Every year I do a study of the fastest growing Sunday Schools in Georgia. Actually it’s a study of all the Sunday Schools in Georgia, but only the fastest growing churches are recognized. This year I made the effort to speak with all the pastors and/or ministers of education from all the leading churches. When I presented the question, “What is the one thing you did to encourage growth in Sunday School”, they all gave the same response. “Start new classes!”
Understand that they were not talking about starting new classes because the existing classes were full. They intentional started new classes as a growth strategy. They were proactive instead of reactive.
Ask yourself, “Why should my church or my class be concerned about starting new classes?”
- New classes often produce spiritual growth.
- New classes provide additional opportunities for service and blessing.
- New classes often produce numerical growth.
- New classes create a sense of excitement and accomplishment.
- New classes enlarge the organizational base and provide choices.
- New classes can help in meeting the felt needs of individuals.
- New classes are more “user friendly” to prospects and new members.
- New classes provide an opportunity for chronic absentees to make a fresh start.
Now, I would like to share with you the best process, I’ve discovered, for starting new adult Sunday School classes, but I want you to know that this process is not for every Sunday School teacher. It takes a very special person that has been called of God. It requires a teacher that is secure in their abilities as a teacher and a leader. This process requires a leader that has ability to stick to the goal and encourage others to do the same. I wish every teacher could do this but the truth is most Sunday School teachers are more interested in growing their kingdom than in growing God’s Kingdom.
Here is a Step by Step Process for Starting New Adult Sunday School Classes.
1. The teacher should enlist an apprentice. This is not a substitute teacher but rather a teacher/leader in training. The apprentice should be the teacher of his or her own class in six to eighteen months.
2. The apprentice should teach once per month. The apprentice is to teach when the teacher is present.
The method I follow is …
a. The first week the teacher prepares the Bible study with the apprentice, the teacher teaches the class and then the teacher and the apprentice get together to evaluate the lesson.
b. The second week the apprentice prepares the Bible study with the aid of the teacher, the apprentice teaches the class and then the teacher and the apprentice get together to evaluate the lesson.
c. The third week the apprentice prepares the Bible study alone, the apprentice teaches the class with the teacher in attendance and then the teacher and the apprentice get together to evaluate the lesson.
3. The teacher and the apprentice should do outreach and ministry together. The teacher is not just teaching the apprentice how to teach, yet the teacher is modeling what it means to be a good teacher/leader. Taking the apprentice on visits to prospects, taking the apprentice on visits to members. The class should begin to see the pair as co-teachers.
4. The teacher should announce the birth of a new class six weeks before. The teacher and the apprentice stand before the class and announce the birth of the new class. They also state that the purpose of the new class is to reach new people. Those going to the new class will be considered “missionaries”. Everyone going to the new class will have a job to do. They will be an outreach leader, care group leader, prayer leader, fellowship leader, etc. The teacher and apprentice also say that they are praying about who will go as “missionaries” and in the coming days they will enlist the missionaries.
5. Four to eight members or couples accept a call as “missionaries” to the new class depending on the size of the parent class and if it is a gender graded class.
On the morning of the new class starting, everyone gathers in the parent classroom to celebrate the birth of the new class and commission the missionaries. I’ve had some parent classes actually have a “baby shower” for the new class. One parent class gave their new class and two coffee pots and a $500 gift certificate to Krispy Kreme. You can’t have Sunday School without those two!
6. Veteran teacher takes missionaries to new class. That’s right the veteran teacher takes the “missionaries” to the new class. Remember I said this process was not for everyone.
7. Apprentice teacher becomes leader of established class.
By using this method two new classes are created instead of just one. Once they’ve done it once they will do it again.
It would be great if one class in every church agreed to start a new class every two years and the classes that they birth would do the same. In ten years we would triple in attendance and baptisms. Give it try if you are an able leader!
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Dr. Tim S. Smith serves as the Specialist of the Sunday School and Open Group Ministries of the Georgia Baptist Convention. Visit their website at ssog.gabaptist.org for more information and other resources to aid your Sunday School.
I am a Sunday School teacher in a small SBC church. Our average Sunday School attendance is 40 which includes children, youth, and teachers. Our church roll is about 150. Active attendance average in the worship hour is 50-60, so our average Sunday School percentage is not too bad considering active attendance in worship. I do realize our active attendance considering church membership roll is not so good.
I understand your view point of starting new classes, but I am a confused about the new classses started in our church. We have a group of new members (actually have been here a little over a year). They were friends with our almost 2 year pastor from his previous church where he was the college class leader. This is his first pastorate and he is in seminary school. We have welcomed these new members and love them. We attended their home bible studies, showered one with expecting new baby, and fellowship with them. They are one of us, but they seem to always migrate among themselves. Now they have started new Sunday School classes (ladies and men’s classes). Some have never even visited an established class. They are recruiting from the established classes instead of evangelizing in this rural community. This also makes Sunday school members they contact uncomfortable, because they do not want to hurt either Sunday School teacher, so they just do not come.
I do not want to cause a problem by saying much, but I feel like I’ve been slapped in the face. I also do not want to offend our newer members and discourage them, either.
Any advice?
Beverly,
I can understand your concern and frustration. My advice would be to remind all of the mission/purpose of Sunday school. We get into trouble when we begin focusing our efforts inwardly. Sometimes that shows up in efforts to only contact those that attend but it can also be demonstrated in our outreach efforts. I would encourage you to speak with the leaders and remind them that new classes work best when they are created to reach new members. We should not be in competition with each other but rather we should be working together to make disciples.
There will be those in established classes leave to start new classes but only as missionaries from an established class. Hope this helps and keep the faith!
This happens sometimes in churches of all sizes. I have experienced that as a staff member at two of the churches I served in. In my opinion, communication is one of the key factors that is missing. Tim stated it correctly that new classes need to focus on “new people”. Unfortunately, because members of the class get excited about their class and start telling others. Some may be in existing classes that love their teacher but also long to be a part of something new and exciting. I believer there are two things that could help “heal” this situation and hopefully be a lesson that will not be repeated in the short term future.
First, new classes should be encouraged to go after new people and discouraged to go after people who are already in a class. If a member of a class attends the new class, they should be discouraged from joining the new class but not told that they can’t. Adults are gonna do what adults are gonna do. The leadership of the new class need to be informed of the issues that the new class have placed on the existing classes. Most of the time, they are unaware of the tension. They are just so exited about what it happening in their class.
Second, existing classes need to realize that in some small way, they are competing with the “energy” of the new class. To combat that, it is time to change a few things up. Schedule some fellowships, ask a different person to teach a lesson every once in awhile. Change creates energy; energy can be funneled into momentum and momentum can lead to excitement that something is happening.
Face it, new and improved things generate excitement that something is happening. When that happens, people look at what they have and begin to wonder if there is something better out there. You know, the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.
Don’t look at this as a problem. Instead, look at it as an opportunity. This could begin to have positive impact on every class. In my opinion, that’s a good thing.
I hope this helps.
Sean P. Keith, Sunday School/Discipleship Strategist, Louisiana Baptist Convention.
Beverly, thanks for your courage in sharing your concern. Sean identified some of the dynamics at work in situations like these and he provided helpful responses. Let me add a couple thoughts.
New people often find it easier to break into relationship circles in new groups. At the same time, some in existing groups are ready for a new challenge. The result is change. And while change can be difficult, it can at times be beneficial.
I have seen departures of members from my classes result in the class becoming even more intentional about inviting. I have seen new class leaders step up because they were now needed. I pray that will be the case in your existing classes.
At the same time, I have seen new people invited to new groups who did not fit in. The result was they tried out another, older group and found that it fit better. A new group got the people to try a group, but the older group was the beneficiary. I also pray your existing groups will be ready to receive the overflow.
Let me add one last illustration. A new restaurant comes to town, and many decide to check it out. The parking lot is packed and at first other restaurants have fewer customers. But eventually, newness wears off and people go back to their favorite places, which have great food and service. But a restaurant (new or existing) that lacks quality food and service may not keep their business. God deserves our best effort in new and existing classes. Nothing less will do! I pray that God and His Kingdom will benefit from all you do for Him!
–Darryl Wilson, Sunday School & Discipleship Consultant, Kentucky Baptist Convention
Thanks so much for the advice! This is my first time seeking advice via internet. I am so glad I did. Thank-you for getting me focused and energized. I will try to update on situation after a little time. Thanks again.
Have you talked with your SS Director, minister of ed or pastor about this situation. You need their support in making sure making both groups understand their purpose as a class and maybe they can convey that to the whole church.