THE IMPACT OF SUNDAY SCHOOL ON CHURCH GROWTH

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ABSTRACT

The non – chalant attitude and commitment to Sunday school and mid-week services of members or worshipers of some churches have brought the declining rate of growth of some of those churches. Most of the department has always been neglected and much time have not been given to the department that should be well looked after, hence, this research work is an attempt to examined the impact of Sunday School in Church Growth in Redeemed Christian Church of God, Triumphant Parish Adamo, Ikorodu, Lagos as a case study. The methodology adopted is historical and field work. The researcher discovers that the quality and organizational development of the Church involves good and well structured Sunday School which is a divinely mandated program. This study showed that Sunday school aids fulfillment of the great commission and discovery of more workers for kingdom service. The researcher concludes by recommending workshop, training, proper and well structure, preview class for all Teachers, good record keeping for all the class assessment of the entire student, and keeping attendance of student to know the regular student, funds and manpower to aid a proper and standard Sunday school department

INTRODUCTION

This chapter is to address the background to the study, statement of the problem, purpose of the study, significance of the study, delimitation of the study, research procedure and definitions of terms.

1.1 Background to the Study

From the beginning of the Church of God in the 1880s, Christian education has played a crucial role in the life of the movement. One of the most concrete ways, in which Christian education has influenced the Church of God, is through the Sunday school. For decades, the Sunday school has played a primary role in congregational life and in its broader sense, national organizational structure of the movement[1]. According to Dr. Darren W. Thomas in his book “the role, history and decline of the Sunday school” quoted Thom Rainer who identifies seven primary methods and programs that contribute the most to effective assimilation: special events, weekday ministries, recreational activities, youth programs, preschool programs, Sunday school, and children’s programs. He said that Rainer’s research revealed the Sunday school as being the most effective of these methods and programs at closing the back door of the church and assimilating individuals into the life of the congregation. When it comes to reaching people and effectively assimilating them into the life of the church the Sunday school ministry still remains one of the most effective tools some 200 years after its beginnings. Thom Rainer also said that the “Sunday School has been among the key methodologies of the past two centuries to train adults and youth in the depths of the Bible.” Experts are telling us that the Sunday school still works.

Dr. Darren W. Thomas also referred to Harry Piland who also identifies the Sunday school as being a key role in the health of a church accomplishing its mission. “Because of the nature and mission of a church revealed in the Scriptures, and because of the centrality of the Bible in Sunday school, the Sunday School is at the heart of the mission of the church. It is central – not a side issue; it is major – not minor”. He further made mentioned of Dr. George W. Bailey, President of the World’s Sunday School Association 1910-1913, who wrote that the goal of the Sunday school was to, “put the open Bible into the open hand of every opening heart that is quickened by life from God”. Even with its effective record Sunday school still has its critics that claim it is no longer relevant as an outreach and assimilation ministry to the church. This debate over its relevance is nothing new. With each new generation, the question arises and with each new generation the answer is clear, the Sunday school is still effective.

Even though, from the research, it has also been debated and realized for many years that one of the most potent agents of church growth is the Sunday school. The worship activities that culminate into a complete service are praise and worship songs, sermons, alter calls, prayer and Sunday school. The preacher preaches with the word of God coming down like fire and hammer that break the rock and stony heart of man, with signs and wonders. There are the questions in the minds of worshippers unanswered. Hence, a forum whereby such question could be discussed gave birth to Sunday school. The Sunday school is an arm of the Christian education program of the church. It is meant to teach believers and unbelievers the infallible word of God. This could hold before or after the sermon for the day. A look at the scripture reveals the needs for people to be tutored in the word.

Jesus Christ was a great teacher who commanded His disciple to teach all nations. Therefore, the Sunday school department of a church is used by the Holy Spirit to effect the children of God to be as great people found in the scripture.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The Redeemed Christian Church is a church established by God, to build the believes in God into people’s heart and the service of God; its impactful and effective in enhancing dependability on God through commitment of members and worshipers towards church planting and spiritual growth of the church. The nonchalant attitude and commitment to Sunday school and mid-week services of members/worshipers has brought the declining rate of growth. It is necessary that this study will help in one way or the other to immediately address the problem before the church of God would slide into a mere social organization loosing the spiritual favour.

1.3 The Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to examine and evaluate the contribution and the value of Sunday school to the growth of the church particular reference to redeemed Christian church of God Triumphant Parish Adamo over 2007-2017.

In order to accomplish this main purpose the following aspects will require consideration.

To determine the rate of growth of the worshippers over 2008-2017

To determine the rate of growth of the Sunday school over 2008-2017

To determine the percentage of worshipers that attend the Sunday school

To ascertain the growth between the Sunday school attendance and the members of the church.

To examine their spiritual growth

Significant of the Study

The significant of this project work is that,

It will enable us to improve upon the overall development and he growth of the Sunday school in my church.

It will also motivate the pastors, church leaders and other arms in the church to work at having a well organized and administered Sunday school that can give an assurance to the growth of their church.

1.4 Delimitation of the Study

The scope of this study is confined Redeemed Christian church of God Triumphant Parish Adamo Ikorodu, Lagos state Nigeria. This research will be carried out mainly using the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Adamo Ikorodu as a case study and it will be centered mainly on the children, teenagers, and the adults of the church.

1.5 Limitation of the Study

Almost all the churches in Nigeria conduct Sunday school every Sunday, but there are some, which do not, this study, is limited to Redeemed Christian church of God where there is witness that there is assurance of the existence of Sunday school. Due to inability of time to ensure effective coverage and record keeping that are up to date to ensure that the study is effectively carried out the limitation of the study to Sunday school in Redeemed Christian church of God.

Lastly, due to availability of time the significance of the period 2009 has been upwards to the effective organization of the Sunday school.

1.6 Research Methodology

This research work is the adoption for the collation and of writing this project is mainly library research as well as internet sources which is the compilation for current events in Sunday school works. Questionnaire will be given out to conduct the survey and statistics of the pattern and operations of Sunday school within Redeemed Christian church of God Adamo, Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria. Opinions of the people will be conducted through oral interviews teachers within the church will be a guide to collate and to arrive at a recommendation to be made from this research work.

1.7 Definition of Terms

Impact: It means to have a strong effect on someone or something.

Sunday: Is the day of the week after Saturday and before Monday, when most people in Western countries do not go to work.

Sunday school: Sunday school is a church sponsored educational agency, which functions on Sunday and provides a curriculum of Bible study and evangelistic emphasis for all ages.

Church: A church is an assembly of professing believers. The word “church” is used to refer to the building where people gather together with other Christian. In addition, it is referred to a particular grouping of churches or denominations. The Greek word ecclesia, which is used in the New Testament, refers to people not building or organization structure. Biblically church means either universal church or local church. The universal church refers to all members of the body of Christ in all places and all ages.

Church Growth: Church growth is the balanced increase in quantity, quality and organization complexity of a local church.

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THE IMPACT OF SUNDAY SCHOOL ON CHURCH GROWTH

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THE IMPACT OF SUNDAY SCHOOL ON CHURCH GROWTH

THE IMPACT OF SUNDAY SCHOOL ON CHURCH GROWTH

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