Welcoming Back Sunday School Dropouts

Coaxing inactive members back into the Sunday school isn’t easy, but you can make the transition smoother.

Reach Out. Coming back to a Sunday school after a lengthy absence can be quite frightening. They feel out of place. There may be new people that they don’t know. We have to bend over backward the first week or two to treat them like visitors, even though they are members of the group. Bending over backward means taking time to listen and form a new relationship. Remember, many of the people who will come back to your Sunday school are not there for the education, they’re there for the relationships.

Offer A Warm Welcome. Keep your members aware that when new people come they should reach out and welcome them. A close-knit group is beneficial to your Sunday school, but this closeness can alienate new people. Incorporating the dropout back into the Sunday school involves more than just having the pastor or class teacher shake their hand, it means getting other members in the church to welcome and accept them, even those that are different from them.

Don’t Give Up. When a person drops out of the Sunday school, don’t think they’re a lost cause. Urge your class to regularly make a list of class members that they would consider "dropouts." Ask all class members to pray for the dropouts and ask for specific volunteers to contact these persons and extend an invitation to them to let them know that you miss them.

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