Is it just me, or does summer fly by at twice the speed of winter? Before long we’ll be kicking off a new season of ministry. Maybe you’re already ahead of the game. If not, now’s the time to get everything in order for a smooth launch this fall. Here are some things to consider:

Leaders

Check in:

Give last year’s leaders a call to make sure they’re on board again for this season. Ask if they know of someone who might make a great co-leader or an assistant. Follow up with anyone they suggest.

Seek out:

VBS is a great place to find potential leaders for the upcoming season. At many churches the momentum of VBS draws in people who aren’t ordinarily involved in the children’s ministry. Take note of those who seemed to really enjoy their time with the kids, and see if they’d like to have a small role in your program this year. Maybe as a substitute, a classroom assistant. Starting small makes the request less intimidating, and gives them room to grow!

Dates and Places

Calendars:

Check the church calendar to select all the key dates for your program. These might include dates for Sunday school registration, the kick-off, special Sundays and the end of the season.

Classrooms:

Decide on room assignments based on last year’s list of kids (adjusted to bump them up a grade).

Supplies

Purge:

Toss out the dried up markers and dead glue sticks. Make room for something new!

Splurge:

Give your budget a break by waiting to stock up until the back to school sales kick in. Then make sure each room has Bibles, scissors, glue, markers, crayons, a board or newsprint, and a CD player or MP3 player.

Curriculum

Tried and True or Something New?

What will you use this fall? Good curriculum helps you leads kids on a journey through Scripture over the course of many years. So, if you’re already using a strong one stick with it! Switching too often can mean that your kids miss out on the full benefit of the scope and sequence. If it’s really time for a change, call together your church education team and follow the steps outlined in this curriculum selection guide. It includes important questions to ask and a rating system that allows you to score each aspect of a curriculum for easy comparison with others.

Headcount

Use last year’s list to project the number of kids you expect at each level this year. Use the estimate to order the first quarter of materials. Most publishers will allow you to return unused materials and adjust your numbers at any time.

Preparing Leaders

Plan a leadership meeting to kick off the new season. If you’re using new curriculum you’re prepare an overview to share about the unique features of the new material. Contact your curriculum publisher for materials you can use to help the leaders get acquainted with the material. Consider invite parents too, so that they can learn about what their kids will be doing in Sunday school, and see the take home pieces or at home resources that they can use at home. Be sure to provide some tasty treats!