The Sunday School Teacher's Network Newsletter - Great ideas for children's ministry!



Issue #1 - January 4, 2011 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. ~ Jesus

Suggest an idea...Ask a question...Give an answer! Scroll down the page to view articles. 1) Fresh Ideas for 2011? 2) Sunday School Teacher's Salary 3) Sunday School Teacher's Salary 4) Parables & Sermon on the Mount - Sample Lessons Support the Network--learn how--Click here. 5) Large banners and signs idea 6) Encourage Attendance? 7) Encourage Parents? 8) Thankless Job The Red Button indicates a teacher who needs your help. Invite your friends and coworkers to join us. CLICK HERE! TITLE your email to reflect the content of your message. When replying, highlight the text that is pertinent to your response, then hit reply.	Home Search for Ideas Support SSTN PCM Discount 15% OFF Ministry Resources Bible-4-Life Curriculum Gospel Fun Activities Holidays & Holy Days Make N' Take Downloads E-books Affiliate Bookstore Creative Teaching Seminar F-R-E-E Resources Bible Games Christian Crafts Christian Skits Missions For Kids Object Talks, Sermons Recycling Ideas VBS & Bible Clubs NEED PRAYER? Visit our Prayer Board. Scroll down.




1) Fresh Ideas for 2011? Happy New Year SSTN Friends and Support Partners! I want to thank you for your prayers and financial support in 2010. Here we go again, another year of working in God's Vineyard, until we see him face-to-face! I look forward to what the Lord has in store for all of our ministries in the coming year. Please share your plans. Do you have something new that you'll be trying out? Maybe a new teaching method? Reward system? Recruiting tool? If so, send it in. SSTN is a community for sharing your ideas--you make it a success! I ask that you would continue to lift me up in prayer. Please ask God to grant me creative thought, to be single-minded in my devotion to him, to have strength and health, and wisdom to know and do God's will. God's blessings in the days ahead. Your webservant, Sarah Keith <>< PS. Remember, most of our site is f-r-e-e for use (see links in bright, green box, above). If you can support SSTN this year, please visit the following page: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/ministry_support.html Your support is needed and greatly appreciated!



2) Sunday School Teacher's Salary I agree with you 100% Sarah--I do not want to be paid for what I do in my work for the Lord at Church. I enjoy working with the children so much that I'm "paid" from the children 100 times over each and every week--with their love and prayers and learning. I have heard other teachers complaining that they want to be paid for what they do. I just have to shake my head and pray that the Lord will lay it on their hearts that they are doing a very important job for the Lord and don't need to be "paid" for what they do. Are mothers and fathers "paid" for teaching and bringing up their children????? In my situation, I spend a lot of money on my classes--as my church can't afford to get the "extra" things that I know that the kids enjoy and learn faster with. But I'm willing to pay for these things because I know that it makes a real difference to the learning of the children about the Lord. May God bless you Sarah and all the other Sunday School teachers all over the world. June --from SSTN: thank you, June! If your church cannot reimburse you for expenses paid out-of-pocket, you can most likely itemize it on your tax returns (see this link: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/article-29659.html).







3) Sunday School Teacher's Salary I agree w Sarah, most churches could not afford to pay. I've been teaching almost 40 years and have never heard of payment or considered it. Most teachers do not have formal training as school teachers do. This falls under service.



4) Parables & Sermon on the Mount - Sample Lessons You can now sample two lessons from our latest books, "Parables of Jesus - Vol.2" http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/sample-parables-2.pdf and the "Sermon on the Mount--Kingdom Kids" http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/sample-sermon-on-mount.pdf



5) Large banners and signs idea Hi! Once we were doing a Sunday School theme called "God's Garage". We decorated the room as if it were an auto repair shop. My husband was "Mic the mechanic". :) I had gone around to several of the local repair shops in our area and I told each one what we were doing and asked if they had any promotional materials they weren't using that we could have--i.e. stand-ups, posters, packaging, etc. Most shops were more than happy to help and I walked away with arm-loads of materials. But one of the best things they gave me was the huge vinyl signs with grommets in the corners. The fronts had various advertisements on them, but the backs are white. You can decorate them any way you want. You can paint them or laminate cut-outs and glue them on--whatever. I cut huge letters out of construction paper to do the lettering. Just thought I'd share in case someone is looking for a cheap way to make a big sign. Kate







6) Encourage Attendance? Hello, Does anyone have any great ideas of how to encourage attendance to Sunday school? Our attendance has dropped because families are choosing other activities over church. Any great ideas of getting the family excited again about church? Thanks, Barb



7) Encourage Parents? any great ideas of how to encourage parents to teach the Word to their children? Thanks, Barb --from SSTN: Hi Barb, Both of your questions (#6 and 7) seem to have the same unfortunate problem. Parents who do not see the value in bringing their children to church or teaching the Word to them, have a spiritual problem that a new program or "jazzed-up" idea won't solve. That isn't to say that we don't do all we can to make our ministries the best and most exciting programs they can be. However, this situation should be addressed with your pastors, elders and deacons. Your parents/adults need to be learning about the importance of worship and Christian education "Sunday school." They are not the same and shouldn't be substituted one over the other. ALL ages of people need both. Worship is giving back to God the honor and respect that is due him. Whereas, Christian education is receiving from God, so that we can be and make disciples. If I've been harsh in my reply or misunderstood your request, I apologize in advance. As to creative ideas for encouraging attendance and memorization techniques, you can use the search tool on our home page: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com I will be interested in hearing from others as to this "problem" and your solutions. Your webservant, Sarah Keith <><



8) Thankless Job Do you feel like your labor in ministry is a thankless job? Visit the following link and be comforted: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFrdJ2V3r7Y&hd=1



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Copyright 1997 - 2010 / d.b.a. "S. A. Keith of Creative Imaginations Reproducing in any medium, commercial or noncommercial, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission. SSTN has contributors from all over the world who share their ideas. If you reprint any of the ideas from SSTN, SundaySchoolNetwork.com or ChristianCrafters.Com in any medium (websites, magazines, newsletters, etc.), you must contact the submitter, and website for reprint permissions. Any materials used must also include the submitter's name and where the ideas were gleaned from. The opinions expressed or advertisements displayed in the SSTN e-Newsletter are not necessarily endorsed by SundaySchoolNetwork.com or any of its affiliates. SSTN reserves the right to edit and or exclude information from the SSTN e-Newsletter. SundaySchoolNetwork.com \| SSTN.org \| ChristianCrafters.com \| Bible-4-Life.com ChristianTeachersNetwork.com \| Sunday-School-Lessons.com \| Bible-Lessons.net \| FreeCraftsAndGames.com