Ten Tips for New Sunday School Directors

Written by Wayne Poling

If you are a new Sunday School director, the way you begin your ministry charts the course for your work. Here are ten things to consider as you begin your new job.

Give your job as Sunday School director to God. The Lord provides you your true power for service and wisdom in leadership. It is easy to get caught up in all of the important details and preparation and forget this. 

Gain an understanding of your role. As you begin as Sunday School director, build a foundation of understanding of your role. Read everything that you can to help you better understand your role. 10 Best Practices to Make Your Sunday School Work contains information for organizating the Sunday School ministry. Attend conferences that will help you better understand your role. LifeWay provides training for Sunday School directors in several ways:

• Through the Internet - An E-National Sunday School Director's Webcourse will involve you in practical explorations of how you guide and strengthen the work of your Sunday School.
• Two Day Seminar - National Sunday School Directors Seminar
• Read Sunday School Director's Job Descriptions to bring more clarity to your role. Download one at this link: Job Description for Sunday School Directors.
• Call your ASSIST director. Seek to arrange a time when you can sit down together and talk about your role as Sunday School director. His or her insight and counsel will be a great resource for you now and as you continue in your role.
• Ask your association or state convention for the name of another strong Sunday School director in your area. Get together with that person and discuss your role from his or her perspective.

Make sure you and your pastor agree about your role and the direction of the Sunday School. Your relationship with your pastor is important. If you have a minister of education that relationship is also key. Ask for an appointment to specifically talk about his understanding of your role.

Get to know your leadership. Call your division directors or department directors and arrange an appointment to come to their home. Set up a time to hear from your teachers. It may help to review everyone's role in Sunday School. Here are job descriptions for Sunday School positions.

Give purposeful thought to the direction of your personal leadership for the Sunday School. As you read about the work of the Sunday School, as you study your role, as you attend conferences, and as you visit with the leaders of your Sunday School, jot down notes. Let these notes and your prayerful direction from God help you begin to determine the direction in which you want to apply your personal energies for the Sunday School.

Develop regular planning teams. Your primary planning team for Sunday School work is the Sunday School Council. This organization will be one of your most valuable assets leading your Sunday School. Here is more information about Strategic Planning for Sunday School.

Concentrate on motivating and encouraging workers. Develop the habit of writing lots of notes of appreciationm making public expressions of appreciation, and focusing on the needs of leaders. 

Develop effective administrative processes. Putting in place effective processes in some key areas will greatly enhance your work. Some of these key areas are records, the enroll and drop process, curriculum ordering and distribution, worker enlistment, and reports to the church and Sunday School. Click here for record keeping tips and a convenient online form for ordering curriculum resources.

Be the champion of training for your leadership. Share your commitment to training. Let your leadership know that training is a high priority in your work as Sunday School director. Check out these online training resources: Training Resources for Potential Sunday School Leaders

Pray for your leaders. Just as you have given your ministry as Sunday School director to the Lord, give your Sunday School leaders to the Lord. Develop a system to pray for portions of your leadership daily.

It is my prayer for you that God will give you a joyous sense of His calling as you begin your job as Sunday School director. May you find a great sense of personal satisfaction and fulfillment. And, may you be used to bring about great things for the Kingdom of God through your Sunday School.

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