During my childhood days, I considered Sunday Morning as the best day of the week. Comparing to other days, I get up early every Sunday morning to attend my Sunday School Class. Those days, there were no other entertainments to obstruct my attention to Sunday school. The greatest attraction was learning a new chorus playing an old ‘Teachers Pet’ box guitar from my teacher, some bible stories with pieces of images pasting on a board. The story of creation, the story of Joseph, the story of Daniel, the story of the birth of Jesus, the story of Paul and many more. Those stories are still fresh in my mind. I can proudly say that those simple stories have an impact in my life.
While I recall of my childhood Sunday school days, I am apprehensive about our children today. The same traditional and simplistic approach may no longer work for our children of toady. Those days, except Television which was found only in some rich homes with Doordarshan channel, there were no CD, DVD, TV with number of channels, Computer, Video and computer games, internet, mobile phones etc. All these hi-tech communications are already in almost every home today. The Cartoon network, The Pogo channel, The Disney channel, Hungama etc. are some channels designed to attract children. A child can sit whole day watching these channels. In addition to that even a child of four can operate all these equipments. What do we say? Our children are very smart and updated?
I am worried about our children. They may be obsessed to all these communications and fail to notice something important in their lives. I am sure that most parents have experienced children refusing to go to Sunday school. It is really painful when they say “I don’t like to go to Sunday school”. Often parents end up in buying new garments to fulfilling some of their other demands in order to persuade their children to participate in Sunday school. But their enthusiasm does not last long.
I wonder if there is something missing with our Sunday schools today. Is there any area that needs to be re-looked, redesign as per the modern day demands? I am not complaining or underestimating the dedication of the teachers nor the curriculum but I sense that we need investment of more assets for innovative and creative activities.
The word of God never changes, but according to the time and situation, the same package can be presented in a different way that would attract the attention of our children. Our children are being enticed by modern media and communication, and if the presentation of our gospel can not compete with these forces, I am afraid that all our efforts to instill the religious values in our children will be in vain. A chorus with a box guitar, some bible stories with pieces of picture pasting one a board and children sitting in rows passively, distribution of some sweets may no longer work with our children of today. No doubt, Churches conduct Vacation Bible Schools, Children Rallies and observing some special days of Christian calendar. But this does not amplify the enthusiasm of a child. The important feature which matter most is - if the normal Sunday Schools are made more inspiring, exciting, stimulating, it can be the solid foundation of a better society tomorrow.
This is a big challenge to our churches today. Every child is precious to God, and if our mission strategy doesn’t have an appropriate planning for these children we can not expect God fearing leaders tomorrow. Church is the family of God and we are the children, and to take care for the younger children with suitable food and tools is inevitable. Parents neglecting their children and investing their time, money and energy for other expansions can not be compromised and so as the Church. Every parent strives with every possible means to train, to correct, and to educate their children to make them someone tomorrow. Many parents even borrow money to fulfill the requirements of their children’s education. If the Church has the same burden to guide a child with spiritual values, the church should invest time, money and energy so as to make Sunday school more creative, innovative, attractive and effective.
I often heard the sermon from the book of Proverbs which says to train up a child in the way he should go, so that when he gets older he will not turn from it (Pro.22:6). However besides parents who hear the message and do not practice nor teach their children, consider those parents who never go to church, who has not heard of this passage, Or those parents that live under the influence of Drugs, Alcohol or other ungodly activities. If parents are not responsible enough, who will train their children? Is there any role that a church can play to guide these children?
I am confident that if the System and Structure of Sunday Schools are re-strategize, contextualized and made more attractive and efficient, not only our children but the Children of nominal Christians and even children of unbeliever may unite us. Every Child is precious to God, and God would say, ‘well done’ for training, equipping our children to be useful instrument for our society tomorrow.
Maong Jamir
