Belinda Jolley :: Sunday School Leaders

Jan

Equipping the Next Generation

By Belinda Jolley · Comments (0)

The next generation has become a common phrase in the world today. Recently I heard consumer reports about several next generation products. You don’t have to be a “Trekkie” to know there is a Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation. For the purpose of this blog, the next generation refers to the next generation of Sunday School leaders—regardless of age and regardless of how they serve through the Sunday School ministry. How can we equip the next generation of Sunday School leaders?

Recently I am constantly thinking about how we need to address what I call a leadership continuum. Imagine a line running from left to right and numbered 1-10 with the left side representing the lower levels of commit on the part of the leader. The far right would represent a higher level of commitment.

The continuum represents the various ways we grow leaders. None of these levels are bad, but there is a danger in focusing all of our efforts in only one area of the continuum. For example, I do not have to have as high level of commitment to attend a leadership meeting or training at my church as I do in a coaching or mentoring relationship. I also suspect the greater level of commitment required, we may likely find a greater impact.

I am finding most churches tend to do more things on the lower end of the continuum. If we are going to equip the next generation of leaders we need to insure we provide options across the leadership continuum. Recently regular subscribers to this blog read Darryl Wilson’s article, “Enlist and Train Leaders for Sunday School Growth.” Review the options: provide training, coach to success, and apprentice to stay ahead. These are great examples of the continuum.

Plot your course by first evaluating where you are in terms of the leadership continuum. Draw your own line and number it 1-10. Underneath the appropriate area, list the options you now provide for equipping Sunday School leaders. Include everything—from giving someone a book to read, praying with and for potential leaders to the more intensive options such as coaching or mentoring.

Observe where most of your options lie on the continuum. Gather 3-4 other key leaders and pray about how you can challenge leaders across the continuum by providing other options. Be sure to include “next step” options to help move leaders along the continuum. By the time leaders are involved in the higher levels of commitment, they will be growing and reproducing other leaders themselves.

Finally, model what you expect from your leaders. Great leaders want to be challenged. What will you do to equip the next generation of leaders?
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Belinda Jolley serves as the Director of the Adult Ministry Office of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Belinda and her husband, Steve, enjoy starting new classes at First Baptist Church in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Categories : 5 Weeks of Flake, Flake's Formula, Leadership, Small Groups, Sunday School, Training

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Jan

The Impact of One Leader

By Belinda Jolley · Comments (0)

My grandson has always been amazed by heavy farm machinery. Garrett has had many toy tractors and knows the names of all the farm machinery. As a first grader he now wants to ride with his dad or grandfather on the big tractors. However, he also understands these large machines can be dangerous, as well as helpful.

A bulldozer, for example, may be used to clear out an area on which to build a home—or maybe a barn. The same machine can be used to tear down something—maybe a building that is no longer safe to dwell in or that has been severely damaged by fire or storms. The same piece of powerful machinery can either build up or tear down.

I’m convinced Sunday School leaders hold the same influence—either positively or negatively. One Sunday School leader can have tremendous impact or influence. Whether you are talking about the entire organization or one Sunday School class or group, the truth applies to both.

Imagine Sunday School teachers who are so fearful that “they will split my class” that they deliberately undermine any efforts to start new classes. Their tactics may be open and bold or they may be subtle. The subtle may be more dangerous because people may not see what is happening. You know what I mean. “I just can’t imagine not having any of you in my class any more. I just love our sweet fellowship. “

On the other hand, imagine Sunday School teachers that know starting new classes are effective in the church’s mission to make and grow disciples. These teachers are constantly planting seeds that promote starting new classes. They constantly make note of peoples’ gifts or abilities and may encourage them in ways such as, “I’ve noticed how well you relate to our preschoolers when we have class fellowships. Have you ever prayed about how God might use you in a ministry with preschoolers?” These teachers will love everyone, but they keep forging toward the mission. These teachers will tell stories of changed lives and remind classes they would not have met or heard these stories without the folks who once came into their class as newcomers. These teachers celebrate growing and sending out leaders. They probably have photos on the wall of the “class missionaries” who are serving in other age groups on Sunday morning—people for whom they pray often.

The choice is yours. Will you lead in a way that builds up people and, most importantly, builds up the church? Will you keep your eyes on the mission and help others do the same? Or will you choose to lead in ways that tear down people and/or tear down God’s church? Again, the choice is yours. I pray you lead out of a heart that yearns for people to know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and then come to grow in their lifelong journey of becoming more like Christ.

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Categories : 5 Weeks of Flake, Flake's Formula, Growing your Group, Leadership, New Groups, Sunday School

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Aug

Your Class on Mission in Its Neighborhood

By Belinda Jolley · Comments (0)

Tom Capps is one of our missional leaders in South Carolina. I’ve adapted Tom’s ABC’s of Missional Living to help you help your class be on mission beginning in your own neighborhood.

ABCs of Missional Living

Awareness

When God makes us aware of needs around us, He is revealing his work and His will to us. Consider prayer walking (or prayer riding) your neighborhood to become more aware of what God might be showing you and to sense needs for which He has given you a burden. Move through your neighborhood asking God to show you needs –some of which you may have never seen before. Share those with your class.

Burden

God does not expect us to meet every need we see. However, when He burdens us about a specific need, then He is calling us to join Him in demonstrating His love and power to those with the need. As you move through your neighborhood, try to discern those things for which God might be giving you a burden. Consider forming prayer groups to diligently pray to discover the burden God is giving each person and maybe your class as a whole.

Choice

When God reveals His will to us, we must choose whether we will obey. Our choice reveals what we believe about God and the depth of our love for Him. Be careful of saying “yes” to God only when you feel equipped for the assignment. He may want you to experience His power at work through you, so you will grow in faith and come to know Him more intimately. Pray for boldness as a class for to seek what God may be showing you as you identify the burdens each of you identified in “B.”

We must do what God calls us to do. He may give assignments that use our abilities, experience, and wisdom; but He is
not limited by what we can do. It is God at work in us and through us that makes the difference in the lives of others. Consider working together as a class to start meeting some needs you identified and to which you believe God might be calling you. Sometimes people will join God on mission as a group or class. Some will find their passion. Try to involve your class in meeting needs in an ongoing partnership. Don’t let Satan discourage you if each person does not identify a burden/need. Sometimes a group or class is a great lab school or experiment to help others find their niche in ministry. Expect everyone to do something!

Evangelism

When we do our good deeds, we show the love of God to others. However, when we fail to share the gospel, we are no better than good people and organizations in the world that care about helping others. We must show love AND share Christ! Encourage class members to intentionally form relationships with people who may not know Christ. As a class, pray for these people by name.

Follow Through

When we allow God to love others through us and then tell them about the good news of forgiveness and life through Jesus Christ, many will come to follow Him as disciples. Those we lead to the Lord, we are responsible to teach to live for the Lord. Find ways to celebrate members being on mission, as well as lost people coming to know Christ as personal Lord and Savior. Just because someone joins your class or joins the church does not mean our job is done. Follow through when people
choose to follow Christ.

Glory

Jesus said, “My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.”John 15:8 (HCSB). The fruit of a missional life is disciples who follow Jesus and lead others to Him. Disciples are disciple makers bringing glory to God. Celebrate as a class or church when people dare to live the missional life beginning in your community. Be careful to honor God and give Him and only Him glory.

If your class needs to discover where they are in terms of being on mission in your neighborhood, consider a simple evaluation. Sketch the chart below on a tear sheet (or label four tear sheets according to the four quadrants below). Cover the tear sheet with a blank sheet you will remove later. Give each person one sticky note. Tell them to list one thing the class does in your community. Ask people to go to the chart and place their sticky note in the quadrant that best describes that activity.

Light but no Salt (sharing the gospel but no needs met)	Salt and Light (meeting needs beyond the church AND sharing the gospel)
No Salt or Light (caring for our own)	Salt but no Light (meeting needs beyond the church, but not sharing the gospel)

Process what you see using the following questions:

What does this activity reveal to you?
Were you surprised? Why or why not?
What can we do to insure we focus on meeting needs beyond the church AND share the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Brainstorm practical ideas encouraging people to begin with things they already love doing and places they already go on a regular basis.

Just get the conversation started. We must show and tell the love of Jesus Christ beyond the walls of the church.
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Categories : 31 Days of Transformational Class, Sunday School

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Aug

The Vibrant Sunday School Leader

By Belinda Jolley · Comments (0)

Eddy led her ladies Sunday School class to go to the community—literally. They moved their class to a senior adult multi-housing community on Sunday morning. When they focused more on the mission of God than where they had Bible study, God used them and is still using them in a great way to impact their city. They soon had a burden for children in nearby apartments and began tutoring them after school. Some took part in a ministry for children with terminal illnesses. The stories go on and on. Eddy is a vibrant leader, but she probably would not say that of herself.

“God is not calling leaders to be great. He is calling leaders to become platforms on which God displays His greatness.” Thom Rainer and Ed Stetzer use these words to describe vibrant leadership in transformational churches. I think the same is true of Sunday School leaders.

Vibrant or transformational leaders understand the church exists for the mission of God. Thom Rainer and Ed Stetzer admit vibrant leadership requires a shift in thinking that leads the whole church to engage in the mission of God, locally and globally. The old model of leadership focused on hoarding or retaining control. Transformational leaders seek to empower and multiply. Rainer and Stetzer described four shifts in thinking that must take place. They also apply to Sunday School.

From one to many leaders – Vibrant leaders understand the importance of every man and every woman.
From “me” to “we.” – Vibrant leaders know every person can be used to fulfill God’s mission.
From personal empowerment to people empowerment – Vibrant leaders are not only prepared to give away ministry, but enjoy doing so.
From church to the kingdom of God – Vibrant leaders are as concerned with the wider work of the kingdom of God as they are with the localized work of their class or the congregation. They know the kingdom of God births the church. Vibrant Sunday School leaders won’t complain if someone connects with another class or even another church. They are focused on helping build the kingdom of God beginning here on this earth.

Transformational leadership environments also value a team approach to ministry, a sharper mission focus, and new leadership priorities. These new leadership priorities advance leaders through the following steps:

I join Him on mission (encounter level)
I lead others to join Him on mission (influence level)
I lead others to lead others, to join Him on mission (leading leaders level)
I lead others to lead others to lead others to join Him on mission (movement level)

At this “movement” level you will see large numbers of people converted to Christ and new churches started. The movement of God moves so far so fast away from the original leader that he cannot possibly get credit for the results. The major shift here is to a God-sized vision. Rainer and Stetzer describe this shift as from, “What if I can pick an apple for God?” to “What if I can influence leaders in multiple orchards to pick apples for God?” These multiple orchards will produce and harvest fruit for multiple generations of people groups everywhere. Think about the impact one class can have when they are part of a missional movement.

Remember, God is not calling leaders to be great. He is calling leaders to become platforms on which God displays His greatness. Let God show off through your Sunday School class!

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Sources

Transformational Class: Transformational Church Goes to SundaySchool by David Francis

Chapter 4 (pages 71-98) of Transformational Church: Creating a New Scorecard for Congregations by Ed Stetzer and Thom S. Rainer.

Categories : 31 Days of Transformational Class, Sunday School, Transformation

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Aug

Missional Small Communities

By Belinda Jolley · Comments (1)

Get in the game! I played softball for many years. I played first base. I’m convinced it was because my long legs could stretch to catch wild throws. I also had three brothers, so I grew up playing baseball with my brothers in the back yard. Regardless of how I learned to catch, throw, or hit the ball; it was useless if I did not get in the game. Imagine a coach’s shock if I had walked off the field only to see a ball hit to third base and thrown to first with no one there to get the final out of the game. I doubt I would have played first base on my team anymore if I just chose to jump in and out of the game when I felt like it—or maybe not at all. There are no spectators in missional small communities. They are just that –communities in which all participate in the mission—the mission of God. No one is a spectator.

Ed Stetzer often speaks of the need for classes and groups to move people out of rows (as passive spectators), into circles (as active participants), and out into the world (living on mission). Ed is talking about missional small communities that see people transformed who, in turn, transform communities down the street and around the world.

What can a missional small community deliver?

Deeper friendships
Accountable relationships
Environments for spiritual growth
Missional opportunities

What elements might one regularly see in small missional communities?

Mission orientation
Word-driven mentality
Multiplication mindset
Stranger-welcoming
Kingdom focused

What are some obstacles facing missional small communities?

Value transference of information more than life transformation
Value teaching more than learning.
Reflection of past practices or traditions
Segmentation of the mission of God.
Lack of intimacy

Any of these obstacles can prevent a class or group from becoming a small missional community. However, the segmentation of the mission of God may be the hardest to detect, yet I think it may be the most dangerous. Listen to class or group leaders. You will often hear a frustration over not having time to “finish the lesson” or my job is to teach the class. Without realizing it, leaders thinking can gradually sway toward a mission centered on getting through the Bible study. Every expression of the church owns the mission of God.

Does your class or group own the mission of God? What 2-3 things can you focus on during the coming year to help move you and your class or group toward becoming a small missional community?

Where are you now? Have you stepped out of the game to rest for a while? Have you lost sight of why you are playing? Are you more focused on what you want and what you need? If so, it is never too late to get back in the game. Get in the game!

Click here to hear one Sunday School teacher’s story of how focusing on the mission of God led his class to a sports camp in North Dakota this summer.

Sources
Transformational Class: Transformational Church Goes to Sunday School by David Francis

Chapter 8 (pages 173-198) of Transformational Church: Creating a New Scorecard for Congregations by Ed Stetzer and Thom S. Rainer.

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Categories : 31 Days of Transformational Class, Sunday School

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