I wasn't real sure how to recap nearly one full year of officially being a Sunday school teacher so below is my best attempt to do so in an open letter to those below...
To my class, my community, and my generation:
When I asked a year or so ago about starting up a College & Career Sunday School class at church I wasn't sure how to react. I was honored to have been considered for this role (honestly a little too honored becoming somewhat prideful and overly expectant of what would happen). I was also excited for the opportunity to reach a group of people that has become more and more scarce in church, and even a little scared of what would happen if the class failed (or more so how I would be judged if that happened while I'm being honest here). It was truly a gamete of mixed emotions of both hope, excitement, and fear.
I tried a few ideas my way through online invites and even trying to meet in a different room and area of the church to possibly seem more inviting but to not avail. After several months, we still didn't have anyone new coming in. But after a huge kickoff for summer this past May, thanks to our Sunday School Director (and biscuits - everybody loves biscuits), we finally got off the ground with some new faces of younger people. Thirteen people showed up that first big kickoff week. They were talking, eating, and seemingly having a good time. I had studied. I had a solidly prepared lesson. I didn't like the shirt Britt said I should wear but other than that, it was perfect.
But slowly our numbers began to fade. We got back down to single digits, then lower single digits, then to sometimes honestly just hoping that someone would show up. Let me pause for a moment and be clear here, I am not knocking anyone who is in, has been, or may one day be, in our class. My wife has had to miss because of the baby sleeping late or having an ill-timed accident and we've been gone from class for vacations or other things. I get it, life is busy. But I want you know the commitment that I have to studying, preparing, and hopefully teaching. I literally spend hours every week studying, even if that's not apparent at times and your showing up speaks volumes to your commitment as well. I cannot overstate how much your presence is an encouragement to me.
I may never be the best teacher, but I want to help you get closer to Christ while going through this thing called life together and trying to get closer to Him myself. I promise you that I will be as transparent with you as I possibly can. I was very up front with those present one week when we came in 5 minutes late after dealing with a screaming toddler and I was not mentally prepared at that point to be a good godly example or teacher. But I had to suck it up and do the best I could. Thank y'all for suffering through that week. Hopefully they will be few and far between.
So if you're college aged, a 20 something, or a 30 something, I would like to invite you to our Sunday school class. We will study the Bible. We will talk about life. We will pray. We will not judge because we've all been there. I've been the guy who stayed out partying until 4 AM, slept a few hours, woke up, showered, and showed up all Christiany at church the next morning. Titus 3:3-5a reads, "For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us."
If I've invited you personally, then something or someone brought you to my mind. If I haven't, please don't be offended - I am very intent on not attempting to pull someone from another church they are plugged into and often times too afraid of rejection to invite people, though I am working on that.
And for further evidence of my imperfections, while I want anyone who can to come, we'll be out of town this Sunday for Labor Day so.....please plan to join us next Sunday, September 9th. We usually start class at 10 AM in room 214-218 (something like that).
Oh yea, my review part. I can honestly say that I have learned a lot in the past year. I have gotten better at studying the Bible. I have grown in my walk with Christ. But as a teacher, that's not the goal, the goal is to grow and reach others and I'm not so sure how that I've done so hot there. I give myself a "C-" for passing but below average.
To my class, my community, and my generation:
When I asked a year or so ago about starting up a College & Career Sunday School class at church I wasn't sure how to react. I was honored to have been considered for this role (honestly a little too honored becoming somewhat prideful and overly expectant of what would happen). I was also excited for the opportunity to reach a group of people that has become more and more scarce in church, and even a little scared of what would happen if the class failed (or more so how I would be judged if that happened while I'm being honest here). It was truly a gamete of mixed emotions of both hope, excitement, and fear.
I tried a few ideas my way through online invites and even trying to meet in a different room and area of the church to possibly seem more inviting but to not avail. After several months, we still didn't have anyone new coming in. But after a huge kickoff for summer this past May, thanks to our Sunday School Director (and biscuits - everybody loves biscuits), we finally got off the ground with some new faces of younger people. Thirteen people showed up that first big kickoff week. They were talking, eating, and seemingly having a good time. I had studied. I had a solidly prepared lesson. I didn't like the shirt Britt said I should wear but other than that, it was perfect.
But slowly our numbers began to fade. We got back down to single digits, then lower single digits, then to sometimes honestly just hoping that someone would show up. Let me pause for a moment and be clear here, I am not knocking anyone who is in, has been, or may one day be, in our class. My wife has had to miss because of the baby sleeping late or having an ill-timed accident and we've been gone from class for vacations or other things. I get it, life is busy. But I want you know the commitment that I have to studying, preparing, and hopefully teaching. I literally spend hours every week studying, even if that's not apparent at times and your showing up speaks volumes to your commitment as well. I cannot overstate how much your presence is an encouragement to me.
I may never be the best teacher, but I want to help you get closer to Christ while going through this thing called life together and trying to get closer to Him myself. I promise you that I will be as transparent with you as I possibly can. I was very up front with those present one week when we came in 5 minutes late after dealing with a screaming toddler and I was not mentally prepared at that point to be a good godly example or teacher. But I had to suck it up and do the best I could. Thank y'all for suffering through that week. Hopefully they will be few and far between.
So if you're college aged, a 20 something, or a 30 something, I would like to invite you to our Sunday school class. We will study the Bible. We will talk about life. We will pray. We will not judge because we've all been there. I've been the guy who stayed out partying until 4 AM, slept a few hours, woke up, showered, and showed up all Christiany at church the next morning. Titus 3:3-5a reads, "For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us."
If I've invited you personally, then something or someone brought you to my mind. If I haven't, please don't be offended - I am very intent on not attempting to pull someone from another church they are plugged into and often times too afraid of rejection to invite people, though I am working on that.
And for further evidence of my imperfections, while I want anyone who can to come, we'll be out of town this Sunday for Labor Day so.....please plan to join us next Sunday, September 9th. We usually start class at 10 AM in room 214-218 (something like that).
Oh yea, my review part. I can honestly say that I have learned a lot in the past year. I have gotten better at studying the Bible. I have grown in my walk with Christ. But as a teacher, that's not the goal, the goal is to grow and reach others and I'm not so sure how that I've done so hot there. I give myself a "C-" for passing but below average.
Comments
Post a Comment