Michael Taylor, Sunday School/Open Groups State Missionary, Georgia Baptist Convention A Ministry of the Cooperative Program
Develop a Purpose/Mission Statement for Your Sunday School. Determine the Leadership Structure for Your Sunday School. Develop General Sunday School Leader Expectations and Specialized Ministry Descriptions. Provide a Sunday School Leadership Development Course.
All leadership positions have a printed job description. All leaders will be enlisted using the established process. All leaders will be enlisted with a face to face contact. All leaders will be enlisted by the person to whom they will be accountable in the organization.
All leaders should accept the Sunday School Leadership Expectations as personal goals. All leaders will abide by the Doctrinal Position while serving as a leader. All leaders should be proposed to the appropriate staff member before an enlistment contact is made. Leaders may be enlisted for only two leadership positions which assume a weekly preparation.
A face to face interview must be made by the person to whom the leader will be accountable in the organization. The printed job description must be interpreted and given to the prospective leader for prayerful consideration. Sunday School Leadership Expectations must be interpreted and given to the prospective leader for prayerful consideration.
The Doctrinal Position must be interpreted and given to the prospective leader for examination. Appropriate leadership resources must be reviewed and given to the prospective leader for examination. A schedule of training opportunities will be shared with the prospective leader.
The prospective leader will be encouraged to pray about accepting the specific position. A follow up interview should be scheduled to receive the decision of the prospective leader. Copies of signed Sunday School Leadership Expectations and Doctrinal Position should be received to complete the enlistment.
Develop associate teachers in each class for potential teacher. Provide regular training for Sunday School leaders. Develop lines of communication with Sunday School leaders.
Have in-service rolls for each adult class and contact them for ministry needs. Pray for those who are your missionaries from your class to the Sunday School. Invite in-service members to all your class functions.
Remember special days in their lives (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.). Recognize your workers annually in a worship service and pray over them and their work. Have an annual banquet in honor of your workers. Speak personally to workers when you see them thanking them for their service.
Watch the attrition rate of your workers. Have a conversation with workers that are resigning or not returning to their positions. Always be alert to those who are potential workers. Ask your adult teachers to help you find potential workers.
Training Enhances Enlistment There may be no need for the ministry (at this point) if there is no leader. Too Many Hats Will Water Down Effectiveness Enlist for Sunday School on the Front End Enlistment through Relationships is the most effective approach
Pray Meet One on One Provide Written Description Share Length of Commitment Explain Support Systems Ask them to pray Set a time for a Decision
Nothing! (Left to everyone s own imagination) Guidelines (Written Expectations) Commitments (Verbal Commitments) Covenants (Signed Agreements)
The leader is less likely to burn out. The leader receives a better response from the class members. The leader raises up more leaders. The enlistment process is enhanced. The leader reaches and ministers to more people.
A launch event Associational and State Conference Appreciation Banquet Sunday School Revival Books and CDs Internal and External Seminars Internet Resources/Podcasts/Online Training
Michael Taylor State Missionary Sunday School/Open Group Ministries Georgia Baptist Mission & Ministry Center 6405 Sugarloaf Parkway Duluth, GA 30097-4092 1.800.746.4422 ext. 290 FAX: 770.452.6580 Email: mtaylor@gabaptist.org Website: ssog.gabaptist.org A Ministry of the Cooperative Program