Sunday School Planning

Sunday School: Jean Edwards
Saturday, September 1, 2007

Our August training has encouraged us to have excellent Sunday Schools. We will be finishing in ways to please the Lord. This is the time to be planning for the coming year. If you are planning a high attendance day for fall and/or spring, you need to put it on the calendar and remember to allow six weeks for promotion. Each class needs to set their attendance goal so they are involved and desiring to reach their goal. Our fellow members need to hear about plans well in advance so they can pray and prepare to be involved. Last minute planning may be necessary at times but planning and publicizing in advance helps people hold the date or dates so more people can participate. Having a church plan in place will help Sunday school classes to plan their ministries and fellowships in ways that will balance with the rest of the church.

Plan your outreach as well as fellowships so there are events throughout the year. What plans do you have for Vacation Bible School? Will you also be involved in a local church that needs help to have a Vacation Bible School? People need to know what is planned so they can plan their vacation and be involved in summer ministry.

One area that should have priority in our planning is outreach. People do what they plan to do. We heard about this priority in training. We need to set a time that is wise for our church. Everyone who visits your church will be aware of your interest when you visit in their home the following week. Our world of technology can leave people disconnected from personal involvement. The church offers them the opportunity to become involved in a small group where people really care and show the love of the Lord through ministry. I hope you will be praying and preparing for a great year of serving the Lord through Bible study, ministry, fellowship, worship and evangelism. We need to each be reaching those our daily lives touch. He has left us here to reach the lost with His message of love and salvation. I pray we will be faithful each day in the task He has given to us.

Vacation Bible School 2007

We have had a good summer of Vacation Bible Schools. I trust you have been following up on those prospects you discovered. We discover more prospects through VBS than any other single ministry. I have enjoyed visiting the schools and seeing the joy in the leaders as well as the children. Bible verses learned now can help children all through their lives.

Please be sure you turn in your VBS report. Every VBS reported helps us know the number reached and helps the association. Money is sent to the association based on the number of churches having a VBS.

Heart of the Child Convention

The convention will be held in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma April 4-5, 2008. This regional Preschool/Children's Conference is designed for churches of all sizes.

There will be over 50 conference leaders for over 100 conferences. It is for all leaders in Sunday School, discipleship, worship, music, missions, recreation, church weekday education, special needs and parenting education. This is a great opportunity for our churches at a reasonable expense. Put this on your calendar so you are ready to take advantage of a special one-day registration fee to be offered in February.