| Please read this first! The OMTSJ Sunday School and Worship High Attendance Strategy is a churchwide, monthlong effort designed to increase the number of people studying the Bible and worshiping God. If used in October, it peaks on the last Sunday, ?National High Attendance Day in Sunday School. The desired result is, without apology, evangelism. If the seven steps described are prayerfully and carefully completed, the desired results will happen in your church.
In brief, the strategy asks every Sunday School and church member to honor God by making and keeping, by God's help, three promises:
1) To attend Sunday School and worship all five Sundays in October (or another month chosen)
2) To pray for and invite lost people to Sunday School and worship
3) To wear and share the OMTSJ bracelet
To prepare for high attendance month, each class/department prayerfully sets an attendance goal for the month. The attendance goal is written on their OMTSJ class/department poster, along with the names of all class members. The class/department poster includes the OMTSJ art design with places for the five colors to be colored in, a different color for each Sunday.
During the month of the strategy, as Sunday class attendance goals are reached, the poster can be colored in with a marker of the appropriate color. A large display can be built for the worship center. For details see the seven steps inside this brochure. What a great way to start the new Sunday School year . . . with record attendance, lost people hearing the gospel and ON MISSION CHRISTIANS!
 STEP 1. FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST OR EIGHT WEEKS BEFORE THE HIGH ATTENDANCE MONTH BEGINS:
A. Pastor and Sunday School director and/or Minister of Education read the explanation on the front of this brochure and seven steps printed inside.
B. Decide to participate in the North America-wide Celebrate Jesus 2000 Sunday School evangelism strategy.
C. Order now one OMTSJ Bracelet for each member of the Sunday School. Order extras to be given away and for others who will attend the worship service. Order by August 10 or delivery by September 25.
D. Begin prayer effort for OMTSJ. Pray for laborers in the Lord's harvest and for dedication of the leaders and members. Pray for lost people to be receptive. Ask the church to pray for the pastor. Pray that more people will attend Bible study and worship than ever before in the history of your church.
STEP 2: LAST WEEK OF AUGUST OR FIVE WEEKS BEFORE OMTSJ SUNDAY, THE BEGINNING OF THE HIGH ATTENDANCE STRATEGY:
A. Make copies of the class poster* for every class/department.
B. Make copies of the OMTSJ Promise Form* for every Sunday School member and every church member.
C. Prepare a special newsletter or bulletin to be mailed to all members and prospects.
D. Enlist someone to make a large OMTSJ banner or display for the church worship center. (This display can be a thick rope with colored rings, such as found in swimming pools.)
STEP 3: SEPTEMBER 5 OR FOUR WEEKS BEFORE OMTSJ SUNDAY:
A. Pastor and Sunday School director meet with all teachers and workers. Explain the OMTSJ strategy and lead them to sign the OMTSJ Promise Form.
B. Distribute a class/department poster to each teacher.
STEP 4: SEPTEMBER 12, OR THREE WEEKS BEFORE OMTSJ SUNDAY: TEACHERS EXPLAIN THE OMTSJ HIGH ATTENDANCE STRATEGY IN EVERY CLASS/DEPARTMENT, CHILDREN AND OLDER.**
A. Teachers and outreach evangelism leaders prepare class/department posters by writing in the class/department name.
B. At the bottom of the class poster, write the name of every member.
C. Lead the class to pray and adopt an attendance goal for the strategy. Notify the Sunday School general secretary of the class goal.
D. Mail the enclosed sample pastor's letter to every member. (Please review this letter now for understanding.)
STEP 5: SEPTEMBER 19, OR TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE STRATEGY BEGINS:
A. Display class/department poster.
B. Teachers show and explain the OMTSJ Promise Form to each person present. Preschool teachers plan to ask for promise from parents.
C. Purchase colored markers to color in the appropriate bead on the class poster when attendance goals are met or exceeded.
D. Modify or make copies of On Mission to Share Jesus postcard number one and distribute to classes to be signed by teachers and mailed to every member this week. If possible, the church should pay the postage.
STEP 6: SEPTEMBER 26, OR ONE WEEK BEFORE THE STRATEGY BEGINS:
A. Conduct a combined Sunday School assembly, children and older, to promote and explain OMTSJ Sunday and the monthlong high attendance strategy.
B. In Sunday School classes, classes, teachers hand out two copies of the OMTSJ Promise Form to each person present. Ask everyone present to prayerfully complete the form. Ask them to hold their OMTSJ Promise Form until next Sunday and place it on the altar as an act of worship during the morning service, OMTSJ Sunday. Individuals should complete a second copy of the Promise Form to keep as a reminder.
C. Contact absentees and ask them to make an OMTSJ Promise.
D. Promote the strategy by all means available to you. Continue to enlist commitments from people for the strategy.
STEP 7: OCTOBER 3 IS ON MISSION TO SHARE JESUS SUNDAY, AND THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE OMTSJ SUNDAY SCHOOL AND WORSHIP HIGH ATTENDANCE STRATEGY. (Some churches may choose to observe OMTSJ Sunday and attendance strategy another month.)
A. Teachers or outreach evangelism leaders recognize guests and class members welcome them. Class/department secretaries mark the class/department poster.
B. On the class poster, color in the first bead with a dark grey marker for the first Sunday if the class attendance goal is reached.
C. In the worship service, honor the guests and celebrate increased Bible Study attendance. Be careful to avoid making visitors feel like a "number."
D. Mail the second post card to every member, and/or contact them by telephone call or visit. See the suggested telephone assignment sheet and dialogue in this material.
Every week during OMTSJ:
A. Celebrate increased attendance in class/departments and during the worship time.
B. Promote OMTSJ by by all available means. Teachers and outreach/evangelism leaders should see that every member and prospect is contacted every week during the high attendance strategy by mail, telephone, or visit. Adapt or make copies of the postcards in this packet and furnish all classes. If possible, the church should furnish postage.
C. Each week during the strategy, encourage members to bring guests, people who need Christ.
National High Attendance Day. If you are doing the strategy in October, take advantage of national high attendance day, October 31, with a major promotion to exceed the goals for OMTSJ.
Idea! Some teachers may want to give one of the OMTSJ items on the order form in this toolkit to every person who attends Sunday or brings a visitor.
*A reproducible class poster and OMTSJ Promise Form are enclosed.
**Preschool workers see Step 5.
|
