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QUESTIONS ( LESSER ASKED ONES )
Here's how it works.
You ask a question and we answer it.
If it is any good then we
will publish it on this page, give you the credit!
Got a questions?
Got an answer? Got a suggestion or a solution to a problem?
Then e-mail it to info@sidewalksundayschool.org
If you have a further answer
to any of the questions, please send it to us and we will include it
on this page.
THE
MOST COMMON MISTAKES - learn what they are how to avoid them
| Question
We bus children to our
church and they are combined with the children in our church.
My question is, when I give the salvation message often the same
children respond each week. My team try to discourage this by
telling the child they do not need to respond over and over, that
you only need to ask once and Jesus is there in your heart.
While I certainly agree with this, I struggle when I have to tell
a child that they do not need to respond. We also have teams of
people who explain the plan of salvation to the children but some
seem to love to respond over and over. What is your solution.
Answer
Rather than discouraging
them from responding, encourage them. If they feel they have to
respond every week then let them respond. You might even incorporate
in your appeal "you might have asked Jesus into your heart
before, but feel you need to do it again - so go ahead"
We are not trying to
build theologians, but give them something useful for everyday
life. Who knows what their week has been like or what internal
issues the face. It might be that for them to keep on responding
is a way to reaffirm their commitment and need of God more. It
can also be an issue of accountability, that by responding they
are making a statement of commitment for all to see, especially
their peers.
The
one thing it isn't is a lack of faith on their part, rather its
a statement of faith. Try to see it from their perspective, not
your adult viewpoint.
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| Question
How do you deal with
the very wide age span this type of ministry seems to draw?
I have been doing Sidewalk Sunday School for 5 years and can't
seem to solve this dilemma! If you aim the program towards
the older children, you lose the younger participants and vice-versa.
The ideal situation would be to have enough help to run 2 programs,
but help is very hard to find in this kind of ministry.
Also,
how have you been successful in not only reaching the children,
but their families as well?
Answer:
- The first key
is to limit the age groups that you are trying to reach. Our
program is restricted to those aged from 6 to 12 years. Whilst
others are welcome to attend the site, they may not participate
in the program if they are outside those age groups. We have
many teenagers, adults and younger children attending, but
actual participation is restricted to those age groups.
- There is an inherent
turnover of community residents. A large number of those attending
will not be coming year after year. As the program continues
from year to year there will be new children attending. By
having age restrictions, you should have a more effective
impact.
- Turn the older
kids into workers. Those who have faithfully attended and
reach the upper limit of your age groups need to be given
the opportunity to be involved in the program operations.
This reinforces their commitment to you and then provides
the outlet for them to continue their commitment and involvement.
They also become your eyes, ears and representatives on the
ground. Give them some responsibility.
- Involving all
age groups is a balancing act. A lot of your success in how
you design and run the program. Keep it fast paced, exciting
and fun, involving all ages in what you are doing. For example,
in the games we play we will do some that have younger participants,
some with older ones and some "team" games with
a cross-section of ages. Each group needs to see that you
care for them.
- Don’t do
the program every week. Run it for 6-8 weeks, take a break,
and then come back for another series. We will run the Spring
outreach from the end of April/beginning of May until schools
close in June. We will then take a break for about four weeks,
come back in for 4-5 weeks in July, take a months break, then
back in after Labor day and run until Halloween. This keeps
interest alive and does not become just another program that
quickly becomes stale in their lives.
- Regarding families.
An effective visitation program builds relationships, coupled
with that you will need a local congregation that is willing
to be involved: one that sees Sidewalk Sunday School as a
means for church growth and is willing to get involved in
the lives of the people. Many adults, not just children, use
the site as their weekly event with God in their lives. Sidewalk
Sunday School is the entry point into their lives, but without
a church willing to get actively involved, it will only stay
a point of contact, unless of course you plant a church from
it.
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| Question
Can you tell me how
you go about finding a place to do outreach? What kind
of permission do you need to get? We are looking at starting
a Sidewalk Sunday School in the Pompano Beach, Florida, area;
but we are running into problems finding an area to do it in.
Answer:
There are no standard
answers to this one! We look for maximum visibility -
somewhere that is easily seen and easily accessible. It
must be central to the kids we want to reach as they will not
travel out of their immediate area. Basically it's
a matter of trial and error.
In using county/city
parks we have to get a permit from the local authority.
Likewise, though permission is not necessarily needed, we try
to liaise with any local residents committee etc.
- Look for "high
density" kid areas,
- Areas that have
little or no Christian witness,
- Places that are
visible, accessible & central to where we want to do outreach,
- Depressed areas,
- Areas that are
"bad" - the ones that Christians wouldn't be found
in, but Jesus might should he be there!
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| Question.
Last summer my husband
and I with the help of some friends began Sidewalk
Sunday schools in the low income neighborhoods of Yuma, AZ.
Yuma is on the
border of Mexico. There are many immigrants and thousands
of children who have
many needs but most of all they need Jesus. The need was
so great we found
ourselves in 10 different neighborhoods and overwhelmed with
the need. The
summers here are extremely hot getting up to 125 degrees F.
At the end of the
summer we found ourselves in a situation, too many kids and
stretched beyond
our limits. After approaching 4 churches we finally found
one that would take
our ministry in. In September of 98 we began transporting
the kids on
Saturday mornings to church for the "Power Up Kids Club".
It was so difficult to get churches to understand what we are
doing. We are
primarily a children's evangelistic ministry. The difficulty
for the churches
is in our approach. We go to the kids.
Since Sept. We have had 300 different kids come to the
kids club, most of whom have received Jesus as Savior for the
first time. We have been able to pick up 60 -90 kids a
week. The other two hundred are still waiting for a ride.
Do you see our situation. This is just a few of the kids.
The harvest is truly plentiful the laborers are few.
We have had about 6 faithful adults and about that same number
youth helpers. They have been a blessing. I have a couple
questions. I have had little to no response from the church
in the area of follow-up. My husband and I carry the full
financial burden of
this ministry as well as the follow-up. We went ahead
and became 501c3 non-
profit. The Yuma Food Bank has helped with food.
We feed the kids lunch
after the club time. We need buses. Is this a normal
scenario or are we doing
something wrong?
I need help to train the 12 workers I have. I think I'm
still doing all the
work. Do you have any training help for workers of this
kind. We have a
puppet ministry, clowns, and games. Working with these
kids is not easy they
come from crazy homes and are very wild. How can I build
a team instead of
doing everything myself?
Answer
- A common problem
is that most churches do not seem to understand or care about
what we do, or have a vision for reaching tomorrows generation
today. Sidewalk Sunday School can be a lonely ministry.
- Yes, this is a
normal scenario, no you are not doing anything wrong.
- Team building
is a process. Eventually we will have some basic tips
on this site, but you need people who are willing to make
the effort. Every semester we start of with a bunch
of volunteers, but they soon fall away when they find it is
hard work and requires commitment. You just keep
going.
- Obviously we don't
have all the answers readily available, but hopefully others
within our alliance, or those who read this page will be able
to contribute something as well.
- You just keep
on doing what you can. If you don't do it who will??
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| Question:
"I want to do Sidewalk
Sunday School, but can't afford a truck. What are some
alternative ways to do it?"
Answer:
- You can do like
our Zimbabwe team does and use a pickup truck. The one they
have has a high flat bed and sides that drop down, thus making
for a substantial stage area. The sound system
runs off of a car or marine battery (you need an inverter).
For sound system they use a Karaoke box!
- Have a portable
stage on a simple frame and legs that can be set up.
Designed properly it can be carried in any number of vehicles.
- Use orange cones
to designate a "stage" area. You will
need to have a sound system of sorts that can be easily transported
and a power source.
- There are a couple
of photo examples on the site that might help. One
in Africa where we did Sidewalk to 1200 using nothing more
than the back door of a small hatchback. Then
a picture of Mighty Wind Ministries using the back of a van
and a puppet curtain. Here are some examples:
The main thing
to remember is visibility. The vehicle provides a point
of references and attraction. In all cases you
will need to set out some tarpaulins or mark off a specific
area for the kids. They mark out you territory
- any child who attends and wants to participate must stay
on those tarps, thus coming under your authority.
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| Question.
"I would greatly
appreciate any information you give us to help us start off
Sidewalk Sunday School right."
Answer:
- You need a team.
We have found that we need at least four people. They need
to be aware that they have to make a commitment for a specific
period of time (the period you want to run the program).
- Each persons must
know their roles.
- Plan, prepare
& practice. Sidewalk just "doesn't happen".
Each element has a specific purpose and builds on the other.
- Count the cost.
It takes money, time, money, commitment, time, money.
There is a substantial commitment of resources required.
Bit then, what worth is a soul?
- Select your target
carefully. Know where you want to do your outreach.
Do your homework - go for maximum impact. When we started
we started small, we went for a couple of small sites, but
soon learned that we were wrong! Go for the "concentration
of kids" areas. A Sidewalk ministry is like
using a combined harvester, go the big harvest!
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