publishing they made major |
| fall into the last category - just holding their own. | | | | changes to adapt the material to the needs of |
| A closer look at the first group, the schools that | | | | the children. |
| are showing steady growth that is sustained. That | | | | Another interesting aspect was that most had |
| have exciting and dynamic programmes could be | | | | moved away from the single teacher approach to |
| the answer we seek. How a higher level of | | | | that of team teaching. Two or three people teach |
| Christian education and commitment can be | | | | a particular class for a year (no more). They |
| achieved and promote growth. If we are willing to | | | | agree to study, pray and plan for the coming |
| make changes to our programmes and learn to | | | | lessons. The advantage of this is that one person |
| listen. | | | | can teach the class whilst the other/s prepare for |
| Taking time and studying the information about | | | | the next part. The one year commitment also |
| these Sunday Schools the following was noted as | | | | ensures that "burn-out" is not reached as the |
| common themes. It is not intended as a complete | | | | historical problem of using and exhausting teacher |
| list by any means. The hope is that you will be | | | | leaders is avoided. |
| able to think about how you could make changes | | | | Today's children and young people are used to |
| to the programmes you run in order to promote | | | | having lessons in small segments of information, |
| more growth. | | | | each related to the same lesson or theme, |
| First these Sunday Schools were large (200 | | | | presented in rapid succession. The class may start |
| members or more). This gave them the | | | | with a story and move into music, drama, guest |
| advantage of a larger pool of teachers/leaders to | | | | speaker, crafts etc. |
| choose from. The encouraging aspect to this is | | | | Another way of teaching is to make use of the |
| that most started small. You may have a small | | | | activity/learning centre approach. This entails |
| school now but you can grow! | | | | children moving from one station to another within |
| Secondly most if not all employed a full-time | | | | the classroom. They learn at their own pace so |
| Youth Paster/Director of Christian Education. This | | | | this method relies on the child's self-motivation. |
| was thought to be necessary taking into account | | | | Activities range from listening centres to |
| the amount of time it takes to co-ordinate and | | | | week-long activities with parents/carers. |
| run the various programmes. If a paid person was | | | | In conclusion it all paints a bright and optimistic |
| not an option then they had very active | | | | future for Sunday Schools. The question remains |
| volunteers (individuals or a committee) who gave | | | | what will you do to build a Christian education |
| considerable time to the planning and promoting of | | | | programme? One that will reach into your |
| the Sunday School. | | | | community and touch the un-churched at the |
| All were evangelical. All had a definite sense of | | | | same time building and encouraging members to a |
| reaching and meeting the needs of the | | | | deeper commitment to God, His word and His |
| un-churched and "un-Sunday-Schooled" in their | | | | work. It won't be easy but if you are to have an |
| area/community. Regular planned programmes | | | | active, growing Sunday School, do you have a |
| included invitation and visitation. Classes were | | | | choice? |