Dual Sunday School preparation

So you’re starting multiple Sunday Schools.  Great!  This is an excellent way to use your facility wisely and fully. 

Here are some things that helped me on this journey a few years back:

1.  Communicate often and clearly.  If you have business meetings, use them as a time to communicate and affirm this new expansion in ministry.  Lead a “town hall” meeting for a full overview of where you are headed when, and then answer questions.  Having a panel (age group leaders/ministers) to answer questions continues to firm up communication gaps, but it also firms up blind spots for you and your team.  While you may feel like you have communicated over and over and have a handle on this, you will find slippery issues. 

2.  Use a FAQ sheet.  Answer as many questions as a team in advance.  This helps tremendously!  Answer hot-spot issues too.  If you know something is really going to be a hard change, don’t sweep it, address it fully and kindly. 

3.  Mail.  Mail letters from the pastor to the church family.  Use your church mailer over and over to address the schedule change.  Mail cards of SS commitment hour to be mailed back or brought to the church. 

4.  Do feedback sheets in the weeks after the launch of Dual Sunday School.  Let people voice frustrations and praises.  Give folks the opportunity to know that you are not locked into stone on anything but willing truly willing to make adjustments. 

5.  Use your leader base in Sunday School to create those new units you’ve been dreaming of.  Have folks pray about and commit to leading in this new ministry and set them free to go for it.  As you plan new classes use something a bit different like life-stage grading. 

Let me know what you have experienced that has worked for you!