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ADULT MINISTRY
Welcome to Sunday School
by Beverly CroweTipton
Now more than 100 years old, Sunday school has survived many naysayers and even Life Magazine's 1957 declaration that "Sunday school is the most wasted hour of the week." Many might agree with that article; in fact, many congregations today are attempting to change the nature of Sunday school to hold interest and gain new attendees. Still, people keep coming. Sporadically, yes. More here than there, undoubtedly. Not every congregation has a multitude of highly skilled, entertaining, yet down-to-earth-pragmatic teachers who can "wow" the audience with their spiritual competency and mastery of the material. Churches do have committed teachers who know that we don’t practice the study of Scripture for how it makes us feel today, but for what it will provide on the day when we need it most.
Sunday school, however, must remain current. Revitalizing is a priority, yet the changes necessary may have less to do with whether or not to "PowerPoint" than we might think. We may need to reach back into the past and dust off an old Sunday school practice. Years ago, folks in America spent time on their front porches, knew their neighbors, became friends with the people at work, and went to church with all or many of the same individuals. Church hasn't changed much in the last fifty years. Hardly anything about American lifestyle has stayed the same.
An issue for Sunday school today has to do with being a hospitable community. How we treat one another, especially our guests, matters. Studying the word of God together is an act of community. A fellowship of trust must be established for people to be willing to share honestly about matters of faith. For people to stay, learn, and grow, we must start with being hospitable. Consider these possibilities for your Sunday school class.
Practice saying, "Hello, my name is…. Tell me yours." After the bedrock of Scripture, the foundation in Sunday school is the necessity of building classes on caring and significant Christian relationships. Hospitality demands that we know one another. The way to begin is as simple as sharing and learning one another's names. Too often, we take for granted that visitors will find their own place in a Sunday school class, all in their own time. Be different! Make a habit of getting to know the people in your class.
Elect a "Minister of Hospitality." Churchgoers tend to complain or praise how "cold" or "warm" the congregation "feels." While clearly the response is personal, it is also true that your class must do its part to help people feel welcome. Is your Sunday school class a bunch of introverts? Enlist the most extraverted people in your group to be class greeters. Assign these folks the task of greeting newcomers and introducing them to the rest of the class. Have them make a phone call during the week to the newcomer just to say, "Glad you were here." First impressions are important, so let yours be good. All of us like to know that we are wanted. Let your visitors know they are welcome by using the resources of hospitality that you already have.
Assigned seating is a good thing. Finding a place to sit is intimidating. Most visitors are new to the community or are trying to make a change in well-worn patterns. Who hasn’t gone somewhere new and awkwardly tried to figure out the system and the players? Make sure your visitors know where to go and who can answer their questions. When visitors come to your class, consider pairing them with class members who will attend worship. The experience of worship can be more meaningful for visitors if they don't get lost trying to find the sanctuary. Newcomers will have someone to sit with, someone who can introduce them, and someone who can answer questions about your church's practices and people.
Follow through is a must. Following up with visitors is not merely a good idea; it is vital. No one wants to be hounded, but knowing that the class members recognized and enjoyed their presence has everything to do with how visitors feel about coming your direction next Sunday. What you do in the first couple of days after someone visits makes a lasting impression. Whether or not you remember the visitors' names the next time they walk through the door matters. Remembering that they mentioned a sick child, a difficult work week, or specific transition issues offers your class follow-through opportunities that can help your visitors know you care.
Hospitality isn't everything, but it is essential in helping people develop relationships in a world where community is becoming a rare commodity. In our world, we can get most of our needs met in isolation. Sunday school can provide an alternative in which we study a way of living and experiencing relationships that can and should change our lives. Couple that with a group of peers who care, enjoy, and even rely on each other's company--who wouldn't want that?
Beverly CroweTipton has been editor for both Formations Bible study curriculum for adults and Youth Intersection Bible study for youth. Before her work with Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Beverly served as associate pastor of Seventh & James Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. She is a graduate of Furman University and Southern Seminary. Her husband, Vaughn, is chaplain of Furman University and their children are Jared and Abby. Beverly cherishes time with her family and enjoys running and reading.
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