RIDGECREST, N.C. -- Successful Sunday School leaders use a variety of creative teaching methods, including group discussions, case studies and brainstorming, according to speakers at the National Sunday School Leadership conference.

The July 26-28 conference was sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, according to the Baptist Press.

"Creative teaching is teaching the way your learners learn," said Carl Fondren, who led one of the sessions. Fondren is minister of education at Gardendale Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, Texas.

"Our job is to find out what their learning preference is," Fondren said.

Sunday school leaders usually stick with five basic teaching methods, Fondren said, including lecture, group discussion, case studies, brainstorming and question and answers.

Case studies help the class discuss embarrassing situations without singling anyone out, Fondren said.

"Case studies are great in that no one is intimidated," he said. "Just be sure to have the studies already written down before class so people don't think you're talking about them."

Class members tend to have one of eight learning preferences, Fondren said, including:

• Relational -- learn by activities that focus on problem-solving and analogies;
• Reflective -- learners feel most comfortable when activities focus on self-expression and personalizing biblical truths;
• Verbal -- learn by reading, writing, speaking and listening;
• Musical -- learn by activities that focus on music, singing and performing. Consider asking these members to lead a short praise and worship time;
• Visual -- graphics, charts or even bulletin boards can help keep these members focused and interested;
• Natural -- learn best outside the classroom. Consider doing outside projects that bring together community service and a Sunday school lesson; and
• Physical -- learners like drama and role-playing activities.

"Everybody learns through a combination of these eight preferences," Fondren said. "You should try to use several in every lesson. It may require some work, but the benefits will be unbelievable as you reach people who have never before shown any interest in Sunday school."