Raising Up Young Leaders Through Sunday School
Sunday school provides some of the greatest evangelism and discipleship opportunities available to the church today. Senior pastors who recognize this wisely invest time and resources in their Sunday school staff and facilities. They realize that Sunday school provides an ideal training ground for the future leaders of the church.
Each week in Sunday school, children learn how to be disciples and Christian leaders as they participate in classes specifically designed for their age level. In a classroom setting, children can receive the personal attention they need. They discover spiritual truths by asking questions, discussing Scripture, and through active participation in enjoyable learning activities. Skilled teachers help children develop their inherent and spiritual gifts in an atmosphere of acceptance and encouragement. In a friendly, evangelistic Sunday school, children can make friends and be assimilated into the church in a short period of time.
Furthermore, as children grow in their faith, they learn to evangelize, serve their community, and begin to make a difference in their world. Adults sometimes underestimate the potential of children. Take 11-year old, Ashlee Vann, who runs a food pantry called the Kids Café, in Springfield, Missouri. Every day after school Ashlee helps cook and serve free dinners to approximately 75 needy children. She says, "I stepped in where I saw a need." A busy girl, Ashlee stays involved in her church and is a straight-A student. The mayor presented her with the key to the city at a school assembly.
Although an example like this is unusual, it illustrates what can be done through a child who is motivated to serve others. It is important that those who work with children see their potential and inspire them to prepare themselves for ministry.
The senior pastor is the key to providing the encouragement and resources teachers need to evangelize and equip these younger saints for ministry. Here are some ways senior pastors can lend support and express confidence in their teaching staff.
1. Be a voice for Sunday school. Be involved at some level in recruiting and training workers. According to a recent study, the senior pastor’s involvement is a key factor in growing effective Sunday schools. (High Expectations, p.172.)
2. Invest time in the lives of your Sunday school teachers. Visit with them, send notes of encouragement, and attend training meetings when possible. Have a teacher dedication Sunday and an annual appreciation dinner for your Christian education staff.
3. Visit the children’s department occasionally. Greet the children and the teaching staff. Make arrangements for a special visit from the pastor during the Sunday school hour.
4. Reserve time on the church calendar for staff training and planning meetings. Send your workers to training conferences.
5. Provide a teacher resource library. This allows teachers to study, plan together, and make creative teaching materials for their classes. Bring in a guest speaker at least once a year to train and inspire your workers. Provide childcare and refreshments for staff training meetings.
6. Provide funds for creating a cheerful learning environment for the children. Visiting parents will evaluate the quality of your children’s program based on their first impression of the children’s area.
Your investment in Sunday school will pay dividends in the years to come as young leaders are evangelized, trained, and launched out into the harvest field as a result of the training they’ve received in your Sunday school.