1. Breaking Through The 500 Barrier Dr. Steve R. Parr Sunday School/Open Groups Georgia Baptist Convention

2. This presentation is based on breaking the 500 barrier in average Sunday School attendance. That will equate to 600-700 in average worship attendance. Any “one” of the issues we will discuss may serve as the barrier that keeps a church from breaking the 500 barrier.

3. Why Is 500 Such A Challenge? It will require the pastor to relate to the congregation in a new way. It will require decisions that may not have unanimous support. Key decisions may result in the loss of “good people.” It will require a unique balance of pastoral and lay leadership.

4. Pastoral and Lay Leadership Smaller congregations often provide much of the leadership (committees) and expect pastors to provide much of the ministry. Breaking the 500 barrier requires a shift where the pastors provide most of the leadership and the congregation provides most of the ministry.

5. Checklist #1. Do we have the staff? This level ordinarily requires a person who can give full attention to the educational ministry. The staff member serves as the “Key Leader” and the pastor serves as the “Chief Cheerleader.” The right quality of staff is more important than the right quantity of staff.

6. Checklist #2. Do we have the space for 500? Based on one SS hour (34 Rooms for 2): DepartmentRoomsSpace Preschool113281 Children 72344 Youth 71638 Adults256500 Total5013,673

7. Checklist #3. Do we have an adequate number of classes to get us past 500? You will need about 50 classes to surpass an average of 500 in Sunday School!

8. Checklist #4. Do we have the leadership to get us past 500? A church at this level will require a systematic equipping plan. A church at this level will require 150 leaders. A church at this level will require leadership expectations/standards.

9. Checklist #5. Do we have a pool from which we can draw 500 in average attendance? You will need to enroll and minister to a pool of 1000-1200 to average 500. Your percentage of attendance to enrollment will fall at this level but should not fall below 40%.

10. Checklist #6. Are our adult classes organized to minister to every family? Contacts and Care Groups become “essential” on this level!

11. Checklist #7. Do we provide quality ministries for “all age groups?” You will not be able to leave any group behind at this level. Quality expectations are higher for a church at this level.

12. Checklist #8. Are we strategically implementing outreach strategies to reach children, teens, and young adults? Your style of worship will have to adjust. This does not mean that you have to “go contemporary,” but that you might need to be “more contemporary.” How are people being trained in evangelism? What is the evangelism strategy?

13. Checklist #9. Are we strategic in assimilation? We have a new members class. We immediately assign new members to a small group. We quickly move new members into places of ministry.

14. Checklist #10. Have we transitioned from committee led enlistment to staff led enlistment? Staff members get better results when they have direct responsibility for enlisting, training, and caring for those who serve in their ministry area.

15. Questions

16. Breaking Through The 500 Barrier Dr. Steve R. Parr Sunday School/Open Groups Georgia Baptist Convention