Parents, Should Sunday School Be a Priority for Your Children?

Ever so often, someone writes an article or makes comments about Sunday school being archaic. If they mean that Sunday school is old, there’s no argument. Robert Raikes began Sunday school in England in July 1780. It was to meet the need of helping those children who worked 12 hours a day or longer in the mills and sweatshops to learn to read and write and teach them the Bible. His Sunday school met the needs of his time.

If archaic means old-fashioned and irrelevant for today, I believe this is incorrect. The Sunday school of 2016 is far different from the one Raikes began or from the one people attended in the 1950s or even the 1980s. Sunday school 2016 tries to address the needs of children and youth today. It reflects the best of Presbyterian and  Reformed theology and is current in teaching methodology

So, why is it important for parents to encourage their children

to attend Sunday school?

• Sunday school provides a systematic way for children and youth to learn about the Bible and to engage in interaction as they do so.
• Sunday school provides age-appropriate activities (acting out the story, music, creative art, mazes, dot-to-dot puzzles, projects, reflection, etc.) so that the Bible story is not just heard, but faith is developed.
• Children and youth relate to a person of faith in their teachers and leaders; they experience role models.
• It is a place where learners can be on a journey with other seekers.
• It provides an excellent place for developing relationships and having fellowship.
• In many different ways, Sunday school encourages children and youth to be concerned for others, which was certainly of concern for Jesus.
• Christian formation in Sunday school helps to develop disciples of Jesus Christ.
• Sunday school can help children and youth learn and have reinforced that God loves them and the Holy Spirit is always with them. What a powerful learning!
• (Add some of your own reasons.)

We know that there have been societal changes since the Sunday school of the 1950s, 1970s, 1980s. Children, youth and adults experience increased competition for their time.  Activities are scheduled on Sunday mornings. Since Sunday school is not the only “game in town,” parents need to see the importance of it and be even more committed to it.

This time of year is a good time to recognize and affirm that the Sunday school is relevant. It is also an excellent time for parents to make a personal resolution to be consistent in participating in this vital ministry themselves and to help their children and youth to participate.  Parents who participate in Sunday school model that we don’t graduate in faith formation; we continue to learn. The Sunday school is ripe for formation!

Written by: Claudette H. Pickle

Claudette serves as Director of Christian Education at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Germantown. She previously worked for the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination in children’s ministry and as executive director of the Board of Christian Education. She is married to Bill Pickle and they have one son, Jason, and a dog named Bailey.