Changing the name of Sunday School

Sunday school is an interesting fixture in the church anymore. I grew up going to Sunday school and learned to love it over the years. I still remember things I learned in Sunday school from teachers like Sis. Leatherman, my brother Charles and others. But it seems like today, many people have gotten away from the idea of S.S.

I don’t know if it’s because they are busy, if they are just non-committed, if they don’t care and aren’t interested or what. Getting kids out to S.S. is difficult because you can’t get parents up to bring them. I saw it said one time that maybe it’s time to change the name of Sunday school. But to what?????

Do we call it “Small Group,” or “Bible Hour” or what? And is it necessary to change the name, or do we change the concept? We’re definitely living in a changing culture. Our Sunday School is beginning to grow and we’re getting new, committed individuals in. But there are still a lot more to reach.

So do we consider changing the name of S.S. and getting creative about it. Or do we stay traditional and keep it as it’s always been.
Maybe the answer is somewhere in finding a balance between the two. I’m not sure that in a rural setting, one can get too progressive and contemporay, but we definitely can’t stay typical and traditional either.

What do you think?????

Youth ministry, how to reach them?

One area of ministry that many churches struggle with is reaching out to today’s youth. Every generation has its own problems when it comes to reaching our young people, but I think about a high school locally with over 1,100 students, and two middle schools with close to a combined total of nearly 1,000 students, and I am convinced that there is a mission field there that is overwhelming.

Yet, our churches must compete so much with so many other things, i.e.; mini-t’s , little league, technology, and a whole list of activities that take away their attention from spiritual issues and the church. The media presents religion as something old fashioned and non-essential these days yet, as we know, it’s the most important decision that has to be made, when it comes to spiritual issues.

Our church struggles with trying to attract youth without falling prey to purely entertainment methods. We not only want to attract them. We also want to reach and keep them. Please, let me know, how’s it going in your church. What’s working? What’s not?

Any suggestions? We’re open to ideas and recommendations. Awaiting anxiously to hear from you.
Pastor Don

OK pastors, here we go!

Let’s be encouragers of one another. Let’s share our thoughts and Ideas, our programs and goals, visions and aspirations. Tell us what you preached about last Sunday, or what you’re teaching on. For the sake of space, you may want to limit your sermon ideas to outlines rather than a typed script.

So, what’s working in your church? What’s not?

Got any good quotes you can share with us that might spark a sermon or encourage us. This is your place to come and share. If it’s a problem that we’re discussing, let’s always keep the issues generic and – no names please.

I look forward to hearing from you. God Bless.