Training of VBC Sunday School TeamPart Two
04 Feb 2011 04:04 pm
One person who really stands out as helping to grow the Chestnut Hill's Sunday School is Mr. Rex Angel. Rex was the director of the Youth Division of Sunday School. He has been faithfully performing these duties for 12 years before I arrived on the scene. I took the time to observe the operation of the Youth Sunday School for a couple of months. During this time I witnessed faithful volunteers who worked hard but whose methods were woefully outdated. Sunday would begin with a large group session where Mr. Angel would give a story illustration to attempt to create in the teens an interest the the days Bible lesson. The problem is the teens referred to these as adult stories. They were good but just did not connect with the lives of teenagers. It was with fear and some trepidation that I approached this distinguished, goodhearted Virginia gentleman who had been working for so long with my suggestions that we change how Youth Sunday School was being carried out. I expected a good tongue lashing for my lack of appreciation for his ministry of 12 years. What I received was the humble and gracious response, "Nick you are the Youth Pastor, I will do whatever you think is needed to improve our Sunday School. Did you catch his statement? "Whatever it takes." I have never received such a response in all the years of my ministry since. The whatever it takes led to weekly workers' meetings that met not before but after prayer meeting each Wednesday night. The entire Youth Sunday School team would attend. As a result the Youth Sunday School attendance doubled. The teens were so enthusiastic that some parents complained that before they could finish dressing on Sunday morinings, their teens would be sitting in the car blowing the car horn. This led to weekly meeings of the Adult Division as well. The result was an excitement about Sunday School that led to unprecedented growth for a sleepy Lynchburg Baptist Church. This is the challenge Dr. Martin, Mr. Michael Brown , and myself are lifting up to each of our Sunday School teachers, "Whatever it takes." Will you accept the challenge? It will require sacrifice in your schedule but it will result in great success as together we offer Christ more than good or excellence but our best. Do you want to grow a great Sunday School class or are you satisfied with the status quo. If you want to truly be effective then answer the call "WHATEVER IT TAKES!"
By : nick | Category: Commentary | Comments [0]
Training of VBC Sunday School Team
04 Feb 2011 03:37 pm
Welcome to the Educational Blog for the Village Baptist Sunday School team. This blog exists for the purpose of assisting in the training of our Sunday School teachers and leadership team members. A little about myself, Pastor Nick, Minister of Education and Children at Village, and my journey. I accepted Christ as a teenager at Massey Hill Baptist Church on Southern Avenue here in my hometown of Fayetteville. I accepted Christ under the ministry of the Reverend Curtis Nester. God also began to prepare my heart to accept His calling during Pastor Nester's ministry. The pastor would bring in missionaries to share during Sunday School and worship. I felt an urging to share the good news of Christ and interpreted this to be a calling to be a missionary. Unfortunately, something happened that led to Pastor Nester's leaving Massey Hill before I could share this with him. He was followed by the Reverend Carroll J. Calvert under whom's ministry in 1975 I surrendered to the call of full time ministry here at home rather than in a foreigh land. The Holy Spirit impressed on me early on the hurting that is around us. We have not yet reached our nation with the good news yet so my calling was to be working here in the United States. I commend those who feel called beyond our borders as God in his omniscience calls His children to work locations according to His plans.
My ministry officially began back in 1980 at the Fair Bluff Baptist Church in Fair Bluff, North Carolina. The pastor I was privileged to work with there was the Reverend Ray Lundy. I serve under his pastorate as the Minister of Education and Children. This ministry was during my college years at Campbell University. Following my graduation from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary I served as Mission Pastor for the church which today is First Baptist of Linden, NC. The Lord then sent me in 1985 to Immanuel Baptist of Fayetteville under the ministry of the Reverend John Cuthill. I served there as the Minister of Education and Youth. In 1987 I was called to serve in the commonwealth of Virginia as the Minister of Education and Youth at the Chestnut Hill Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia. The pastor I was privileged to serve with was the Dr. Bruce O. Martin. He became my mentor as well. Under Dr. Martin's ministry I began for the first time to study church growth. Chestnut Hill was a tough place to serve in many ways as many of the people were clanish and distrustful of outsiders. Both the pastor and I were from the strange land of North Carolina so the battle for accetance was to be fought constantly. However the more enlightened ones who were gracious and accepting. It is with these that we were able to work with and apply what we were learning. The Lord blessed and the Church grew in an area where most Baptist Churches were in serious decline. I am thankful those willing spirits who worked with us. (Carl Hale, Calvin Falwell, E.A. Thomas and his wife Lois, Susan Barley and her dad George as well as many others. They had a love for Christ that led them to follow two young ministers and do whatever it took to grow a Church.
By : nick | Category: Commentary | Comments [0]
