The Sunday school is an essential disciple-making strategy for the church through the effective teaching of biblical principles for godly living and ministry. These teachings are presented systematically after a set curriculum by spiritually matured teachers. Sunday School is, therefore, an evangelistic, missions and a church growth strategy (building a healthy church).
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
Robert Raikes is largely credited with the development of the first Sunday school in 1780 with the help of Rev. Thomas Stock to offer secular and religious education for children living in the slums of Gloucester. Their first meeting was held in the kitchen of Mrs. Meredith who happens to be their first teacher. His curriculum consisted of simple lessons in reading and spelling to prepare the children for scripture reading and memorization.
Their meetings were held on Sundays when the children were not working in the factories, hence the name, “Sunday school”. The Sunday school movement flourished in 1785 with the help of one William Fox. By 1795 about one thousand (1000) such schools were formed across England.
AMERICA
In 1786 the Sunday school movement patterned after the plan of Raikes was started in America by Francis Asbury, a Methodist preacher sent from England as a missionary to America.
GHANA
The Assemblies of God, Ghana adopted the American pattern of the Sunday school through the missionaries. Madam Scott and Rev. Opuni helped to promote the Sunday School in Ghana. A/G Ghana adopted the U.S. curriculum but the church is currently developing its own curriculum.
VISION STATEMENT
“Making Every Church Member a Disciple through the effective Teaching of the Word of God”
MISSION STATEMENT
The Sunday School Department is committed to making disciples through the teaching of the Word of God for the Transformation of lives, building Healthy churches and sensitizing members to ministry with love, passion and faithfulness.
Matt. 28:19-20
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday school is the most effective discipleship and church growth strategy available to the church. It enhances the building of a healthy church. However, its effectiveness depends on the commitment of the local church pastor. Unfortunately, some pastors take it for granted and have exchanged its emphasis for other spiritual activities. Nothing other than the effective teaching of the word of God can build the faith of a Christian and make him a true disciple of Christ. The neglect of Sunday School in favour of other church growth programs has impoverished the spiritual life of the church and failed to produce the sustained increases hoped for.
Churches that use the Sunday School as an effective discipleship strategy have inevitably grown in size and in spiritual depth. Unfortunately, the vital role of Sunday School for the healthy growth and spiritual stability of our churches have been neglected. It must also be noted that the Sunday School is the most effective and available program and tool for pastors and churches to carry out the Great Commission. The command of Christ is to help believers mature spiritually by teaching them the Word of God (Matt 28:19). On the contrary some churches have lost sight of the real substance of Christ’s command to make disciples by teaching believers the word of God.
Pastors must take the lead in harnessing the flow of spiritual resources by training people how to minister to one another. Here again Sunday School is the key. The pastor can use Sunday School as a platform for raising leaders and casting his vision to the church. For Sunday school to be made relevant and effective in our churches today, there should be the teaching of substantive and relevant truth and doctrine from the Bible. Prayer should be an important component of Sunday School class. Members should be encouraged to fellowship with one another. Sunday School classes should be encouraged to care for the practical needs of their students through the sharing of resources and the lending of a helping hand in situations that demand it.
In short, the Sunday School could be the churches’ single most effective means for establishing New Testament church life. We must be inspired by the work of the pioneers and desire to be more effective in our teaching and disciple those we teach and sensitize them to serve the Lord faithfully.
