Sunday School Chronicles: Planting a seed

A few weeks ago I asked my class full of students, during our midweek kids class, questions about the lesson. Not one student could answer them. Adding more frustration was the fact that during snack all they talked about were video games and movies. What was the deal? I teach a lesson about God's love and all they want to talk about is Transformers. I left class that night feeling so frustrated, then I became frustrated with myself. Why? Because I read my lesson from what I had printed out and what I knew from memory (thanks to being in a hurry that day and not preparing better) and after 6 years of teaching Sunday school, I knew how to effectively teach kids about God's Word and help them retain it. I failed. When I began teaching Sunday school, I never really understood the importance of questions and review. It wasn't school, right? They weren't going to be graded on it. This reveals how "green" I was. After several months of teaching, I picked up some resource books with games, annoyed with how very little the internet had, at the time. There was a section of review games. I happened to flip through it and actually liked what I saw. These were some great games. Why not try them?

I introduced this to my students the next class and they loved it. I had a couple teachers assistants in class with me, as well as a visitor from another UPC church, sitting in on the session. They thought I was a genius. Ha! I started putting review game ideas into our curriculum and it was mandatory for each teacher to use at least one review game in their session. We soon realized that our students were retaining more of the lesson.

The last two years our Sunday school department has gone under major construction. Since moving buildings twice, we have had Sunday school in living rooms, garages, parks, you name it. Since moving into our current building, we've been able to obtain classrooms again and a storage room for years worth of materials we've accumulated. That being said, prior to this new building, our staff has not had the resources to bust out lots of activities that we used to because we were what you would call a "traveling Sunday school". Seriously. We put the basic necessities in a container and carried it around to wherever Sunday school was taking place that weekend. Gypsies of sorts. I'm proud to say that we toughed it out, but this sort of scenario does take extra work, considering it's not traditional, whatsoever. That being said, since the first of the year, we've been able to go back to a more structured system (thank GOD!). I write the curriculum for our kids ministry (working on making it available to others, in the future) and the month of February happened to be on "Love". I'm a firm believer that you should use as many visuals and creativity as possible, when you teach. This is not to say that God's Word is not exciting but you're teaching kids, not adults. No brainer. I was teaching the lesson on Jacob and Rachel and wanted to use some visuals. This is what I came up with...

Yes, that's Adam Levine, Mila Kunis and Uncle Sam. "This is bringing the world into our church!", you say. Well, sadly this is what our kids in church know. They see this every day. Why not use it to help teach God's Word? Adam Levine was Jacob, that ugly creature was Leah, Mila Kunis was Rachel and Uncle Same was Laban. I cannot tell you how effective this lesson was. My class during midweek is very rambunctious and when it's completely silent and they're captivated by the lesson, you know you're doing a good job of portraying God's Word. During the entire monthly session, I used things such as this. At the end of each series, we do a huge review game. I put together this game last week, called BOMB. It's a game I created a couple years ago and it's an amazing, cheap and easy review game that the kids will love. 

BOMB!

Preparation:

1. Cut 24 cards out of construction paper (same color and size) and label each card with a number, however high you want to go. Leave two cards out and write "BOMB" on them.

3. Create a list of questions from the entire monthly session.

3. Split the kids into two teams, with each team getting 12 cards (one BOMB should be in each pile). Lay the cards facedown on the table of each team.

4. Use a whiteboard, poster board or chalkboard to keep score. If they can see their scores, it brings a lot of excitement.

How to play:

Start with one team, by asking a question. If they get it right, they get to pick a card. Whatever the number is on that card, that's how many points they get. Display the points each time they draw a card. Go back and forth from team to team. The object of the game is to not get the "BOMB" card. If they pick the "BOMB" card, it wipes out all points and they have to start over. The anticipation and adrenaline excites the kids. I will warn you, this can get very competitive, but it's a wonderful review game and loads of fun!

After leaving class last Wednesday, I couldn't be more proud of those kids!

You have no idea!

When teaching Sunday school, kids church, youth class, etc., a lot of times you don't think you're making a difference. You're wrong. Two case in points:

Bus Ministry:

I've often times thought that what we do during our Sunday programs is in vain. We pick kids up that disrespect us most of the time and come from horrible lifestyles, asking myself, "We have them one day out of the week. How are we even effecting these kids, positively?". My lack of faith was proven wrong when a mother of a bus kid called me one week, after they had moved, leaving a voicemail. This is what it said:

"Hi, Charity. I didn't get a chance to tell you "bye" when we moved. I know my kids caused trouble a lot of times, but you will never know the impact your church had on my family. The kids loved coming to Sunday school every Sunday and would remember things throughout the week. Thank you for sharing God's love with them. Your church is a true testimony of God's love. I know they will carry this with them, throughout their adulthood. Thank you and if we're ever in the area on a Sunday, the kids would love to visit."

I could barely even listen, because I was sobbing. It was just like God to place that reminder in my lap. What you do is not in vain!

Outreach within the four walls:

We have a midweek classes upstairs for our kids ministry. Within the past few months, a couple of our students have brought family to KidZone. Their parents are not members. The mom of this family pulled me aside and told me that these two kids double up on chores and homework on Monday's and Tuesday's, so their parents will allow them to attend midweek and stay out a little late on a school night. I was shocked. If these kids can work extra hard during the week to hear God's Word, then I better up my game and bust my butt doing the best I can to make it worth their while. Every Sunday school teacher should have this mentality. Over the past few weeks, watching these two kids remember Bible verses and lessons, knowing that they don't live in homes that parents attend our church as members, has made me realize that God's Word is being planted and I'm doing my part. 

If for nobody else but myself, just a reminder that teaching kids God's Word is not in vain. Be encouraged!