Michigan—A bold Sabbath school effort took place on Sabbath, May 19, at Grand Rapids Adventist Academy. Ninety Sabbath school teachers and leaders representing 34 area churches gathered for the West Michigan Regional Joint Sabbath School Workshop.
The seminar offered training for all Sabbath school demographics—children, youth, young adult, and adult. Presenters included Linda Gallimore, Michigan Conference Children's Ministry director; Judy Shull, Grand Rapids Adventist Academy teacher; Ron Whitehead, Center for Youth Evangelism director; Angelo Austria, WAYIM (Warren Adventist Youth Impact Ministry) executive director and Adventist Youth Network liaison; and Paul Pellandini, Michigan Conference Adult Sabbath school director.
Whitehead addressed more than 40 leaders and teachers as he presented the seven principles for youth ministries. He opened by asking, "When does a young person in your church ever get a visit?"
"When he is in trouble," someone answered.
"And what does that say about how you value a young person in your Sabbath school class? This generation evaluates you by the kind of relationship you maintain with them," Whitehead stated. He added, "The Adventist church is in crisis with its ability to hold its youth and young adults between the ages of 16 and 35. Over 51 percent are leaving the church, and Sabbath school leaders are so important to help turn this sad story around." As Whitehead spoke, Benny Moore of the Wyoming Spanish Church translated Whitehead's message to some Spanish-speaking leaders.
At Gallimore's breakout session, entitled, "Nuts & Bolts for Beginners, Kindergarten, and Primary," she taught how to structure a complete Sabbath school program. Many ideas were presented on how to use a thematic approach to the Bible stories to enrich the Sabbath school.
Shull shared ways to structure the Sabbath school program for older children. She emphasized the importance of regular Bible study with our young people each week, and reviewed the Real Time Faith Earliteen lessons, an alternative to the Grace Links curriculum.
Other seminars stressed the significance of missions and Sabbath school, provided an overview of Ellen G. White's instructions for Sabbath school from the compilation Sabbath School Worker, and emphasized the importance of using different teaching techniques to reach the many personalities in Sabbath school each week. A question and answer time with a group discussion followed.
Austria and five young adults from his Warren Church Sabbath school group shared their vision for how to prepare and involve young people in the mission of the church in Michigan and beyond.
Sabbath school resources used at the Wyoming Church were shared: a budget, a spending requisition form, a quarterly adult program schedule edited on the Internet, and a one-stop Sabbath school web resource for all divisions, which includes links for Sabbath school lessons, teacher's helps, programs, supplies, and extracurricular activities. The Wyoming Adult Sabbath school website may be viewed at www.sabbathschool.pbwiki.com.
Afterward, attendees stated how much they were challenged, blessed, and encouraged by the workshop, and they affirmed plans for annual conferences. Alta Rop, Muskegon Church Sabbath school superintendent, said, "The West Michigan Sabbath School Workshop helped me a lot. It has inspired me to conduct more Sabbath School Council meetings."
A regional training event, "Teaching Methods for Sabbath School," is being planned for later this year. The next West Michigan training event is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 1, 2008. Gary Swanson, associate director of Sabbath school and personal ministries for the World Church, and other national youth leaders have committed to be presenters. For more information, contact Phyllis Thomas at pthomas@misda.org or call 517-316-1500.
Tom Mejeur, Wyoming Church general Sabbath school superintendent and West Michigan Regional Joint Sabbath School Workshop planning partner
