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Mixed-Aged Classes, Too Few Kids, Frustrated Volunteers
For small churches looking for a Sunday school fix – start here. Maybe instead of new curriculum and better volunteers, what you really need is a new box.
Small Sunday School Classes In Small Churches
Small churches naturally have small Sunday school programs. But when the numbers are less than 5, we sometimes have more issues than just being small.
If you are lucky enough to have 5 kids on the roster, even then, every student doesn’t come each week. So we either …
- Cancel classes when there’s 1 or 2, because the planned activity needs at least 4
- Try to hold class with only one student, which is just not fun for anyone
- Combine age groups – which translates into no one getting the lesson they need
So here’s what we end up with:
- Frustrated teachers
- Bored kids
- Cancelled classes
- Disappointed volunteers
Even with all the effort we pour in, the lack of numbers leads to lack of momentum. This transfers into kids dreading what we wish they were excited about: Sunday school!
Learning about Jesus should be life-giving … not draining the life out of everyone involved.
How Can We Make Learning About God Fun With Such A Small Number Of Kids?
If you are frustrated with your current Sunday school program or looking for new ideas, take a step back before jumping into the next curriculum that promises “active learning” or the next new idea that claims “easy to use.”
4 Steps To Take Before Picking Your Next Sunday School Curriculum
1. Start Asking The Right Questions
Sunday school is a tool, not the goal.
If Sunday school isn’t working, we need to be willing to kill the sacred cow – or at least redesign it.
Sometimes we forget the term ‘Sunday school’ is not in the Bible.
The origin of Sunday school is very different than what we think of today. It actually started in England in the 1800s as a means to teach poor children reading, writing, arithmetic … and catechism. So, while there was a religious component, that wasn’t the core. Parents were grateful for the free education and that their kids were becoming literate.
The trend spread to the U.S. and has morphed over time to what it is today.
There is no manual that says, “In order to disciple children, we need to put them in a room for an hour before or after church.”
So, let’s change the question from, “How can we make Sunday school better?” to “How can we bring kids up to know God and love Jesus?”
Maybe this happens on Sunday morning, but maybe it doesn’t.
Every small church is unique from any other. Culture, demographics, economics, mission, giftedness, and more. What might work in one church might not work in yours.
We need to change the question from “How can we fix Sunday school?” to “How do we reach kids for Jesus?”
Looking for a step-by-step to starting or restarting your children’s ministry?
Check out the Children’s Ministry Bundle For Small Churches!
2. Form A Team To Answer The Questions
It doesn’t matter if it’s a team of two or a team of ten, but gather a team. You weren’t meant to go this alone. Even if you are uber-talented and gifted, you were meant to serve in community.
Bring others in. Welcome their thoughts and ideas, as well as their skills and talents.
Before you say, “I can’t find more volunteers!” please hear me:
I’m not telling you to recruit volunteers. I’m asking you to bring others into the process of figuring out how to best reach the kiddos in your midst.
It’s conversation and input. And people love to give opinions! Make sure to include the kids, especially older youth, in the process.
With this team, keep asking the right questions.
3. Assess Your Gifts, Your Strengths, And Your Resources
Forget about what doesn’t work and what you don’t have.
And start listing what you do have.
Think of your students, the church building, the people in the church, and your community. List people, resources, talents, strengths, and histories.
How many kids are in your church? In the close-by community? What ages? Do they have parents? Are they involved? Do the parents know Jesus?
What does your church have to offer? Do you have a building? Money? A closet of puppets or costumes? A playground?
What do the people in your church have to offer? Do you have builders? Crafters? Missionaries? Do you have stories?
There is no one-size-fits-all for the small church. Your community has unique beauty! You might need to unearth it and re-connect with it – but it’s there!
4. Think Outside The Box (Maybe Even Get Rid Of It!)
Sunday school is the box. It’s not the prize.
Have you ever tried to shove something in a box that is really not going to fit? You may push it, twist it, and smash it. But it’s still not going to fit.
Don’t ruin the prize by shoving it in the wrong box.
What’s The Prize?
The prize is the life-giving gospel. Mentoring by those who love Jesus. Community founded on Christ’s love. Life-on-life learning and sharing. The unchanging Word of God.
If the prize is not fitting in your current box, maybe you need a new box.
Re-Designing Sunday School
If Sunday school isn’t working, go through the 4 steps above with a team. This is your starting point. As you start looking at new ideas, here are a few to get your creative juices flowing.
Utilize Older Students To Teach The Youngers
Many older students would love the significance of being a leader and learn more in the process of teaching than being taught.
Offer Intergenerational Sunday School
Yes, everyone together! Including grandparents on down.
Build Spiritual Lessons Around Special Interests
Like cooking, sewing, building, car repair, robotics, you name it. Tailor conversations, lessons, scripture memory, and discussion along with the action of doing.
Welcome Guests For Interviews And Question & Answer Panels
This is a great way of including other Christians in the community and even others in your own church who aren’t your typical children’s volunteers. And kids love asking questions and hearing stories.
Promote Sessions Or Modules (4-6 Weeks At A Time) With Breaks In Between
While you lose the routine of ‘every Sunday’, you gain the excitement of a ‘special event’. So have a special Advent Sunday school, then take a few weeks off. Promote a topical “The Neighborhood” session for 6 weeks. You get the idea!
Start A Mentorship Program In Lieu Of Sunday School
Life change happens through relationships. Mentoring relationships can be based around serving, special interests, clubs, book studies, and more. The options are endless.
God Isn’t Boring: And Sunday School Shouldn’t Be Either!
We serve a creative God who surprised the world throughout scripture. A burning bush, mud in the eyes of the blind man, writing in the sand. God is anything but predictable.
Could we take a risk and do something out of the box?
Remember, Sunday school really is just the box. It’s the stuff inside that’s valuable.
Looking for a step-by-step to starting or restarting your children’s ministry?
Check out the Children’s Ministry Bundle For Small Churches!
Read More:
New Sunday School Tips For Building Deeper Connections
We don’t have Sunday School like what I was used to before church. But, during the sermon, children grade 5 and younger have what I consider something like children’s church. We have two groups, the littles and the middles. I’m not sure of the exact ages, but it seems to work. We have a van that picks up kids in the neighborhood. Their parents don’t come at first, but over the years, we’ve gain a few families by offering this.
Very sweet. I’m finding more and more churches who have a “van ministry” and still pick up kiddos. I had no idea that was still happening these days … with all the liability and such. But many churches do a lot of outreach that way.
Very useful, interesting and insightful tips. will try this out and get back with my response on the same
Hi Gloria! I’m so glad it is helpful!
This struck an emotional chord with me. Especially with Covid-19, our existing box doesn’t work. Eye on the prize is exactly the perspective shift I needed. And I do feel alone in our Sunday School but perhaps I’m not asking the right people or the right questions. Thanks for this insight!
Hey Marilyn! You are so welcome! I think we need to throw the box out a little farther than we ever have before! Excited to see what God has in store.
This is great! Thank you! Our church is made up of about 30 people aged 60 and above, plus one child aged 6 and her mom aged 27. Occasionally, we get visitors. I teach that one little girl above! Any suggestions? Thank you again for this.
Arizona is wonderful. My sister lives there and I have visited her.
So beautiful that you are wanting to serve that little girl! With only one, I would personally be looking for some hands-on things to do to save the awkwardness of feeling like an empty classroom. Think about a little table-top garden, or some ongoing crafty service projects to do with a lesson (or while you’re sharing a lesson even). It would even be great to ask the child what she would like to do. And if there is something she would like to learn that you could teach it would be beautiful! (sewing, baking, writing a novel, woodworking, art, etc.) Then it might take on a mentoring type relationship. A lot of teaching can happen rather organically with that. And I also urge you not to be alone in a closed classroom. The “rule of 3” is a good one to practice so children and adults are in safe situations.
My church is similar to Jeanette’s. About 20 active members all aged 60 and up. And another 45–some that come infrequently if at all. Three families with children moved during covid and we don’t currently have a Sunday School. We have one family attending weekly with a 6 month old and a three year old. And recently we have had a few families visit but don’t return when they hear we don’t have a Sunday School. The pastor feels we need more than 2 students to hold a class. We definitely need to think outside the box.
You aren’t alone in this situation or the struggle of deciding what to do as well. Remembering the goal of connection, relationship, and care is so important. When we focus on a certain type of progrmmming, it can get very frustrating. If you haven’t checked out the podcast, please do! We’ve done lots of episodes specific to children’s ministry that might be helpful! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-church-ministry-podcast/id1583416568?i=1000614122383