Should churches use attendance contests to try to bring about Sunday school growth? Christian education leaders have a variety of feelings about this. Many people say that things that promote competition and possible division are not a good idea. Still others note that competition is very much a part of life and that teaching positive, healthy attitudes about competition, both through lessons and through examples, is a responsibility of the church and Sunday school.

If you should decide to conduct an attendance contest, we suggest that it be a competition between classes rather than individuals. This helps avoid much of the personal advantage and hard feelings that are often evident in individual competitions.

One way to conduct such a contest might be to figure the average attendance for each class over the past two or three months. That number then becomes the class’s "attendance target." The contest involves having each class in your Sunday school trying to exceed that "attendance target" by as many people as possible each week during the contest. Each week, give some sort of special recognition to the class that has the largest percentage of increase. A bigger reward (such as an ice cream or pizza party) might be given to the winning class at the end of the contest.

Such an attendance campaign could be run for the entire Sunday school or with separate contests in each department. If individual classes wish to hold their own contest, suggest that they divide the class into two teams, rather than have individuals compete. You could also compete against another church. This works best if the church is not in your immediate area where you would be competing for the same members.

An attendance contest might help you get new people to your Sunday school, but remember, the real results of any attendance building effort cannot be judged for several months. It’s not just important to get new people to your church, you must also make them feel welcome and see that their needs are met through your program.

(This article appeared in the "Winter, 1996-97" issue of "The Herald.")