Hold A "Sunday School Book Cover Contest"

Many schools require students to place book covers on their school textbooks to help protect and prolong the life of the books. Here’s an idea of how you can use this requirement to help the children and youth of your Sunday school to witness to others in their school about Sunday school and their Christian faith – hold a "Sunday School Book Cover Design Contest." Obtain large sheets of plain paper for your kids to use to make the book covers. (You will want a heavy weight paper – 60 pound weight or heavier – in a white, ivory or other light color. Sheets should be at least 16 x 22 inches in size. A good place to get such sheets of paper is from a local print shop.)

Have the kids cover their books with the paper that you provide and then decorate the covers with slogans or messages that tell others about Jesus or Sunday school. Allow the kids to use markers, crayons, or cut-outs glued to the cover, etc. to decorate the book covers. (Caution the kids to be careful that they do not get marker or glue on the book itself.) You could have a set theme for the contest (such as "I Love Sunday School Because…") or you could allow each student to select his or her own message. Set a certain Sunday when you ask the kids to bring their covered schoolbooks along to Sunday school. You might want to select one or two from each class as special winners, but it is suggested that each child be given some sort of small award for his or her work. Put the books on display following your service for everyone to see. Encourage the kids to keep the covers on their books as they carry them in school as a witness to their love for Jesus and the Sunday school.

(This article appeared in the "Winter, 1994-95" issue of "The Herald.")