Author Archive for Dwayne Lee – Page 4

Seven Simple Steps toward a Class Outreach Strategy

By Dwayne Lee · Comments (0)
Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

Outreach through a Sunday School class, hum? What a thought! The problem many times is the fact that it is not a thought. It’s not thought of at all. Yet maybe this can spark an interest or cause you to implement something that would revolutionize your class.

First let’s ask some questions:

  • Do you have an Outreach Director in your class? (He or she may not carry that title but it is someone who is intentional about planning ministry projects in the community.)
  • How many outreach projects do you want to do in a year? (Remember projects may be large events for a whole community. It may be for one street or you may be ministering to one family.)
  • Is the class on board? (What can you do to lead them to “own” the events and responsibility?)
  • Is your Minister of Education, Sunday School Director, and Pastor aware of what you are doing? (May lead to affirmation of the efforts to the class or even the church.)
  • Do you have the necessary resources to pull this off? (If not, with whom do you need to speak and what do you need to do to be ready?)

OK, now that we have asked a few of the basic questions now lets map out a strategy.

  1. Prayerfully consider what your class can do (Remember as the teacher the class will be looking to you for direction and leadership although you may not be leading the project)
  2. Assemble a small ministry project task force to handle all of the details.
  3. Talk about it every week in class regardless of whether you are in a project or not.
  4. Do not over extend your class or burn them out. (You know your class better than anyone, don’t over do it)
  5. Pray, Pray, Pray!!! (Always bathe everything you do in prayer)
  6. Plan the work and work the Plan!
  7. Celebrate what God has done!

Allow these thoughts to help you and your class as you plan outreach projects for your class. If you are not sure where to start, ask your pastor for help!

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Dwayne Lee is the Associate Team Leader of the Bible Teaching / Leadership Resource Group of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio.

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Categories : Outreach/Evangelism, Sunday School

VBS as the Sunday School Prospect Pool

By Dwayne Lee · Comments (0)
Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

Usually one of the largest events that a church will do once a year is Vacation Bible School. It is also one of the largest events that attract prospects for your Sunday school classes.

It is interesting to hear churches talk about their planning and promotion of Vacation Bible School, but not a whole lot is said about their follow-up! By the time VBS is over so are the workers. They think their job is done but I beg to differ. It is only the beginning! Children from all over the community has been in your church for the week (and liked it!). Why wouldn’t we want them to come back and be a part of what we do all year long?

Here are some simple ideas I would suggest for taking the next step:

  1. As Vacation Bible School Director make sure your VBS enrollment is as accurate and complete as possible.
  2. Schedule a time with the Sunday School director to go over the list of prospects.
  3. If your Vacation Bible School teachers are not your Sunday School Teachers, then bring them together to discuss the children that were in the class during VBS.
  4. Have the VBS and Sunday School directors and teachers write separate letters to the children thanking them for be a part of Vacation Bible School.
  5. When the VBS teachers make their follow-up visits (personallyto deliver the child’s last project from VBS week), make sure that the appropriate Sunday School teacher accompanies the VBS teacher during the visit.
  6. Include the Sunday School teacher in the conversation. Make sure that the parents and child hear the excitement of what takes place every week in Sunday school. Offer an example or two of what the class has recently done.
  7. Ask the whole family for a commitment. (What’s the worst they can say?) Go ahead and enroll them before you leave. Make sure all of your contact information is correct.
  8. If transportation plans need to be made, make sure that it is arranged within 24 hours.
  9. Thank the family for their time and leave on a HIGH note!

I hope that will help you see the importance of how VBS and SS work together!  

______________________________________

Dwayne Lee serves as Associate Group Leader for the Bible Teaching/Leadership Team of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio.

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Categories : Outreach/Evangelism, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School

Organize Well with No Regrets!

By Dwayne Lee · Comments (0)
Thursday, May 5th, 2011

It has been said that your Sunday School is the largest organized group the church has. It’s not the choir or the youth group. It’s not the seniors or the WMU. It’s Sunday School!

If that is the case, then ask yourself the question, “Is it an organized group or structured chaos?” What do I mean by that? Well it’s simple. Many churches have Sunday School because we’ve always had Sunday School, but with not with a purpose. Instead, it can be an organized group that functions like a well-oiled machine with every part hitting on all cylinders. Here are eight questions to check to see if your Sunday school program is organized well or not:

  1. Do your teachers, apprentices, and greeters show up early on Sunday morning (to pray, prepare the classroom, and greet)?
  2. Do your teachers, apprentices, and outreach leaders prepare the classroom for guests (expectancy)?
  3. Is each room free from clutter and organized? Are there things in the room that could be removed or thrown away?
  4. Do teachers stand at the door welcoming people as they arrive (or are class greeters enlisted to do so)?
  5. Are teachers getting feedback from those who are in the class from participatory teaching methods as well as from class members and/or care group leaders?
  6. Do teachers take time each week to check on their class members and guests (or are care group leaders enlisted to do so)?
  7. Do teachers and workers participate in monthly/quarterly/semiannual planning meetings and training sessions? Have each of them enlisted an apprentice who attends with them?
  8. Are your classes fully staffed for growth?

How is your Sunday School doing? Did the questions help you identify some areas of organization that need some attention?

When it comes to organization, it is your responsibility! You may be the minister of education, Sunday school director, pastor, teacher, or whatever title your church has given you. Regardless of title you have the responsibility of assessing, analyzing, and implementing whatever it takes to make your Sunday School the very best organized group it can be.

Because at the end of the day you do not want to look back and say I should have done a better job!

______________________________________

Dwayne Lee serves as Associate Group Leader for the Bible Teaching/Leadership Team of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio.

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Categories : Organization, Space, Sunday School

Finding the Right People for the Bus

By Dwayne Lee · Comments (0)
Monday, April 4th, 2011

We’ve heard it said in the business world as well as in the church life, “We need the right people on the Bus.” Well that is true, but we also need them in the right seats! So it is with enlisting and training the right Sunday school teachers for our churches. Most of the time when it comes to enlisting people as new Sunday school teachers the only criteria is “are they breathing!” The reason is because we do not have an enlistment process in place or standard expectations for our Sunday school department.

Let me say to all the Sunday School Directors who are reading this blog, “RECRUIT YOUR OWN SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS!” You know your Sunday school department better than anyone else; therefore you are the best-qualified person to select your next set of teachers. It should not be done be a committee or some search team, you take on that responsibility and do it with integrity and a clear sense of direction.

The following is a short list in “The Process of Enlistment”

  • Discuss the POSSIBILITIES
  • Talk about the PROCESS
  • PRESENT your expectations
  • Explore God’s PURPOSE
  • Explain the POSITION
  • Speak words of Encourage the PROSPECT
  • Set in motion a PLAN
  • Equip the PERSON

I could speak to each one of these on there own but I think you can see how important it is to have everything in place as you

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begin to search for the right person.

Then when the right person is in place it is your responsibility to make sure that teacher receives continued quality training. Structure quarterly training sessions with your teachers; look for training clinics in your region or state. Ask for certified teams to come into your church to hold training clinics…it is of the upmost importance that your teachers are handed as leaders and not volunteers. Therefore give them the proper tools and training so that they can do the work of the ministry!

______________________________________

Dwayne Lee serves as Associate Group Leader for the Bible Teaching/Leadership Team of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio.

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Categories : Sunday School

Prepare Them to Tell Their Stories of Transformation

By Dwayne Lee · Comments (0)
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011

As I sat in the last worship service for the month of February, I listened to a story of transformation not realizing this would be the very thing I was to write about. I listened to a story of a family that has been transformed by the power of God. In the last five years God has brought this couple from having no relationship with Him, to having a vibrant fellowship and communion with one another, others, and most importantly with God.

I had the opportunity to speak to the husband just before service and he stated that he was nervous about sharing his past and all of his mistakes. But I told him that “all of it” was his story! God had given him a story to tell! A story of redemption and change, a story of hope and peace, a story of transformation and eternal life! Therefore regardless of it being good, bad, or indifferent it is still your STORY!

I am reminded of the account in John 4 of the woman at the well and Jesus’ encounter with her. After she understood who He was she went into the city and told her story! Her story wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t all nice and neat wrapped in a bow, but it was her story. Jesus loved her enough to let her know that her story did not have to continue the way it was going, it could change and it did!

Every person in our classes has a story. It may be painful. There might be a few bumps and bruises along the way, but there is one thing that can be said about it, it’s REAL! Every time we tell our story it should remind us of the transformation that has taken place in our lives, but it will also show people that Christianity is real. We will stumble and fall but we have a Savior who is Christ the Lord and He will pick us up and help us on our journey of transformation because our story isn’t finished!

Many are not comfortable or ready to tell their stories. Set aside time for the people in your class to tell their stories! It may be the very thing that is needed for the hour. Prepare them for telling their stories for when the Holy Spirit wants to use them in their walk through life!

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Dwayne Lee serves as Associate Group Leader for the Bible Teaching/Leadership Team of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio.

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Categories : Sunday School, Transformation
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