Ideas For Evangelism - Way of Life Literature

small groups; regular attendance; preparation oflessons; and a lengthy list of other expectations.“We found a significant correlation between the levelof expectations placed on Sunday School workersand the ability of the church to keep ongoingaccountability among its volunteer workers. ‘Whenwe first started asking Sunday School workers tosign a covenant,’ the West Virginia pastor told us,‘we met a pretty high level of resistance. Some toldus that we had no right to tell volunteers what to do.’But the leaders persisted, though a few of theworkers quit in protest. ‘Today,’ he said. ‘we see ouraccountability system as one of the best things thathappened to our church. It was painful but it wasworth it’” (Rainer, p. 95).Regularly evaluating the spiritual effectiveness of eachministry is necessary to ensure that it is forward-moving,edifying, and fruitful. Too often persons are appointed topositions and five or ten years later remain in that sameposition even though no obvious spiritual effectivenesshas taken place. This is not good stewardship of theresources and opportunities the Lord gives us.Are the Bible classes reaching the lost? Are the SundaySchool students growing spiritually, in biblicalknowledge, and becoming involved in the ministryaspects of the church? Are a percentage of the youngpeople going on into full-time Christian service and theadults getting excited about serving the Lord through thechurch? If not, something may be seriously wrong.A fruitful Sunday School teacher will both bring in lostprospects and, by his or her example and leadership, leadhis students in doing the same.While it is acknowledged that many visitors first enterthe church through the means of the worship service, onepastor relates: