Lecture #1 - An Important Position
Lecture #1- An Important Position
Stop and think. How did you become a Sunday school teacher?
- Were you “roped “ into it – with the famous words “ you don’t have to do much”
- The church had to have somebody and you were it
- You have children or teens and…
- You smile at young people – while the SS Superintendent was looking- so you qualified!
- They needed a teacher………
Or
You actually felt led to work with children or teens
Even though it does not matter at this point how you arrived in the classroom---It does matter WHO you work for.
The Pastor
The SS Superintendent
The Church
God
You are in the class and while it would have been best you felt a burden to teach –the fact is you are the one and you are a vital link to education and salvation of a young person.
The reason you are a vital link is this:
The highest percent of people give their life to Jesus Christ before they are age 14. In the children’s department we have them for birth to age 11. From age 4 to 5 to 11 the children are capable of understanding enough to give their life to Christ.
If you deal with young teens or older teens your mission is great in pointing them to Christ and challenging them give their gifts back to God.
In that time period their minds are like a sponge. They can take in so much more than we can imagine.
They need a balanced approach toward the Bible. That is one reason why it is my hope you are using literature from Nazarene Publishing House. They keep the main themes before the children with a doctrinally sound approach. Childrens’ teachers might be tempted to say,” They are just children and they don’t care about doctrine but they pick up on other emphasis that can lead them astray in their thinking and understanding.” Teen teachers might be tempted to think they only want to talk about sports etc……
Our Goal this week is to get to know each other and the use of Naz Class technology.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1st-Short Biography.-Tell us about you: (Include)
Where are you from?
What kind of work do you do?
How long have you been a Christian?
What are your hobbies?
Also tell us briefly what class you serve or if you are a Superintendent about your Sunday school
2nd- Respond to at least one person Short Biography
(If you have something in common –let that person or persons know)
3rd – What is one of your greatest struggles in dealing with your class(teachers) or SundaySchool(Superintndents)
See you Thursday
posted by Naz Class @ 7:13 AM
26 comments
26 Comments:
I am from Mitchell.I have lived here all my life.I worked at Carpenter Body Works when it was goig strong,then I went to Evan's Limestone Inc.and worked thier until I had to file for disability.
I have been a christian for most of my adult life.I gave my life to God as a teen,but failed off and on,but God never gave up on me or my wife.I am 56 years old in two weeks.
I love to play horse shoes and play softball.Being disabled I am limited in my sports now,but I try to pitche shoes with my brother on a Bedford league.To me that is very special.
I am serving as Superintendent in our church.I have been a teacher:teen class,middler class.
The hardest struggle I am having with my position is two fold:first we have had a very strong sunday school in the past now we are struggling to do everything.No one seems to want to do anything to help our situation out.Also it is very difficult to run any promotions with what few people we have.Seems to me we just can't get really organized.We need a childrens director that is dedicated to God.One that is really concerned about our children.Alot of our people have died off or left for another church or moved because of a job.The ones that moved to another church moved to ours from somewhere else,but that helped for awhile.
I flunked the first time on here because I didn't read everything.I'll do better from now on.HA!!
P.S. I love going on Work and Witness trips also.
Steve
My name is Lisa and I am from the Chandler Church, I teach the kindergarten and preschool class.
I like to do genealogy and crochet and knit and crafts. I love kitty cats and hamsters. I grew up in the Chandler church, and love my church.
I usually have two or three children.
I struggle with keeping their attention. They want to play with toys , it seems like they are not listening to the lesson.
Lisa
I am from Cloverdale. I was baptized when I was 13 years old in the Church of Christ because my Mom told me I should. I have always loved the Lord because I was raised in the church since I was born. I didn't know the Lord as my personal savior until I was married and we were attending the Church of the Nazarene. I gave my whole heart and life to the Lord in September 1979. I have taught every Sunday School Class from Nursery to Senior Adults. My husband is the Sunday School Superintendent. At the current time I am the REACH Leader for our church. Our greatest concern is "How do we get more people to come to Sunday School?" We have new families come to visit and they say that there aren't enough children for them to stay because we don't have anything to offer. How can we get children if we can't get them to attend regularly? Some of my hobbies are reading, any kind of crafts and working on programs for church. We raise dairy goats and I really love working with the goats. They love unconditionly when you give them just a little attention and they don't expect anything but their feed. Have a great day in Jesus. See you on Thursday.
My name is Candie Randall, I am currently teaching the pre-teen class at the Ft. Branch Church of the Nazarene. I only gave my life to God 3 years ago,sad to say,(now that I know what I've been missing) My daughter was dating our pastors son, and they bugged me and bugged me to come to church and hear a singing group , and I haven't missed a Sunday since....except when I was diagnosed with Leukemia in Feb. this year and hospitalized for 3 weeks, but as soon as I was able , I went right back to Church. I was called to be a S.S. teacher, 2
years ago and boy have I learned alot..... One of the struggles I am having now is my class size, sometimes I will have as many as 7 kids but most of the time it is just my daughter, and my pastors son, and our pastor is on sabatical this month so i am afraid my daughter will get bored with just the 2 of us in there, any suggestions? I have a licensed daycare in my home and oh yeah, my daughter married our pastors son, and they just had a baby boy this past Sunday...Isn't the LORD WONDERFUL!!!! And if you ever get the chance to hear The Tarheel State Quartet, it could change your life...it did mine!
My name is Lynne and I attend New Life Church in Newburgh. I am a stay at home wife/Mom and have 2 children. I home school my two children and am the Children's Pastor at our church. I have been a christian since I was a child and have been a part of the church of the Nazarene for my entire life.
I enjoy doing things with my family and love working with children in the church. I have taught all ages and currently, in addition to my Pastor role, lead the 1st-6th grade children each Sunday.
Hi! I am Jamie White. I live in Washington, but attend the Petersburg Church. I have also attended the Washington Church. I am married to Mike (23 1/2 years). We have 2 sons Michael Jr.(23) and Preston (20). Michael is a senior at Oakland City College majoring in Ministry and received his District License at District Assembly in July. Preston is married to Tabitha(1 year).
I teach the early elementary class at Petersburg and the red level quiz coach.
I was saved as a teen and fell away and have been back and fell away again as a young adult. I came back to Christ in the summer of 1996, and am not falling away again.
My ss class do something interesting and exciting to reach out to our shut-ins, and that is we have one that we send cards to every month and then we rotate the rest of our shut-ins each month so that we send cards to 2 people each month.
We also have a prayer list that we keep and pray for each week. If I forget to do this the children will not let me move on until we do this and they volunteer to pray. They also want a copy of this list to take home each week to pray during the week for them. Almost all of them will go to the alter to pray during family prayer time on sunday morning also.
Well that is enough about me.
Jamie
Hey all, My name is Michael White. Yes i am the son of Jamie white. I live with my parents while I attend school at Oakland City University. I work as a security officer at the local turkey plant here in Washington, as well as at a gas station in Montgomery(7 mi E). I attend the Petersburg Chruch. I have been a Christian forabout 9 years and four mounths or so. There have been tough times in my journey where I have wanted to quit but I know better.
I am currently the NYI President and youth Leader in our church. I have found in the past three years as youth leader that teenagers are a whole different ballgame. I used to think that it would be a piece of cake. BOY WAS I WRONG!!!
I love to play the Tuba and Baritone. I also love to hang out with friends.
I have many struggles as a youth leader such as communicating with the teens and their parents. One of the biggest things that I have trouble with is that I become discouraged easily.
Candie, I would like to give you encourgaement to stay strong. I understand what you are going through when you were talking about having as many as seven. I understand the discouragement when you feel like your on top of the world because you have a good number in class one week and then the next you only have one or two. At one time I had between 15 and 20 teenagers coming regularly to youth and then that number droped to maybe 5-10. The one thing that we have to remember is that no matter how many times these children or teens come they are always taking away with them some of the core values that we teach them.
I am from Brownstown Nazarene Church and have been a Christian for 6 years. I have been a 911 operator at our local Sheriff's department for 9 years. I am orginally from California but moved here to Indiana 10 years ago and feel this is my home. I have been married for 9 years and have 3 kids, Son Jordan (8), daughter Bailey (4), and daughter Alia (10 mths). I am the Sunday School Supervisor at my church. I lived with my great aunt when I was a younger kid and remembered going to church every sunday with her for about 9 months straight. When I got older I did not go to church but when times were tough I would pray to God to help me through. He has always been faithful in my life even when I was not faithful to him. I beleive my aunt planted a seed in my heart when I was younger and it helped me find my way back to God. I want to be that seed for other kids now. My biggest struggle is with our Wednesday night group of kids. We pick up a group of kids that do not have the support at home. The parents do not go to church. I have to continuously remind myself that these kids only get the word of God for 1 hour a week.
Candie,
I am glad to see that you have only been going to church for 3 years (sorry you missed out as well). I have been going to church for 6 years but the last 4 we have been faithfuly going every Sunday. There have been times when I think to myself that I haven't been going to church long enough to be teaching these kids anything but I seem to learn the lessons right along with them. God always seems to give me the right words to say to these kids. It's nice to see a wide variety of experience in this class. I thought I would be the only one with little experience.
I am from Columbus. I started going to Columbus First when I was 6yrs old - to VBS, with a friend down the street. My parents never went to church and just in the last year my mother has started coming off and on. Church was my stronghold growing up. I had a very challenging life at home and ended up in foster care at age 12. Church and God were my rock, the only place where I found love. I was always here, whenever the doors were open, no matter what was going on. I got married at 18, moved to Germany (ex was in the military) and got away from church and God. Divorced at 21 with 2 kids and back in the states I tried church and God again, but it was never "comfortable". I married my childhood sweetheart a year later (we met at church, in high school, by the way). God was calling, and calling and calling us back. He never gave up and we finally came back. We've been back for 3 years now. Both of us were baptized 2 years ago. Through baptism, God removed so much baggage from me that it still amazes me! We have 3 kids - Arielle (15), Alexandria (14) and Aaron (11). My husband is now the NYI President and I am the (very new) full time Children's Ministry Director. Just started in June. Walked into VBS, Kids Camp, my first lock in experience, the start up of Caravan, and just started teaching my first Sunday school class ever last Sunday - we had 9 in class! I am teaching 5th and 6th grade and I do the Children's Church services on Sunday mornings for kids K-6th grade - usually 20-25 children. I have 1 consistent helper that leads music, specials, etc... My biggest struggle so far is two fold - getting volunteers to step up to help and feelings of inadequacy. Wow, that was a long story! And also the first time I have publicly shared my testimony! Enough about me!
Regina
y name is david Neal. I am the SS Supt at Heartland Nazarene in Floyds Knobs. I am an insurance agent, love to play golf anduntil recently was the lead vocalist on our praise team.
As a supt, I find it difficult to find training for my teachers. i am looking forward to exploring this format. I also have a difficult time finding servants who desire or feel led to teach.
Michael,
I love to see young people ministering and leading in their youth. You are right, teenagers are a whole different ballgame, but I am where I am today because I had a youth pastor that cared and gave his time, energy and love to us. Hang in there!!!!
Kenton - Junior High
I as born in Indiana, raised in Oklahoma and have pastored the Chandler Church for 17 years. At age 12 I gave my heart to Christ and experienced a deep love in my life I had never known.
I like to paint pictures from time to time and tinker around the house, plus do some work on our vehicles.
I teach the Junior high Class.
My biggest struggle is the outside activities - I have good intention of having a party or doing something but tend no to get it done.
Kenton to David
I am glad you are searching for new ways - somehow training has to happen and every way we can find to improve our teachers and our own skills builds us and the Kingdom.
Kenton
My name is Nicole Miller. I attend Eastview Nazarene in Bloomington. I am the Children's Director and VBS Director there. I also teach the 4's and 5's (when we have kids come) and I also sub in our pre-teen class since our teacher there is a nurse and has to work every 3rd weekend.
I work full time for First Steps of Indiana as a Developmental Therapist. I am the pastor's daughter and have been a part of the Nazarene church my entire life.
I enjoy scrapbooking and suprisingly enough I absolutely love planning VBS! I usually start about 10 months before - so it's almost time!
Greatest struggle.... working with children who come from split homes. You never know what Sunday they will be there (spotty attendance) and you never know how their behavior will be. It's hard to teach when you have even just one who is angry about something at home and they bring it to church with them! They are hard to love at those times too, but that's when they need it the most!
I am from Georgetown. I have lived here for 29 years and started attending the church a few years before moving here.
I grew up as a PK, so the church has been my life. I was saved at age eight, but struggled in young adult years, but soon relived that if I was going to pass the christian heritage on to my three daughters I had to get serious about my peronal relationship with the Lord. I know Him as my personal saviour,today!!
I love working in my yard and flowers, and spending time with my daughters and their famlies.
I was co-teaching the Pre-teen class, but they have moved up now, and there is currently no pre-teens. Will fill in if needed. The church is struggling with having many children in Sunday School.
David, I understand the frustration of trying to find people willing to teach! Especially in the Children's Department. We just got a SS Supt. so my father (who's the pastor) and myself (Children's Director)held the role! I got tired of hearing "no" all the time.... I just had to submit my frustration in prayer and trust the Lord to provide the teachers that we need! He's never failed us yet!
Candie,
Do your best not to get hung up on numbers in attendance, and try to remember they need to feel loved and just as important as if there was a large number. I know it is hard to plan your study & etc. when you don't know how many will be there, but maybe try to use those times to get to know them better. I was NYI leader for years, and I fully understand the struggle, especially when you had large numbers. I always went on with what was planned even if I had one in attendance but would adjust. Yes, even in the pre-teen SS class we would have my grandsons,(twins) but we continued on, I learned myself during those times. Stay focused on the purpose of your time. You are making yourself available and the Lord will help you through those times.
I'm from Princeton New Life. I grew up in the Princeton Church, but I went because my parents made me. I was saved at a church camp when I was 14, but I fell away after a few weeks. I went the way of the world until I was 44 years old (in 2001). Then God came looking for me. I was filled with the Holy Spirit on April 6th, 2001. I guess it's true that those who are forgiven much love much, because I have been totally devoted to the Lord since then.
I am the Sunday School Superintendent and I teach the Jr. High class. I also teach children's church every other month.
I am currently working in a factory through a temperary service. I got in a bind and had to take the first job that came available, so that is likely to change in the near future.
I love playing paintball and doing things with the kids from church.
My biggest struggle is finding people who will give of themselves to work with the children. Don't get me wrong, we have some great people who are really dedicated. But it seems that the same handful of people are doing all the work. It's hard on them to do all the work all the time.
I'm looking forward to learning from everyone here. When my previous Pastor asked me if I would serve as Superintendent, I didn't even know what a Superintendent was. It will be great to draw on the experience of people who actually know what they are doing. I think great things will come as a result of our efforts.
Hello everyone,
I have attended the Bloomington 1st church with my husband and daughter since 1994.
Like the other Betty, I am a "PK," who also deeply appreciates my Christian heritage, although I had my own struggles, as well. Finally, in my late 20's, I realized that only Jesus will never fail me, and that it really is all about my relationship with HIM. That made a wonderful difference in my life!
I enjoy music, traveling, and spending time with family, my Dachshund "Schatzie" and friends.
I teach the 3rd and 4th graders, and find that my greatest challenge is coping effectively with the ones who have attention disorders. However, these same children are often the ones who add "tidbits" of wisdom to the class which is so rewarding.
My desire is to do the very best for them, with God's help.
Regina,
Your comment about the church being the only place where you felt love during your childhood, caused me to think about Paige in my class. She has a very difficult and challenging life at home. However, she is a born leader and often amazes me with her insight. Thank you for the reminder, and for the encouragement to keep trying for her sake! :-)
Larry from Valley Mission. I am 65 years old. Retired due to health reasons. Married to the same wonderful woman for 44 years. Have 3 adult daughters and 3 grand children. And am a full time baby sitter.
I am a servent of God, cleverly disguised as a children's Sunday School teacher.
I was saved when I was 7 years old and have been in the church ever since.
My intrests are fishing, reading, computers, and kids. Not necessarily in that order.
I have taught kindergarten through adult and have been SS Supt. in 3 different Nazarene churches.
My greatest struggle is the parents who do not attend SS. The children may want to come, but if the parents do not,then the children are not able to attend.
Betty N,
Love her, pray for her, plant the seed! The Power of a Praying Parent does not need to come only from the child's parent, but from ANY parent (or person)! We never know how true it is that sometimes we are the only Jesus a child will see.
Regina
Kenton,
I can really relate to your struggle with outside activities. So many of the kids have soccer, basketball, volleyball...ect, that it is hard to plan anything. No matter what day you pick, someone has some other obligation.
I always fall into the trap of trying to rearrange things to please everyone and I end up pleasing no one. I will plan an outing, then someone will tell me they can't make it that night and suggest that it would be better to change it to another day. So I change the date to please one person and another gets upset, because they have something on the new date.
I think I'm just going to have to announce these things well in advance and stick with the original plan.
I think that one of the biggest problems with the classes at my church is that some of the children are constantly wanting to be the center of attention. They are always trying to get the focus off of the lesson and on them.
I feel sorry for the kids who do this, but it isn't fair to the other kids to spend every class dealing with one or two while the other kids sit there as frustrated as the teacher.
I have already read some very good advice that can be applied to these situations.
I am from New Life Naz at Princeton. I am into my 35th year of teaching Sunday School/Children. I have taught the same level- Preteens (although the title has changed over time) except for a 2 year stint when our Sunday School/Children's Church/Bible School were combined into a full 2.5 hour service for our k-6 children. I still taught each week doing the lessons, visuals, arts/crafts, singing, activities. I have found some challenges during this year, but those challenges help you to develop patience and love and a deeper understanding of the human creation. It is wonderful that each child is different and special. God is quite a divergent creator! I began teaching this age group when I was 14. The class needed a teacher and I felt God was wanting me to teach. This led to my career as and Elementary Teacher.
I have been a teacher for 27 years. I have taught K-8 and special education. I am currently in 1st grade and love when the light goes off in their minds. Seeing things through young eyes awaken and lift up your spirit. I have been in this position for 10 years.
I like being creative. I love to draw, paint, do crafts and scrapbooking. I also enjoy being outdoors for gardening, running, riding my bike and enjoying nature.
I have always attended the New Life Naz although for over 50 years it was known as the First Church. I still have a hard time with the name switch. I was saved at age 8 and baptized and became a member at age 12. I have served on missions, children's church, nursery, NYI, Bible Schools, Caravan/director, and church board. I love the Lord and what our Nazarene church stands for.
Sometimes I struggle with the desire to continue to teach after 35 years of continuous service. I also miss some of the old ways we used to do things because we are multi-techno in our services. I get nauseous with all the visuals and movement.
I will endeavor to do what the Lord wants until I feel he has something different he wants me to do.
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