The Pennsylvania State Sunday School Association's

In 2010 we will offer 15 different workshops to help train your Sunday school and Christian education teachers and leaders and to help bring about Sunday school growth and renewal in your church!

In 2010, the Pennsylvania State Sunday School Association will offer 15 different 2 1/2 hour training workshops (including one brand new workshop). The new workshop will be "Growing Your Church Through Small Groups & Sunday School."  This new workshop will be available for presentation by spring.

Your church is invited to host one of the P.S.S.S.A.'s workshop training events for your church and community. Each workshop will be presented either by P.S.S.S.A. Executive Director, Rodney Pry, or by one of the Association's other highly qualified trainers.

All of our workshops are 2 1/2 hours in length and can be presented on a weekday evening, Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon or evening. You can also present two different workshops as a 5 1/2 hour event on a Saturday.

Each workshop is presented on a "per participant" basis. In 2010 the workshop registration price will be $25.00 per person. If you would like to present two different workshops as a 5 1/2 hour event on a Saturday, the price will be just $35.00 per person. All workshops must be open to persons from other churches in your area. All persons attending the workshop must pre-register and pre-pay to the host church. A minimum number of participants has been reduced to just 15 this year for all workshops.

We hope that the host church will also agree to help promote the event in their area and to help involve as many Christian education workers from their own church and community as possible. The P.S.S.S.A. will provide custom printed brochures to help promote the event. We will also do a mailing to other churches in your area.

Churches interested in hosting a workshop in 2010 are urged to talk to potential participants about possible dates for the event (late winter, spring and summer are great times to hold a workshop.)

If you are interested in hosting a workshop in your area, we invite you to call the P.S.S.S.A. Office with at least TWO dates in mind. We will contact our trainers and get back to you as soon as possible to confirm a date for YOUR workshop event. If you have any additional questions, please call 717-652-1930.

Workshop #1: "The Art of Invitation"

Statistics tell us that only 10% of all churches grew in attendance last year. Why? Well, one reason might be related to another static: Only 2% of all Christians invited a non-Christian to attend church or Sunday school with them last year! Very few people ever just show up at a church. We are told that 70% of all persons who attend a church for the first time come at the invitation of a friend or relative. But still, so very few people are inviting others to come to their church. People often say that they are afraid to witness to others or invite them to come to their church and others say that they don't know how to do it. This workshop focuses on the importance of witnessing and invitation, and teaches participants some very practical ways that persons of all ages can use to witness to and invite their friends and others through their normal, casual conversations and contacts.

Workshop #2: "Teaching Prayer in the Church"

There is power in prayer! Still, prayer is probably one of the most under utilized forces that is available to us today. Prayer should not be used only in times of emergency; it should be a vital part of every Christian's daily life. And, prayer shouldn't just be about the big things of life, we should take everything - large and small - to the Lord through prayer. Why don't Christians make better use of prayer? Part of the reason may be that they really don't understand what prayer is about. This workshop looks at what the Bible has to teach us about prayer. It also helps participants learn practical methods for teaching persons of all ages - from children and youth, right through all stages of adult life - about prayer and how to more effectively use its power in all areas of their life.

Workshop #3: "Using Creative Methods to Teach What Jesus Did & Said"

The "W.W.J.D.?" (What Would Jesus Do?) slogan has been popular for many years. Even though there is certainly no better example or role model for anyone to follow, there is still a problem with the "W.W.J.D.?" slogan. The problem is: You can't ask "What Would Jesus Do?" until you know what Jesus did and said! And where can you learn what Jesus did and said? By reading the Bible and by then attending Sunday school! This workshop is designed to help teachers of children, youth and young adults teach what the Bible says about Jesus and the things that he did and said, through a variety of creative, "active-discovery" teaching methods.

Workshop #4: "Shedding Light on Ministry to Boomers in the 21st Century"

Seventy-eight million people in America were born between 1946 and 1964. That is 26% of the American population. What will the church do to meet the many and varied needs of this new and large group of people? How will the church communicate the redemptive message of Christ in meaningful and relevant ways that will guide twentieth century older adults in joyful ways throughout their remaining years and beyond? This workshop focuses on the "Line-up, Lifestyle and Legacy" of Boomers and how the church can more effectively extend support for living lives pleasing to God.

Workshop #5: "Sunday School Success in Every Church"

One of the biggest concerns in many churches relates to their Sunday school. To aid all churches in this vital area, we have developed our "Sunday School Success in Every Church" workshop. This workshop is designed to provide a wealth of information, ideas, resources and inspiration to all local church and Sunday school teachers, leaders and members.

The workshop will focus on:
            - The importance of Sunday school.
            - The development of better, more effective teachers and leaders.
            - Making Sunday school more appealing to all church members.
            - Finding and recruiting new Sunday school members.
            - Effective methods for building spiritual commitment and more!

Workshop #6: "Effective Bible Study for Excellent Bible Teaching"

Excellent Bible teaching doesn't just happen automatically. Behind the content and method of what is being taught is a teacher who has taken the time to effectively prepare their lesson. The quality of the lesson is not necessarily based on the amount of time given to the preparation as much as it is dependent upon the effectiveness of the study that went into the preparation process. That indeed is the key to an excellent lesson. This workshop will highlight six (6) "P's" of effective Bible study and then lay out a schedule to help teachers to fit the preparation process into an already busy schedule. Briefly, the six "P's" of Bible study are:
            - The Prerequisite for Bible Study
            - The Presupposition behind Bible Study
            - The Preparation for effective Bible Study
            - The Principles of effective Bible Study
            - The Perspective of Bible interpretation
            - The Processes of deriving Biblical application

Workshop #7: "Reaching & Teaching Young Adults in the 21st Century"

In far too many churches today, there is one particular age group that is very conspicuous in its absence. Who are they? Young adults, age 18 to 30! We need to be doing more to reach out to the 18 to 30 year olds within our communities. But what can we do?

To prepare this workshop, the P.S.S.S.A. conducted extensive research and talked with a number of leaders from churches that have very successful young adult ministries to compile information that will provide information, ideas and resources to help all church and Sunday school leaders. The workshop looks at 12 important elements that contribute to the success of young adult ministries and a variety of programs that churches are successfully using to reach and teach today's young adults.

Workshop #8: "Overcoming the Biggest Obstacles to Sunday School Growth"

All Sunday schools have problems, but only as you meet and overcome these problems will your Sunday school be truly successful. This workshop looks at the most common problems of today's Sunday schools and how to successfully overcome them.

Some of the problems to be addressed in the workshop will include:
            - The lack of training for Sunday school teachers and workers.
            - The lack of spiritual growth.
            - The shortage of teachers and workers.
            - The lack of children and youth within the Sunday School.
            - The lack of concern for Sunday school by church leaders and other church members.
            - The lack of good Sunday school literature and other resources, and more...

Workshop #9: "Sharpening Your Skills as a Teacher in Today's Church"

Whether you have been teaching for a few months or many, many years, all teachers need a "refresher course" from time to time. This workshop is designed to help teachers of all age groups sharpen their current skills and get new ideas and information to be even better and more successful. Some of the areas to be covered in the workshop will include...
            - The importance of being a teacher in the church and Sunday school.
            - Renewing your personal commitment and relationship with Jesus Christ.
            - Utilizing today's most effective education theories in the church classroom.
            - Making the most of today's best and most effective teaching methods and tools.
            - Evaluating your success as a teacher in the church and Sunday school.

Workshop #10: "Preparation For Sunday School Growth"

The "Preparation For Sunday School Growth" workshop is a workshop to help involve all Sunday school members in the work of Sunday school growth. The workshop is designed as a practical "how-to" workshop on Sunday school growth and renewal for pastors, Sunday school leaders, Sunday school teachers and all others who are interested in Sunday school. Topics to be covered include...
            - "Whose Sunday School Is It Anyway?"
            - "A Sunday School Health Check."
            - "Preparation For Sunday School Growth."

Sunday school growth doesn't just happen. Before you can really think about Sunday school growth, you must think about making improvements in your program. Specific areas to be examined include: "Openness to Growth," "Have a Goal & Plan for Growth," "Spiritual Renewal," "Program Renewal," "Teacher Improvement & Training," "Positive Public Relations," "Prayer" and others.

Workshop #11: "The Basics of Teaching in the Church"

This workshop is presented to help all Sunday school teachers and prospective teachers learn or be reminded of the basic points that every Christian educator, regardless of years of service, needs to know.

        Questions addressed in the "Basics of Teaching..." workshop include...
            - Why is Sunday school important?
            - What is your purpose as a Sunday school teacher?
            - How can you go about preparing a better Sunday school lesson?
            - How can you involve your students in "active/discovery learning?"
            - What are some of the basic teaching methods & tools that can be used?

Workshop #12: "Teaching Children in the Church"

The "Teaching Children in the Church" workshop is designed to provide lots of information, ideas and resources for every Sunday school and Christian education teacher and leader in the church. The workshop focuses on a wide variety of topics, including...
            - Why is Christian education important for children?
            - Making lessons more interesting, relevant and fun.
            - Planning your weekly lesson.
            - Effective teaching methods & tools for children.
            - Discipline in the church and Sunday school.
            - Classroom safety and much more.

Workshop #13: "Teaching Youth in the Church"

Teaching youth presents perhaps the greatest challenge for teachers and leaders within the Sunday school today.

It is a time when many youth choose to "drop out" of the church and Sunday school. And, it is also a time when most youth will face some of their greatest challenges and temptations; a time when their need for Jesus Christ and the Bible is also great.

If youth of our communities are to be actively involved in the church and Sunday school, we must teach them using the best, most modern teaching methods and we must be sure that our teaching is relevant to the problems and needs that they face. To keep our teens interested, we must use "active/discovery learning techniques" that involve the youth in the learning process. And, we must help them see that the Bible is indeed their "handbook for life," a guide that is relevant to the life situations that they face every day.

Workshop #14: "Teaching as Jesus, the Master Teacher, Taught"

How can an ordinary Sunday school teacher become a special, even extraordinary teacher? Follow the example of Jesus Christ! Jesus was the Master Teacher. Modern research continues to show that Jesus' teaching methods were some of the most effective ever used by any teacher in history. And, even with modern technologies and media, they continue to be some of the best and most effective teaching methods that any Sunday school or Christian education teacher could use today. By studying examples of what Jesus did and how He taught, the "Teaching as Jesus, the Master Teacher, Taught" workshop will lead each of the participants to see how they can use similar methods and techniques as they effectively teach persons of all ages in the church and Sunday school. Even if you are not a teacher or leader, this workshop will be of great interest to all persons interested in studying the life and ministry of Christ.

Workshop #15:  "Growing Your Church Through Small Groups & Sunday School"

Detailed information about this new workshop will be coming soon.  The workshop will be ready for presentation by spring, 2010.

For additional information and to schedule a workshop in your area, contact

The Pennsylvania State Sunday School Association
5915 Fox Street
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Phone: 717-652-1930
E-mail: office @ psssa.org