It was one of those things you never forget. I was driving down a state highway through one small town after the next when I saw it. It was a portable sign -- the kind you can rent with a flashing arrow and lights, a plastic face, and removable letters with which you create your own message. It obviously had not been portable for some time. The metal frame was rusted and bent, the paint was peeling off, the arrow on the top of the sign was busted out, the lights did not work, and one leg was broken. It sat, slanting upward to the sky. The message was still there however and clearly visible. It read, "Your search for quality ends here!"
As the church of the living God, we should present everything we do with the highest level of quality and excellence. We represent the most powerful Person and the most important work in the universe. Our every effort should reflect that truth.
Strive for excellence
In his book, "When God Builds A Church," Bob Russell, senior minister of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky., writes an incredible chapter on "Excellence." My favorite quote from that chapter is, "Mediocrity breeds indifference, but quality attracts."
I am amazed at the indifference I witness in many churches. I belong to a church growth consultation team. One aspect of our ministry is to analyze facilities and programming. Apathy toward excellence and a lack of passion permeate too many congregations. Do we really fool ourselves into believing the unchurched world does not notice? Our society is inundated with advertising and competitive business. Our culture is conditioned from an early age to evaluate and compare. People choose activities or products that are important to them and that, in their minds, provide the highest quality. As secular as this may sound to some, our society's view of the church is not immune to this scrutiny. People are looking for high quality programs and ministries.
This fact applies clearly to Sunday school ministries. Some criticize Sunday school as being outdated and no longer effective. But I exhort you to consider that the problem is not with Sunday school. Leading research confirms time and time again that the Sunday school is a leading effective church growth methodology in high expectation churches. There is nothing wrong with Sunday school work, many simply do not remember or have never known how to work Sunday school!
If we half heartedly allow untrained workers to get by with ill prepared lessons beginning 20 minutes late, we are to blame. If our nurseries are cluttered, our greeters unfriendly, our facilities unmarked, our classrooms dreary and our parking poorly planned, it is our fault and we may never receive the opportunity to share God's truth with that seeking family. If our attitude is to be content to just minister to whoever happens to show up each week, we miss the boat. If we do not see the Sunday school as an awesome sleeping giant of discipleship, outreach, prayer and ministry, we are blind.
Make a change
It is time to quit blaming and to fix it. It is time to develop an intentional Sunday school. We must develop a ministry of growth based on biblical purpose, structured by an intentional process, including the participation of the greatest number of people, saturated in prayer, and passionate about excellence. We must believe that our churches will grow because God desires and produces that growth. This is His strategy, His purpose, and His church. Recognize that the church, through the power of the Holy Spirit, has the ability to reshape the character of this world. Unless we take up this challenge with passion, countless opportunities will be missed.
Develop an intentional growth mindset. Every organization, program, and project must be aligned accordingly. You probably have the greatest program for growth already in place. It is called the Sunday school. Celebrate the fact that God is working, preparing the fields and calling the workers for the harvest. Join Him in His work.
I saw another sign one day. It was wooden and was intended to hang from hooks underneath a permanent church sign. One hook was broken so the sign, with the paint faded and peeling, hung precariously at an angle. The almost invisible lettering spelled out, "Revival nightly!"
Perhaps God will bring it. I am certain He is seeking a people of intentional passion and commitment.
See Ewart's previous articles:
Church growth strategy should be Sunday school based
Successful Sunday school needs enthusiasm, participation
Church, Sunday school growth begin with foundation of prayer
John H. Ewart is associate vice president of distance education and innovative learning at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
