Lewis Miller Florida Baptist Convention Sunday School Department LifeWay Ministry Multiplier Five Step Formula for Sunday School Growth!

Fact Fiction? OR How Well Do You Know Sunday School? How Well Do You Know Arthur Flake?

Arthur Flake settled in Winona Mississippi as a traveling salesman in Fact Fiction? OR FACT!

Arthur Flake birthed the idea for the Broadman Holman Publishing Company. Fact Fiction? OR Fiction!

The Sunday School Movement began in Britain. Fact Fiction? OR FACT!

Arthur Flake was the first Sunday School department Director at the Sunday School Board in Nashville, Tennessee. Fact Fiction? OR FACT!

Sunday Schools were first established by Robert Raikes in the 1780’s to teach children to read using the Bible as the text. Fact Fiction? OR FACT!

Sunday Schools were never intended for adults. Fact Fiction? OR Fiction! By the early 1800’s Sunday School classes were organized for working class men and women.

Just prior to his death in 1952 Arthur Flake added a sixth step in the Sunday School formula. Fact Fiction? OR Fiction!

In 1895 Arthur Flake led Winona Baptist Church to form the first Training Union in all of Mississippi. Fact Fiction? OR FACT!

From the beginning Sunday Schools have been outreach- oriented small groups that enjoy fellowship and the study of God’s Word. Fact Fiction? OR FACT!

Once a Sunday School class begins meeting for several sessions, new people won’t be able to join. Fact Fiction? OR Fiction! New people can join a class or group at anytime.

For the believer, the primary purpose of Sunday School is deeper Bible study. Fact Fiction? OR Fiction! Sunday School is a place of service for the believer as they study the Bible.

Sunday School ministry takes place on a long-term and ongoing basis. Fact Fiction? OR FACT!

Foundationally, Adult Sunday School’s cannot address the five purposes of the church. Fact Fiction? OR Fiction! The ministry’s purposes include, foundationally, all five purposes of the church.

The primary textbook for Adult Sunday School is the learner guide or quarterly. Fact Fiction? OR Fiction!

The primary style of ministry for Adult Sunday School is relational. Fact Fiction? OR FACT!

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PEOPLEQUEST GO POSSIBILITIES SPACE ORGANIZE X WORKERS Know the Possibilities Enlarge the Organization Provide the Space Enlist and Train Workers Go After the People

PEOPLEQUEST POSSIBILITIES Know the Possibilities Just Look! “When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.’” Matthew 9:36-38 (HCSB)

Census Data Primary Ministry Area

Prospective Member Possibilities Telephone surveys and mail follow-up Church membership roll Inactive Sunday School members Summer and school Ministries Special events Newspaper notices—especially in “hometown” publications; newly born, wed, widowed Newcomers FRANs—Friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors. Advanced demographic profiles Religious Census—door-to-door asking residents about church involvement, gathering names and ages of all within the household Worship guests

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PEOPLEQUEST POSSIBILITIES ORGANIZE X Know the Possibilities Enlarge the Organization

You can’t keep doing the same things you’ve always done and expect different results !

“Unless the present Sunday School organization is enlarged, practically all of the work done in Knowing the Possibilities will come to naught. It will be necessary to enlarge the organization in order to take care of all the people on the church roll as well as those discovered in the census.” —Arthur Flake

Four Reasons for Age-Grading To reach those who ought to be in Sunday School To teach those who are in Sunday School To enhance personal responsibility for reaching the lost To provide a system for assigning prospects and guests for follow-up

Time to Start a New Class? The class has too wide an age span (10 or more years). There are more than 40 people enrolled in the class. The meeting place is filled with members, regardless of the number enrolled. Needs are not being met consistently. Prospects have been found, but there is not a class to which the prospects can be assigned naturally. The number of adults in an age group has suddenly grown. New church members are not currently being enrolled in classes. People drift in and out of the class, and no one in the class notices. Essentials for Excellence CD-ROM, LifeWay Church Resources

PEOPLEQUEST POSSIBILITIES SPACE ORGANIZE X Know the Possibilities Enlarge the Organization Provide the Space

“There is no such thing as building a Sunday School in great numbers in small cramped quarters.” Arthur Flake

Nice facilities, adequate space, safe, easily accessible children’s and preschool space, and clean space were all issues of importance to unchurched people surveyed by Dr. Thom S. Rainer. Surprising Insights from the Unchurched

Focal Wall Make sure that everything on the focal wall points to the lesson that is being taught. Announcements, pictures, or bulletins should be placed on a bulletin board somewhere away from the focal wall. Place something on the focal wall—a poster, a question on the board, an outline, a statement, or a quote—related to the lesson topic. Remove all old posters from previous lessons. You don’t have to have walls to have Sunday School. All you need is the learners’ attention. Room Set Up

Chairs  Anticipate the number of chairs needed for class members plus any guests.  Always have more chairs than participants. Practice the empty chair principle—there is always room for one more.  Arrange the chairs—don’t create relationship or learning barriers.  Consider changing the chair arrangement from time to time. Room Set Up

Tables  Avoid using tables if they create a barrier between you and others.  Don’t use tables if they keep you from adding people.  If tables are used, there should be enough room for everyone.  Consider using tables if you have adults with physical disabilities. Room Set Up

Never let SPACE dictate your ministry! CLASS FULL NO ROOM

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PEOPLEQUEST POSSIBILITIES SPACE ORGANIZE X WORKERS Know the Possibilities Enlarge the Organization Provide the Space Enlist and Train Workers

“The enrollment potential of any Sunday School is seldom higher than 10 times the number of workers.” Arthur Flake 12 Workers X 10 = 120 Enrollment Potential 25 Workers X 10 = 250 Enrollment Potential 50 Workers X 10 = 500 Enrollment Potential 100 Workers X 10 = 1000 Enrollment Potential Adult Sunday School Ratio 1 worker for every 4 adults enrolled.

Where will all the workers be found? Adult Classes!

Keep it Simple—Start with the Basics! Teacher Teacher Ministry Coordinator Ministry Coordinator Apprentice Apprentice Class Organization

Basic Teacher Ministry Coordinator Apprentice Expand as leaders are developed and as the class grows. Visitation/Evangelism Care Group Ministry A.C.E. Organize by gender Maximum of seven individuals in a group Mix of actives, in-actives, and members-in-service Fellowship Prayer Missions Expanded

“The importance of proper enlistment of teachers cannot be overstated.... We really do enlist about ninety-five percent of our problems. If we will enlist workers properly, it will save many headaches in the future.” Allan Taylor Six Core Values of Sunday School, minister of education, FBC Woodstock, GA

Three Steps for Enlisting Workers Praying publicly and privately for workers. Making a list of prospective leaders. Securing the consent of those selected to serve.

“Then about five he went and found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day doing nothing?’ ‘Because no one hired us,’ they said to him. ‘You also go to my vineyard,’ he told them.” Matt. 20:6-7 (HCSB)

Don’t say “No” for someone else! STOP You Can’t Serve! Everyone is a potential leader!

Answer Three Questions When Enlisting Why me? Is this job important? Will you provide training and resources?

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PEOPLEQUEST GO POSSIBILITIES SPACE ORGANIZE X WORKERS Know the Possibilities Enlarge the Organization Provide the Space Enlist and Train Workers Go After the People

“In a sophisticated, technological society like ours, isn’t visitation a little old fashioned?”

“There is absolutely no substitute for face-to-face contact with the customer or the prospective customer.” Arthur Flake

Making the Sunday-Guest Connection Definite Time Definite Prospects Definite Reporting

PEOPLEQUEST GO POSSIBILITIES SPACE ORGANIZE X WORKERS Know the Possibilities Enlarge the Organization Provide the Space Enlist and Train Workers Go After the People

“So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.” Galatians 6:9-10 (HCSB)