They are called the "Red Hat Society." I met them in a restaurant late one evening following a Sunday school conference. As my hosts and I ate, eight ladies dressed in a variety of purple walked in and sat next to us. Though the purple gowns were certainly attention getters, the real eye catchers were the hats. The women wore pink and red hats of all sizes and shapes featuring feathers and other enthusiastic accessories.
One of my hosts inquired about their group, and we learned there are many society chapters in that city and nationwide. Though I am still unclear for what cause the society stands or the purpose it fulfills, I did learn some of their rules of participation. If you are under 50, you wear a pink hat. When you turn 50, you graduate to the coveted red hat. It was clear that most of that evening's exciting entourage had been donning red for some time! They were carrying on like a group of teen-agers. They were proud of their purple, pink and red. Not only did they not care if they drew attention, they relished it!
I wonder, as members of the Body of Christ, if we participate as enthusiastically and wear our banners as proudly? How excited are we in our participation?
In this brief series, I have discussed the need for intentionality of purpose in our Sunday school ministries. I have also attempted to speak to the practical need for intentionality in our process of structuring programs and ministries. To structure an effective Sunday school, we must be intentional in our understanding of people's participation. Participation will take two forms: the positioning of personnel and the pursuit of prospects.
Leadership
Leadership positions within the Sunday school must be based upon purpose and not simply upon tradition. To achieve this organizational dynamic, there must be unified direction and cohesive mission communicated from the executive leadership. The senior pastor must be the leading shepherd and motivator.
An intentional Sunday school requires high expectation for its leadership. Expectation must be tempered by the level of training provided, however. We cannot expect our Sunday school leaders to work and to serve effectively if we have not adequately equipped them. We must empower our leaders with the confidence to minister through proper preparation and clearly communicated expectations. Then we can expect and provide accountability. Nothing is more frustrating to the volunteer worker than a lack of clear understanding of their specific purpose and the process to fulfill that purpose.
Effective growth structures in the Sunday school are characterized by the provision of purposeful ministry tasks for each participant to accomplish. This provision produces a sense of responsibility and teamwork leading to discipleship. Discipleship breeds accountability.
A ministry team
An intentional Sunday school class must see itself as a ministry team participating together in opportunities of ministry. A class will not be an effective growth structure if it is a closed unit existing solely for its own membership. The class must organize intentionally to involve as many as possible in the participation of ministry.
For example, each class needs a qualified teacher to share God's word, an outreach leader to lead the class in reaching members and non-members, a prayer leader to lead the class in intercession, a secretary to maintain records and communication, and active members ready to minister to one another and to the unchurched. Other leaders can be added but must not diminish the responsibilities of this core team
With key leadership in position, the class is ready to participate together in the pursuit of prospects. Prospect and inactive member contact assignments can be distributed by the outreach leader each Sunday morning. The active members can be divided into teams, each responsible for outreach one week out of the month. Prayer leaders can make phone calls to active, inactive and prospective members to determine prayer needs. These needs can be compiled into a prayer list for the class as well as the corporate church prayer ministries. This marriage of participating together in prayer, outreach and the teaching of God's word will result in both private and public growth.
I am not sure about purple, pink and red, but I am sure we can learn a lesson from the Red Hat Society about enthusiastic participation. Motivate your people to participate in ministry with passion and purpose. The intentional Sunday school requires it. The lost world demands it.
See Ewart's previous articles:
Church growth strategy should be Sunday school based
John H. Ewart is associate vice president of distance education and innovative learning at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
