Children's Sunday School A Priority

Sunday School: Jean Edwards
Monday, March 28, 2005

Teaching our children from the time they are born is a priority. What about your Sunday School? We know that a child's basic problem solving habits are established between the ages of four and five. Our activity teaching enables us to help children learn Bible based attitudes and actions that result in good problem solving. George Barna has written a new book titled "Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions" He started out to do a little research but what he found turned it into a major focus. His research showed that children have their moral foundation developed by 9 years of age. He says that their workview is established by 13. His conclusion is that the church is missing the mark to put their major focus on Youth Ministry where we are seeking to realize their worldview and morals to the Bible. We need to focus on having preschool and children well taught in those early years. In our Southern Baptist world, we have been saying for many years that "what goes in to the first of life, lasts all of life". Barna's book underscores that truth. He points out that parents are the first tier of influence and teachers are in the third tier. What are we doing to help our parents be prepared to answer questions and teach their children? The Family Bible Series curriculum seeks to help meet that need. All ages are studying the same Bible material with age appropriate application. There are daily Bible readings to use at home. Schools can't help our parents with a child's spiritual development like they once could. How are we doing as a church to help our parents?

Vacation Bible School 2005

I trust you have VBS on your calendar and plans in process! Teams coming from Arkansas to help churches will pray walk one week, teach VBS or help with follow-up the week after VBS. I have been excited about the plans being made to have Sunday School rooms ready and teachers enlisted and trained so the children enrolled from VBS will find the church ready for them. What would your church do with 15 or 20 additional children? One of our churches discovered 50 new children last year! That doubled their Sunday School for children. As your enlisting teachers, enlist those who will follow up immediately after VBS.

Plan for how you will include prospects. Please let me know when you will have VBS. I like to come by for a few minutes and enjoy the excitement. Call me at 683-3042. We discover more prospects through VBS than any other outreach ministry we do each year. VBS training will include Directors, Preschool, Children, Crafts, and Music.

  • April 7, 7-9 pm, Olivet Baptist Church
  • April 21, 7-9 pm, Pleasantview Baptist, Derby