More than 350 Sunday School leaders and pastors from across the country attended the National Black Sunday School Conference to gain insights for making their Sunday Schools grow and meeting the needs of members and guests.
LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention sponsored the Nov. 2–3 training at LifeWay’s headquarters in Nashville. Conference participants learned about IDC, the three-pronged approach to growing their Sunday Schools. IDC stands for invite, discover and connect.
“Did you know that 80–90 percent of people surveyed said that they first came to church because someone invited them?” asked Art Groomes, discipleship and evangelism specialist at LifeWay. “There is not a more powerful outreach tool than a personal invitation.”
Groomes cautioned, though, that most people do not come to church based on one invitation. “Statistics indicate it can take up to 20 touches before someone becomes open to visiting Sunday School or a worship service.”
Elgia “Jay” Wells, director of LifeWay’s ministry to black churches, said, “Would you invite someone to your home, then ignore them when they got there? Of course not. Before they arrived, you would clean the house and prepare some food. When they arrived, you’d greet them at the door, invite them in and show them around. When they were ready to leave, you’d walk them to the door and wave goodbye. We need to do the same thing in our churches.”
Conference attendees participated in more than 50 breakout classes, each facilitated by a leader with an expertise in the conference topic, ranging from work with children to youth and adults. Classes for pastors were designed to help them connect with their Sunday Schools, reach out to guests, choose appropriate curriculum and understand how to minister to the unchurched.
The next National Black Sunday School Conference will be Oct. 24–25, 2008. (BP)
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