Strategies for Advancing the Plateaued Sunday School
Sunday Schools (and churches) can climb upward, growing in quality and number. After advancing to a certain enrollment, they level off or plateau. Though we measure levels by attendance, plateaus affect every area in Christian education, including staff and teaching.
Some churches, understanding that plateauing occurs, anticipate it and plan to address it. Others are caught by surprise and are unprepared to handle plateaus.
Sunday Schools plateau for several reasons:
Plan for growth before it occurs
Many Sunday Schools and churches plan for growth after it has occurred. The play catch-up and usually lose some or all of what they had gained. Planning for growth and development begins with careful analysis of the present situation. Reorganize, appoint new leaders, train teachers, rearrange space, and establish policies and strategies before growth arrives.
Provide new leadership to accommodate growth
Recruiting new leaders creates more ownership, which means that more people are seriously committed to the success of the ministry. Recruiting new leaders does not mean replacing existing leaders unless they resign or demonstrate an inability to lead. The goal of new leadership is to increase the leadership base.
Carefully analyze ministry descriptions and identify responsibilities that could be divided into new ministry descriptions. Also, identify areas of responsibility that are not being performed by anyone and create ministry descriptions for them. Recruit and train new teachers constantly so each class has a team of teachers.
This strategy has two advantages; (1) A broader leadership base with more ideas, vision, and mutual support, and (2) a leadership style that guarantees some transitions and continuity during changes.
Empower the layperson
Lay people are indispensable to the Sunday School. Investing responsibility in them and giving them ownership invigorates the Sunday School. Increase involvement in your Sunday School by choosing class officers, appointing committees, planning class outreaches and service projects. Recruit and put people in charge, empowering them to be doers of the Word (James 1:22).
Use facilities more creatively
If you know present facilities are limited, begin a building fund. In the meantime, do not let facilities stop you from growing. You probably have more options at your disposal that you realize. Consider:
- Converting storage space to classrooms.
- Installing soundproof dividers to make two spaces.
- Using non-educational spaces such as the fellowship hall, prayer room, conference rooms, and offices.
- Asking one or two adult classes to meet at a nearby restaurant.
Evaluate facilities regularly (at least annually) to be sure they are being used to the best advantage to accommodate growth.
