Christian Education Workshop
New Life Christian Fellowship, Castro Valley
October 5, 2002
1. Developing a Vision/Mission Statement
A vision(future) or mission(why) statement helps the church define what and why we are a church and how we envision the future.
[See Charting Our Course, Reviewing the Church’s Teaching Ministry, Linda R. Isham, Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 1997]
“Cultivating Christian Faith and growth in a multi-cultural Asian-
American setting.”
First Chinese Baptist Church Vision/Mission Statement
The First Chinese Baptist Church, San Francisco is a multi-generational bilingual bicultural church. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are called to be a people so transformed by God’s gracious love in Jesus Christ that we joyfully commit ourselves in worship, witness, discipleship, and ministry.
From FCBC, SF’s vision/mission, our Christian education ministries take place:
*in the historical heritage of being American Baptist since 1880
*in the setting of SF Chinatown, downtown, inner-city
*with people in a family-oriented climate
*with people who are bilingual in English and Cantonese as well as with
people who may only speak English and only speak Cantonese
*with people who affirm their identity as integrated Asian Americans as well as with people who identify with primarily Western or primarily Asian cultures
*believing in the power of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives
*knowing that God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ changed us
*with the joyous opportunity to serve God in worship, evangelism, service, and mission
From reviewing New Life’s vision/mission statement, what do you see is your Christian education focus?
2. Exploring CE Models
Too often we think CE occurs only on Sunday mornings during the church school hour, or we define Christian education as programs for children. Christian education involves activities for all God’s children, regardless of one’s age and occurs in almost every aspect of the church.
[Blueprints for Building Christian Education, Douglas D. Cripe, Ed., St. Louis, MO: Christian Board of Publication, 1997.]
A. Sunday Morning Models
1. Sunday church school
2. Intergenerational model
B. Worship-related Models
1. Care for young children
2. Worship education
3. Children’s church
4. Participation in worship
C. Adult Sunday Morning Models
1. Topical forum groups
2. Video series
3. Discipleship classes
D. Models for Times Other than Sunday Morning
1. Youth fellowship groups
2. Mid-week youth programs
3. Specialized groups
4. Pastor’s classes
5. Service projects
6. Church camps and conferences
7. Day camps and adventure camps
8. Vacation Bible school
9. Summer reading program
10. Retreats
E. Weekday Models for Adult CE
1. Bible study
2. Book study
3. Support groups
4. Seminars
5. Mission/work/heritage trips
6. Existing groups
F. Intergenerational Models
1. Seasonal events
2. Alternative gift giving
3. All-Saints party
G. Begin New Groups
3. Effective Christian Education
During the late 1980s, the Search Institute of Minneapolis compiled information about effective Christian education by interviewing over 11,000 people from 561 congregations. Commissioned by six denominations, this study searched for the factors in the church’s life that lead to mature, loyal faith in youth and adults.
Effective Formal
Christian Education
[The Teaching Church, Moving Christian Education to Center Stage, Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, Nashville: Abingdon, 1993; Rethinking Christian Education, Explorations in Theory and Practice, David S. Schuller, Ed., St. Louis, MO: Chalice Press, 1993]
4. Broadly Graded Classes
“A critical foundation stone of a teaching ministry is an understanding of the characteristics and needs of persons at every point in their life cycle and of the different ways persons learn at different times.”
[The Teaching Church at Work, A Manual for the Board of Christian Education, Rev. Ed., Kenneth D. Blazier and Linda R. Isham, Eds., Valley Forge, PA: 1993]
5. Recruiting Teachers
Without people to teach, the best plans and curriculum will fall apart. The Search Institute identified three characteristics that make a difference in teachers. Effective teachers have high faith maturity, know educational theory and practice for the age group they teach, and care for those they teach.
Effective recruitment of volunteer teachers needs a plan; it’s not an accident.
A. Explore Jesus’ model of leadership.
B. Create a positive leadership atmosphere.
C. Build ownership.
D. Deal with the issue of length of service.
E. Identify the leadership skills of all members.
F. Recruit persons.
G. Provide motivation and support for leaders.
H. Affirm leaders
I. Involve leaders in evaluation.
[The Teaching Church at Work, A Manual for the Board of Christian Education, Rev. Ed., Kenneth D. Blazier and Linda R. Isham, Eds., Valley Forge, PA: 1993]
6. Selecting & Using Curriculum
[Judson’s Christian Education Catalog, 2002-2003]
Questions for Curriculum Evaluation Form
“It can’t be done on Saturday night!”
Monday—Read the text.
Tuesday—Name the students.
Wednesday—Read the guide.
Thursday—Gather supplies.
Friday—Try activities.
Saturday—Review plans.
Sunday—Go with God.
7. Teaching from the Heart (Mary Elizabeth M. Moore, 1998)
Teaching from the heart refreshes and renews us as teachers. The art of teaching is fueled by the passions inspired in us through the working of the Spirit. The source of our teaching is God’s Spirit.
Teaching is an art; not always measurable; not a cause and effect.
Teaching from the heart includes two elements: the art of sharing oneself and the art of getting to the heart of critical issues.
Teaching is revering—
*God who is the source of life
*others whom we affirm and appreciate
*relationships that connect us to work together
*vocation of teaching that sometimes subverts the status quo in
order to grow
*process of education itself because the process is more important
than the product
*ordinary since every experience is an opportunity to learn
Donald Ng, First Chinese Baptist Church, San Francisco, October 2002