Checklist for Starting New Units

Written by LifeWay.com Staff

Build awareness of the value of new units.

• Pastor emphasize value from the pulpit
• Articles in church paper
• Articles on church Web site
• Stories of successful new units
• Stories of individuals reached through new units
• Testimonies
• Celebrate the success of new units
• Show statistically the difference new units have made

Study Your Sunday School Organization.

• Sunday School Planning Team study the Sunday School organization
• Study the Sunday School organization with present Sunday School leadership
• Look for needs for new units. Include the following list plus others:
  • Classes or departments that exceed suggested enrollment ceilings
  • Age ranges, and life transition stages (newly married, recently divorced, widowed, college students, etc.) that are not being reached effectively
  • Areas with a significant amount of prospects but little attendance
  • Classes where the space is continually filled
  • Special needs–mentally handicapped, physically handicapped
  • Homebound, shift workers
  • Opportunities for new units in other locations–homes, apartments, offices, recreational sites, residential institutions

Identify a Target Group.

Discuss the Need with Sunday School Leaders.     

Seek Sponsorship.

Enlist and Build the Leadership Team (*denotes core).

• Teacher* ____________________
• Class Administrator* ____________________
• Member* ___________________
• Member* ___________________
• Member  ___________________
• Member   ___________________

Provide Needed Space, Equipment, and Resources to the Leadership Team

• Determine meeting location and room
• Determine equipment needed and make arrangements for the equipment
• Order curriculum resources for teacher and members
• Provide curriculum materials to the teacher
• Set up the room and prepare for the first session

Promote the Start Date and Location to the Target Group

• Start date determined ______________________
• Location determined _______________________
• Promotion actions planned
• Promotion actions carried out

Visit, Invite, and Enroll Members

• Names of prospects gathered
• Prospective members assigned for contact
• Prospective members contacted
• Prospective members invited to enroll in class
• Other forms of contact made with prospective members:
  • Calls
  • Cards
  • Letters
  • E-mails
  • Fellowships, dinners
  • Informal gatherings

Plan and Conduct the First Session

• Plan - Well in advance of the first session plan what is going to take place during the session
• Praise - Ask some leaders and members to tell how they understand that God is working in their lives, read a Psalm or other Scripture passage that will be part of the Bible study for the day and provide music or brief group singing
• Prayer - Prayer time can be a vital group-building experience as well as a meaningful time of worship
• Participation in Bible study - Approximately two thirds of the total session should be designed for Bible study
• Enlist people for the various parts of the first session
• Provide the following for the first session (and other sessions)
  • Greeters
  • Registration materials
  • Name tags
  • Member curriculum
• Conduct the first session

Continue to Support the New Unit

• Pray for the new unit
• Sponsoring group continues to help build the class by supporting it in visitation, enrolling people, and doing ministry work
• Continue to mentor and support the leadership of the new unit
• Plan with the leadership of the new unit for the next steps for the new unit and the support that is needed
• Communicate with the church about the progress of the new unit

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