By Rodney L. Pry

When the Pennsylvania State Sunday School Association has its display at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show in Harrisburg each year, we have the opportunity to talk with many, many people about Sunday school.

When people stop by, many of them want to ask about a question or problem in their own Sunday school. This year I was somewhat surprised by the number of people who asked what they could do to revitalize their Sunday school.

The problem of stagnant or decreasing membership is one that I was well aware of, but the number of persons who expressed the concern really made me realize that many other people see it as a priority, too.

It’s true. Sunday school attendance across the United States has decreased by 22% over the past 20 years. Today in Pennsylvania, only about 1/3 of the persons who are involved with a church attend its Sunday school. Statistics like these give evidence to the concerns expressed by these persons.

When you are asked such a big question under the circumstances of a brief discussion at an event like the Farm Show, it’s hard to give much of an answer. In fact, in most cases all you could do it to encourage them to keep working and praying and try to give them some literature or refer them to a source of additional help.

The question of Sunday school renewal is a very large and complex problem; one that is not going to be solved with a quick fix or some magical cure.

There are a lot of things that a church will need to do to bring about Sunday school renewal, but perhaps the first thing that they need to do is to ask themselves this question, "How is your vision?" I’m not talking about whether they need glasses. I’m talking about their Christian vision for their Sunday school.

Vision is an informed bridge from the present to the future. For the Sunday school, vision is the ability to perceive the real possibilities of our ministry.

Sadly, too many Sunday school programs today are running on "automatic pilot." Things have been done the same old way for years. Nothing new is being tried and there are no real plans for the future.

Every church probably has a mission statement. Teaching God’s Word to the people of your community would be a part of your Sunday school’s mission, but how do you reach that goal? That’s where vision comes in.

Vision for ministry is a clear mental image of a preferable future. For the Sunday school, that means seeking God’s help to visualize the possibilities for your Sunday school and His help and guidance to plan the steps necessary to reach that goal.

Have you ever thought about what your Sunday school could become? Think about the community where your church is located and the people of different ages who do not attend Sunday school. Think about the spiritual growth, increased love and all of the other benefits that could result from a stronger, more involved Sunday school in your church.

Capturing God’s vision for your Sunday school will involve four steps. First, you must know your church and Sunday school. Try to get a clearer understanding of the people, talents and gifts that God has given you. Examine the reasons why your present church members are (or aren’t) involved in your Sunday school. Examine your strengths and your weaknesses.

Second, know the environment where your Sunday school is located. This actually involves three different things: 1) the community where your church is located, 2) the churches located within your community and 3) your competition.

It’s important to know your community. Who are the persons who do not attend any church or Sunday school? How old are they? What are their concerns?

Knowing the other churches in your area is important, too. You don’t want to copy the Sunday school programs of these churches, but it is important to be aware of what they are doing so that you can help fill the needs of your community.

When we say, "know your competition" we are not talking about other Sunday schools – we should never consider ourselves in competition with other churches. Our competition comes from TV, sales at the mall, sports events, religious cults, fatigue, hobbies, travel, etc. Get to know the things that compete for people’s time and the commitment that they have to each.

The third thing we need to do as we attempt to capture God’s vision for the Sunday school is to know Him more intimately. I’m sorry to say that one of the biggest problems that I see in today’s Sunday schools is a lack of commitment. Persons who call themselves Christians really aren’t committed to God, His Word and His call for us to "go into the world and teach all people." The real starting place for Sunday school renewal is with spiritual renewal. We all need to recommit ourselves to putting God first. We need to spend more time reading and studying the Bible. We need to spend more time in prayer. And, we need to rededicate ourselves to caring for the needs of our neighbors, both their spiritual needs and their physical needs.

Finally, we need to seek wise counsel that will help us see the real possibilities for Sunday school and how to get there. This means reading books and magazines on Sunday school growth and Christian education. It also means attending Sunday school conventions, conferences, workshops, seminars and regular teachers’ meetings within the church.

Vision is not a quick fix. It takes time to discover God’s will. Remember, there is a huge difference between man’s vision for the future and God’s.

If we are to really see genuine renewal within the Sunday school, we must first seek God’s vision of where we should be going and how to get there. And remember too, if your vision for your Sunday school is going to take hold and make a difference, you must dedicate yourself to making sure that as many people as possible understand it, embrace it and live it.

(This article appeared in the "Spring, 1995" issue of "The Herald.")