If you are a new Sunday school director, the way
you begin your ministry charts the course for your work. Here are 10 things to
consider as you begin your new job.
1. Give your job as Sunday school director to
God.
The Lord provides you your true power for service and wisdom in leadership. It
is easy to get caught up in all of the important details and preparation and
forget this.
2. Gain an understanding of your role. As you begin as Sunday school director,
build a foundation of understanding of your role.
·
Read everything that you can to help you better understand your
role. Ten Best Practices to Make Your Sunday School Work contains
information for organizing the Sunday school ministry.
·
LifeWay provides training through the Internet – An E-National Sunday School Director's Web course will
involve you in practical ideas.
·
Attend the two-day National Sunday School Directors Seminar seminar.
Two more are scheduled for this year – at Nall Avenue Baptist Church in Prairie
Village, Kan., March 16-17, and First Baptist Church, Mauldin, S.C., March
30-31. For more information, go to www.lifeway.com/sundayschool.
·
Lead in developing an effective organization that facilitates
spiritual transformation.
·
Lead in planning and administering the total work of the
department.
·
Lead in efforts to call participants into service and in enlisting
and developing new leaders.
·
Meet regularly with teachers for prayer, planning and making
assignments related to evangelism and outreach, fellowship, ministry and Bible
teaching.
·
Communicate goals and actions to leaders and participants and
evaluate progress.
·
Serve as the lead teacher for the department, directing the
overall teaching-learning experience and teaching during parts of the session
that will involve all participants and teachers together.
·
Evaluate needs related to space, budget, Bible study curriculum,
supplies and other resources.
·
Maintain attendance records and other participant information that
strengthens the department’s Sunday school.
·
Set a positive example for others by living as an authentic
witness of Christ and by being involved in the church.
·
Ask your association or state convention for the name of another
strong Sunday school director in your area. Get together with that person and
discuss your role from his or her perspective.
3. Make sure you and your pastor agree about
your role and the direction of the Sunday school. Your relationship with
your pastor is important. If you have a minister of education that relationship
is also key. Ask for an appointment to specifically talk about his
understanding of your role.
4. Get to know your leadership. Call your division
directors or department directors and arrange an appointment to come to their
home. Set up a time to hear from your teachers. It may help to review
everyone’s role in Sunday school.
5. Give purposeful thought to the direction of
your personal leadership for the Sunday school. As you read about the
work of the Sunday school, as you study your role, as you attend conferences,
and as you visit with the leaders of your Sunday school, jot down notes. Let
these notes and your prayerful direction from God help you begin to determine
your direction.
6. Develop regular planning teams. Your primary planning
team for Sunday school work is the Sunday school council. This organization
will be one of your most valuable assets leading your Sunday school.
7. Concentrate on motivating and encouraging
workers. Develop the habit of writing lots of notes, making public
expressions of appreciation, and focusing on the needs of leaders.
8. Develop effective administrative processes. Putting in place
effective processes in some key areas will greatly enhance your work. Some of
these key areas are records, the enroll and drop process, curriculum ordering
and distribution, worker enlistment and reports to the church and Sunday
school.
9. Be the champion of training for your
leadership. Share your commitment to training. Let your leadership know that
training is a high priority in your work as Sunday school director.
10. Pray for your leaders. Just as you have given
your ministry as Sunday school director to the Lord, give your Sunday school
leaders to the Lord. Develop a system to pray for portions of your leadership
daily.