WEBB CITY – Gene Bass, Sunday School director at Emmanuel Baptist Church here, attended “Glorieta In The Ozarks,” the Regional Sunday School Leaders Training Event held each fall in Joplin and Springfield.
One workshop he attended was led by Mark Donnell, Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Sunday School specialist. During that conference, Bass heard that one way to motivate and encourage Sunday School leaders is to have a special day to recognize them and the work they do. That led to an event March 20, when Emmanuel Baptist held its first Sunday School Leaders Recognition Day.
As part of the special day, Donnell was invited to be the guest speaker during the morning worship service. He spoke on 2 Kings 4:1-7, “The Widow’s Oil Multiplied,” emphasizing that Sunday School needs to be the foundational strategy that the church uses to reach people for Christ, teach them the Bible, and minister to their needs.
Donnell taught that God begins with us right where we are, He expects all of us to be involved in the process, and He does not set limits on how many we might reach, though at times we set limits on ourselves. God will pour out His blessings on Sunday School as long as we let Him use us as empty vessels for His will.
After the service, all were invited to stay for an old-fashioned potluck dinner in the fellowship hall. Many stayed to eat and then take part in recognizing the Sunday School leaders led by Bass. Teachers were encouraged to continue to be faithful in their work and potential leaders were urged to step up so that new Sunday School classes could be started. The church’s youth helped hand out Certificates of Recognition and a small gift to all the Sunday School leaders. Both Bass and Interim Pastor Jeremiah Morris said it was a great way to emphasize Sunday School and to re-energize the workers for the rest of the year.
This year “Glorieta in the Ozarks” will be held Sept. 12-13 in Joplin and Springfield. More information about this and other events around the state is listed on the MBC Sunday School website at www.mobaptist.org/regional_schools.
To learn about having a Sunday School Leaders Recognition Day at your church, go to www.mobaptist.org/sunday_school, or contact Donnell at mdonnell@mobaptist.org or (800) 736-6227, ext. 413. n
BY STAFF